July 25, 2017

Our Backyard {The Progress So Far}

Our backyard is not quite finished, but I thought I would share the progress so far!

When we first looked at our home, the backyard was one of the main reasons I fell in love with it. There was just something so charming about it and I envisioned having parties, BBQ’s,  a morning cup of coffee or evening glass of wine. However, each time we attempted to hang out there, we realized that it needed some work. The area was quite grassy, a bit dirty, buggy, very uneven and there was just something that felt uncomfortable about it. But, we just moved in, had a baby and everything, aside from Nate, took a back seat.

A little over a month ago, we finally got the ball rolling! Here’s where we’re at:

*We opted for bluestones (rather than keeping it grassy) to make it more “hangout friendly.” The team came in and leveled out the ground, so now it feels nice and even and we don’t feel like we’re sinking into the ground.

*We kept a couple inch border around for some plants, herbs and veggies.

*We went back and forth on getting a pergola and I’m so happy we did! We got ours from Wayfair . This is the one we went with.

*We (and when I say we, I mean Keith….) added lights to the pergola that we bought from Costco.

So that’s what we’re up to. Of course I’ll be sharing the final photos here, but thought it would be fun to share where we’re currently at!

PS: I’ve had some questions ask what our plan is come winter. Here’s what we’re thinking: we’re planning on getting outdoor wicker furniture which we’ll cover for the winter. We’re getting an outdoor rug that we’ll roll up and put away for the season. Some plants will come inside and others, we’ll have to replace with each season.

Edited to add: I’ve had a few questions asking me what our plans are as far as Nate is concerned. We most certainly plan to have a little “garden” area for him. It’s going to be an area he can dig and play around in and an area that is his. Also, Keith has a massive green thumb, so that’s going to be their father and son thing that he plans to teach him along the way. We also got him a little sandbox and pool for summer months, so hopefully that’s enough to keep him busy and happy! If not, we’ll learn as we go and make necessary adjustments. Thank you all for your comments and feedback!

Share

33 comments

  • La Bijoux Bella | by mia

    Simply beautiful … a space for relaxing and chill after a hard day’s of work … very lovely and a great use of space. 🙂

    ??LA BIJOUX BELLA ??| By Mia | A Creative Lifestyle Blog

  • jenn from much to my delight

    That looks amazing! Our backyard in Queens sits against our driveway, so it’s been interesting to plan around so much concrete. Your space is lovely, and I really love the pergola!

  • fatou diaw

    I love the setting!
    xx
    https://www.closettostreet.com/

  • Mireia

    Absolutely love it!

    Mireia from TGL
    https://thegoldlipstick.com/

  • Caitlin

    I think your backyard looks awesome! Other adjectives that come to mind? Enchanting, inviting, and definitely your own personal oasis!

    I would love to learn more about your house, too! I’ve read through your house tour post(s) but would be interested in hearing about your hunt and final decision. What neighborhood are you in? Is it a brownstone? Do you own the whole thing? What’s the front look like? Is there a little front yard that you are sprucing up? Sorry if you feel it’s nosy…I’m just really curious! 🙂

  • Sel

    Beautiful Helena, simple and elegant. Just out of curiosity, is there space for cutie-pie Nate to play outside? Being a Mum of a boy (albeit a young man now), my son loved to play outside – especially digging in dirt with his toy trucks and watching bugs and frogs. As a toddler and pre-schooler, he would rescue snails (and other creepy crawlies) from his Granddad’s veggie garden and release them in our garden (I didn’t have the heart to say no).

    • Helena

      Hey Sel,

      you’re absolutely right and we definitely plan to have an area for him. I just edited the post to include our plans for him!

  • faith

    It looks great. Can’t wait to see the final photos.

  • Luci's Morsels

    How stunning! Love the simplicity and elegance of the pergola. Such a beautiful outdoor space!

    Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.

  • TUESDAY 10 | Atlantic-Pacific

    […] eight // My friend Helena has just completed an amazing backyard renovation at her house in Brooklyn and I can’t wait to visit! Check out her post on the progress here. […]

  • Andrea

    Oh wow! It’s amazing what you did with this backyard! It looks so beautiful and cozy with the lights… Amazing Job!
    Andrea
    Pebbles and Blooms

  • Sharon

    i just love it! It’s beautiful and you should be proud of all your hard work. I love the pergola, do you think it will hold up in the winter? I was thinking of getting one too but ended up getting a large tilted white and navy striped umbrella. I also just put on a patio, this past spring it made such a difference to our backyard dinners, other than this last week or two we’ve had the majority of our spring and summer dinners outside. Its rally fun! Thanks for sharing!
    http://www.forthewonderer.com

  • Margo

    It looks amazing! The perfect urban oasis. Enjoy it!

  • Happywifeisahappylife

    What a wonderful transformation! Such a charming and inviting space you both turned it to. Can’t wait to see the final photos and transformation per season!

  • Alexa

    I am absolutely loving the process. It’s so boho chic and the lightssss!! Major Pinterest goals 🙂 This inspired me to redo somethings in my living room & dining room area. I’m determined to make it look and feel how I want it to be. Thanks for sharing your process!

    Xo, Alexa
    http://www.muselifestylestudio.com

  • Vitri

    Really love it! It looks amazing, so cozy for fun summer nights.
    xo, Vitri

    http://www.vanillalash.com

  • Kristie

    It looks awesome! Really like the seating you used.

    https://www.bluelabelsboutique.com

  • Kat

    Very cool backyard. I know New York is super cramped so it is great that you are transforming this space into a cozy backyard. The tiling is also very nice.
    xx Kat
    http://www.satinandpeachblog.wordpress.com

  • Kritsida

    So cute! Great job on the renovation! Home projects are always so rewarding!
    x. kritsida
    http://aperfectcanvas.net/

  • Brooke baIley

    I love this, however, as a mom of a boy also, what do you plan on doing for him? I’ve learned, having a kid, it’s not my house anymore, it’s his. Pergola is beautiful, make sure you protect it in the cold months.

    • Helena

      Hey Brooke,

      You are right! I just edited the post to include our plans for him – because we definitely have some! 🙂

      Thank you!!

  • alexia

    This is soooooo cute! OMG!!

    See my latest post:
    // stay put
    born bred BE – a blog by Alexia

  • Annie

    Oh my goodness, this is a dream backyard! NYC goals!
    XO Annie
    New England Romance

  • Ashley w

    It looks great! So cozy and inviting!!

  • K. Elizabeth

    Love the pergola and the stone patio! We’re in the process of improving the landscaping for both our front and back yards. I can’t wait until we have an official patio/bbq area.

  • Marthine J Angrand

    I love it!

  • Silje

    Love the vibe you’re creating! So beautiful!

    x Silje
    http://www.pentupstyle.blogspot.com

  • Liz

    This looks like a boutique hotel!!!!! LOOKS AWESOME and I love it!

  • Animeyt

    It looks great. Thanks

  • Lauren

    Wow, this looks INCREDIBLE! Morning cups of coffee and evening glasses of wine will certainly be enhanced by this space!!

  • Tasha G.

    Wow!! it coming along beautifully.

Subscribe
to the newsletter