Jon & Leigh Anne's Outdoor Oases
Our Salt Lake high temperature today is going to reach 66 degrees (November 11th!)—and while we may still have a few more temperate days ahead, this is likely one of the last to come near 70 for a while. So, in the spirit of celebrating the warmth and preparing nice and early for next year's opportunities to enjoy your outdoor spaces, we thought we'd lend a little inspiration.
Leigh Anne (our very own founder and principle broker here at Homeworks) and her husband Jon sold their stunning Sugar House property over the summer and moved to the views and quiet streets of the East Bench neighborhood. In doing so, a trade was made for a more modern home with front, back, and side yards that afforded them the opportunity to design unique spaces for gathering, relaxing, or play. With a bit of thoughtful planning, they landed on distinct "zones" that accommodate quiet reading or relaxation, time taking in front yard views, dining al fresco, lounging with friends, hammocking, hot-tubbing, or playing with their standard poodles.
We chatted with Leigh Anne about the efforts and the inspiration that led to a decided shift in landscape and a few perfect places to spend their time at home...
"My husband showed me that there were landscape architecture classes available at the U (lifelong learning classes), so I signed up! It was a terrific way to start the planning process and really think about how we live in our home and outside environments."
What is it that made you want to dive into re-imagining your yard?
We moved to our new house and one thing we were really missing was the backyard oasis that we had created at our last home. We used to LIVE outside on our deck where there was a big built-in sofa. That was the one thing we knew we needed to work on with this new house—when we moved in the yard was almost all grass with garden beds that had been neglected for quite some time.
How did you know what you wanted to do? Did you consult the experts or already have a specific vision in mind?
I knew I wanted that comfy sofa area and almost pulled the trigger to simply enlarge the existing, small patio. But then my husband showed me that there were landscape architecture classes available at the U (lifelong learning classes), so I signed up! It was a terrific way to start the planning process and really think about how we live in our home and outside environments. From the work I did in the class, I developed a site plan and spent time in the existing yard looking at the light and the views, both from outside and inside looking out. We broke up the area into zones and developed the hardscape and planting plans from there. It was really important to us to eliminate much of the water-wasting grass while keeping enough for kids and dogs to play.
Any particular challenges with the project?
We had the added challenge of a large window on the front of the home—it affords great views and lets so much beautiful light into the living room, but it felt like we were living in a fish bowl. So by fixing the grade out front and adding a strategically placed courtyard with a small fence, we were able to create some privacy and add to the outdoor living spaces with a small sitting area where we can enjoy the views.
How do you use your yard space on a daily basis? And how do you think these updates will change that?
We could not WAIT for the project to be complete, and we have spent nearly every day outside since. There are shade areas strategically placed throughout the yard and the covered area over the dining table means that it's a comfortable place to be, come rain or shine. We also installed a hot tub (out of view) and have been enjoying that in the cool evenings and as the weather gets chillier. We've had countless extended family dinners and so many friends over to enjoy the space. The three of us often hang out in the hammocks and read or chat. It's such a nice way to connect and talk.
What are you most excited about?
I’m very excited for the plants we have chosen to mature and provide more softness and color to the modern finishes we've chosen. The compliment of the straight lines and simple color plan of the exterior with the movement and interest of the ornamental grasses, trees, and other perennials should be so lovely. I also recently planted a bunch of spring bulbs that will pop up when the snow fades and give that first green life after the cold!
In what ways do you think a backyard adds value to your home?
I feel like we’ve made it an extension of the living space. We widened the sliding glass door to better connect the interior and exterior spaces and added high quality windows and fixtures. The front courtyard helps to blend the interior and exterior. Professional landscape lighting gives each zone a lovely vibe at night, and I think that these kinds of details create the feeling of “home” that people are craving when they're searching for the right spot. I hope that we're here for many years to come—the connections we create with friends, extended family, and between the three of us are really all the value we wanted. :)
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