Although I’m really missing having a finished house, indoors AND out (shown above), we’re finally getting somewhere with our yard! We’ve been working diligently the past month on our backyard and are finally starting to see progress. If you follow along on Insta stories, you’re probably tired of seeing the fence installation and me shoveling dirt. I’m happy to report, the fence is 100% finished and the dogs are officially contained. They’re happy to have their yard back. However, that’s just the first step in our backyard entertaining area plan. Click through for the entire project plan, a progress update, and for the challenges we’ve already addressed.
Here’s how this ginormous yard project came to be… although we’re renovating an entire interior, we were really upset after selling our previous home. We spent a few thousand dollars on the exterior, landscaping, and our garden only to sell it two weeks later. We didn’t really get to use and enjoy it, and that was a major downfall. Therefore, we’ve put the interior projects on hold for a month, while we address the backyard. This time around we want to have plenty of time to live with it! Our goal is to have everything completed before the 4th of July. Might as well start entertaining and making the most of it this summer, right?
After making the decision that now is THE time, I reached out to Lowes to see if they wanted to get in on part of the backyard makeover action, and I did a happy dance when they agreed. I feel like we’re in there at least once a day anyway picking up tools for the renovation, and they’re our go-to big box store for materials, so the collab felt organic and pretty perfect. The entire family (being Emmett, myself, and the mutts) used to make the Lowes supply run trips, but after Finn peed on an end cap and Cash pooped in the center aisle by the cashiers (true stories), it’s a wonder they still let us shop there. Ha!
Alright, I got off topic there for a second… back to the yard! Here are the before images from last September when we bought the place. The neighbors told us the backyard used to house nine or ten chihuahuas and I can only wonder whhhhy. I’m not sure if that’s a stretch, but there were holes ALL over the place from dogs digging. The fence was mismatched, deteriorating, and basically falling down in spots.
Our plan is to eventually build an addition because we love our neighborhood, but that really limited the backyard plans. If we add a garage in the future, it would eat into the left side of our yard. Therefore, we opted to create an entertaining area in the righthand corner, far away from our potential add-on. We’d hate to have to re-do anything when it comes time to build. After the location was set, we made a wishlist:
- Pergola or some sort of shade structure
- Paver patio to break up the grass
- Nice landscaping
- A fire pit
- Built-in seating under the structure / pergola
- A new privacy fence to keep our dogs safe
- A sprinkler system (in Utah they’re necessary)
- Sod (Emmett’s values a nice lawn)
After about 80 (I wish I was kidding) sketches and renderings, we finally nailed down the best way to DIY the backyard project. Our very first plan looked like this… and has since evolved into something a bit more complex.
After reworking the budget and tweaking the design plan, this is where we have now ended up. I put together a more realistic collage to share my vision with Emmett. It’s much easier for us to communicate this way- if I show him what I’d like him to try to build.
If you’re wondering about any of the materials, everything is linked in the above collage (just hover over the image). This is our daunting to-do list and how we plan to execute and bring this vision to life:
- Demo & remove existing fence, rocks, pavers, landscaping, etc. DONE
- Rent a stump grinder and remove existing tree stumps. DONE
- Dig post holes and install new vinyl fence with gates. DONE
- Till and rake the entire yard, removing grass and rocks. DONE
- Lay piping and install the sprinkler system.
- Dig and install a custom paver patio.
- Build and stucco custom L-shaped seating.
- Assemble and install the pergola.
- Add electrical to the pergola and install lighting and an outdoor fan.
- Paint the wood burning fire pit.
- Lay sod and hook up the sprinklers.
- Plant and landscape.
- Bring in furniture and decor – style everything!
- Have a giant margarita and admire our yard!!
So far we’ve checked numbers one, two, three, and four off the list and we only have a couple weeks left to meet our deadline. I just really want this outdoor space to be a place we can relax, enjoy, and entertain for years to come.
I’m excited to spend lots of time outside- especially since moving from Ohio to Utah, where there is zero humidity. People say it’s hot here and I just can’t relate because the Midwest feels hotter and everyday is a bad hair day.
