The clients approached the project with two primary goals: to transform their underutilized gravel backyard into a functional space for entertaining and relaxation, and to improve the comfort and usability of the landscape for both daily living and their beloved cat, who couldn’t tolerate walking on the sharp and rigid gravel.

The design scope included rethinking the spatial organization of the backyard to better support how the clients wanted to use the space and developing a cohesive planting palette for the existing masonry raised beds.

We organized the yard into two distinct but connected zones: one for social gathering and one for quiet retreat. A dedicated wood deck is introduced adjacent to the existing concrete patio as a morning yoga and coffee space, positioned to capture early sunlight and create a sense of calm separation from the primary entertaining area. The garden deck is screened from the main concrete patio using integrated wooden planters and trellises, creating a sense of peaceful solitude.

The gravel is replaced with a native buffalograss lawn, transforming the yard into a softer, more continuous ground plane that creates a more comfortable, accessible surface for the clients and their cat. This transformation is a lush, vibrant outdoor space that is perfect for both hosting and peace and solitude.