Well, there you have it! Wish us luck. My arms are already gelatinous from digging fence post holes and moving dirt around. Speaking of, would anyone be interested in a vinyl fence install / tutorial? It was honestly much easier than we expected (besides the physical labor part)! I think I’m going to share that one tomorrow. Thanks for being such amazing cheerleaders and helping to push us through the hard work. It honestly makes a difference. I’m pleasantly surprised that so many of you are interested in the backyard project and are cooking up yard plans of your own. I’m excited to show you a complete transformation when it’s all said and done! I’ll be breaking some of the outdoor projects into smaller DIY posts as well.
*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Lowes. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that allow us to create unique content while featuring products we truly use and enjoy!
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Amy Lynn
June 21, 2017 at 3:11 pmHow exciting! Having an outdoor space in the summer is a must for sure. Can’t wait to see it finished :) and just think about how good of shape you’ll be after digging all of those holes! Haha
Sarah
June 21, 2017 at 3:59 pmIn theory, I should be super fit by now (ha!), but I think the tacos and margaritas are canceling out the hard work. lol! xo
Elizabeth
June 21, 2017 at 4:13 pmLove!! Can’t wait to see it unfold! Elizabeth
Sarah
June 21, 2017 at 5:44 pmYou and me both ;) Thank you, Elizabeth!!
Holly
June 22, 2017 at 12:32 amGood luck & you guys will deserve a keg of Margaritas when your done!
Sarah
June 22, 2017 at 3:11 pmThanks, Holly!! A keg of margaritas sounds pretty great, ha! xoxo
Marie
July 18, 2017 at 3:27 pmI love your blog! All of your designs are amazing. Would you also be willing to do a DIY about how to install a custom paver patio when you get there? We would also like to do this in our house but after getting quotes for much more than we can afford the only option is to DIY and I have no idea where to begin!
Sarah
July 18, 2017 at 4:08 pmThank you so much, Marie! Absolutely, I’ll be sharing DIYs for most of the backyard projects: paver patio, custom seating, and the landscaping. Look for it in within the next few weeks! xo
Chloe
July 25, 2017 at 6:51 amgreat work on the DIY Sarah ..LOved your blog I believe adding a sand stone made of teak wood would make the backyard look more beautiful and you can fence it with amazing flowers like daffodils or roses.
Len DIllon
March 26, 2018 at 10:17 amSarah – what an amazing transformation. Seeing tis has sparked a project idea for myself. I am most interested in the pergola acquisition / construction. Any details you could share would be greatly appreciated. I got to this article from a Big Ass Fan e-mail I just received. I am in the dreaded humidity filled south and this would be an addition to an already existing cabin. Thanks
Nate
October 10, 2019 at 12:41 pmHi, I was wondering how you all attached the Pergola? Did you fill holes with concrete and then attach to that or did you set each post from the pergola into the holes and have a shorter pergola?
Jaimie
February 10, 2020 at 6:48 amI absolutely love this! What bushes did you end up buying?
Sarah
February 10, 2020 at 9:09 amThanks Jaimie! You can see the finished backyard in this post: https://roomfortuesday.com/the-backyard-one-year-later/
Michael Wuze
August 4, 2020 at 4:02 pmHi Sarah,
Saw the before and saw the after photos. You did an amazing job there. You really have created another room outside that you can enjoy…
Sam Brown
May 31, 2021 at 11:33 pmHi Sarah. This yard is absolutely beautiful. Did you build the pergola from scratch or you about and assembled it? If you bought it I would love to know where. If you had it built I would love to know who did it. We live in Utah as well. Thank you
Sarah
June 1, 2021 at 6:59 pmThank you so much, Sam! We built the pergola, but it came as a kit (from Lowe’s). It’s linked in this post: https://roomfortuesday.com/?s=backyard+reveal
Teri
September 9, 2022 at 2:26 pmThis series of posts is SO helpful! Can I ask how you did the layout designs (the ones you said you had 80 iterations of!) did you hire a company or do that yourself or someone online? I’m a graphic designer, but landscape design is a little out of my wheelhouse.