This backyard project reveal has been months in the making! The Husband has been working on this since early summer and I’m so proud of him, come on over and you’ll see why… (Video at the end of this post! xo)
Let’s start with the garden gate! We wanted a gate that felt a little like the Arched Tudor Entry Door The Husband made last spring Posted HERE..but since it’s a garden gate, it had to be more rustic…he actually burned this door to give the wood an old look…
Come on in!
Here’s the entry area under construction…our son, Timothy and another friend helped us put down the pavers…
Here’s the fire pit area under construction…
…I’m still sweeping gravel dust out of the house 🙂
Isn’t the transformation amazing!???
The space underneath the deck was completely unusable when we moved into the house a year ago…
But with a few tons of dirt and a bobcat The Husband tamed our unruly backyard!
Now the space underneath the deck is usable and kinda pretty…I’m thinking about a table under here…
The pondless waterfall is probably my favorite thing about the backyard…we can hear the water running on the screen porch and even in the den when the porch doors are open…the pondless waterfall posted HERE ( Notice the suds in the water? If you follow All Things Heart and Home on Facebook, you may have seen my posts on Saturday…if not, I’ll show you more about those suds tomorrow!)
This is the waterfall just weeks after we finished it…
Here it is the summer 3 years after we finished it!
We have a play area for our tiny granddaughters…(I have a couple of projects in mind for this area too…)
Update: We added a little pathway to the play area and the Hostas are only a year old, still they’re happy…
And The Husband added this lazy rope swing…our daughters say this is their favorite thing…
We wanted a fire pit but weren’t sure we’d love it…but we do! We’ve used it 4 or 5 times in the past couple of weeks and it’s just so much fun. (The Husband said to tell you that the fire in the picture below was MY doing. I wanted to have it for the photo shoot! He said it was the sissiest fire he’d ever seen 🙂 )
The fire pit was SUPER easy. We got the insides and the stones to make the outside at The Home Depot. The Husband couldn’t believe how fast it went in and really, it looks pretty great don’t ‘cha think?
The stacked stone walls are perfect height for seating should we need it…
Our pups love being out here now that all that gravel dust is gone!
The pavers go on forever, I didn’t take pictures of the entire patio yet because it’s just kinda plain! We have a few things in mind for the space but we aren’t gearing up for another project till spring…so stay tuned 🙂
And now that all those months and months of hard work are over The Husband promises he’s going to rest and enjoy it…
I’ll believe that when I see it…
UPDATED PHOTOS BELOW
Making over the backyard wasn’t the end of our garden project, it was the beginning. A garden, no matter how small is always a work in progress because it’s a living, growing entity. Sometimes areas need to be changed, like the grass behind the stone wall. When we realized the grass wasn’t thriving back there we made another flower bed…
The bed will be filling in as the plants grow and we’ll likely add a few every year…
Adding a few friendly annuals every spring is an easy way to brighten up this mostly shady garden space…
We’ve also added a little path to the play area and Hostas are thriving in this shadowed spot…
Having a little space for gardening is good for the soul. It’s therapeutic to play in the dirt and then watch something grow. Our garden isn’t grand or showy, but like I said, it’s a work in progress and I love it…every single little plant.
If you want a little more…
HERE is how the backyard handles a crowd, it’s All-Things Fall Party! And HERE is how our old looking deck became new again using Behr Deck0ver to give our very old deck, new life!
Here’s the video from my youtube channel! If you like it, head over and have a look, I’ll be adding more in the coming weeks!
Sending love my friends xo
Linking with Kim at Savvy Southern Style
Linking with Yvonne at Stone Gable
Pretty darn stunning!
You give me hope for our backyard! We are at the clearing stage of a yard that has been neglected for 3+ years. It sat vacant for two of those three and if you know the South, those vines take over everything! Love everything you did in your yard. Can’t wait to see pics from your Fall party!
Amber! I soooo understand a neglected yard! Oh boy, it takes a bit of time to get everything undercontrol, sending love xo
What a gorgeous backyard! Everything about it looks so welcoming and inviting. I think I could sit out there for hours on end 🙂 Great job!
Robin, Your yard is absolutely perfect! How wonderful that you can hear the waterfall from your porch. Sounds like a dream! And I love the swing. I have found so much inspiration here. Great job!!!
Courtney, thank you! My hope is that anyone who sees it can find inspiration for their own space 🙂 So I appreciate you telling me that! ox
You two are amazing; exhausting but amazing! The husband has such an eye for detail…I wouldn’t have noticed the sissiest fire…but now that you mention it, ha!! Beautiful setting and I know it is truly warmed with the heart! Blessings!
Tom, I think we’re exhausted!!!! He does have an eye for detail and I’m sure the fire is an insult to a hunter/outdoors man like yourself! 🙂
I think this is just lovely!!! So inviting! Thank you for sharing!
Carolyn, thank you for your encouragement …xo
Really, really pretty and nice. It is just in time for fall weather. I see your furry “children” are enjoying it also. That’s our family! The dogs go and get everywhere. They have the motto, “No rules here!” Enjoy! Lisa
Lisa, thank you ! And yes, the pups love the yard!!! xo
It looks amazing, like straight out of a magazine. You have one talented husband.
Absolutely stunning Robin! I know it’s a lot of work but so worth it in the end and the satisfaction from doing it yourselves is so wonderful! Can’t wait to see more pictures!!!~~Angela
Ang, You and your hubby really do know how much work a backyard project is!!! Thank you friend sending love
Ahhhhmazing, Robyn! Congratulations to you and hubby! Your patio is just another reason I wished we lived closer!
Barbara, I knoooow! Come visit any time friend!ox
FANTASTIC!!! Particularly the pondless waterfall. We have an upper and a lower pond and as far as I am concerned they are nothing but an additional area that has to be cleaned and winterized, plus can’t let toddlers out there without supervision.
Bliss…we decided on the pondless for that exact reason…I’m a worrier about my babies! ox
Hubby did an amazing job. What a wonderful space to enjoy the pretty view and some fresh air.
Robin, thank you so much friend xo
That gate!! I LOVE it!! It’s perfect for your area. What a wonderful space. 🙂 I am thinking of buying my daughter and son-in-law a free standing fire pit for Christmas for their patio. They plan to build a house in a few years though and I know they will want something like yours then. Is yours a freestanding pit that your husband surrounded by the stones? And if you don’t mind me asking 😉 where did you buy it? I had already planned to look at them today online so your post is perfect today. 🙂 Thanks in advance Robin!! 🙂
that shaded area underneath the deck would be perfect for a hammock!! tell TH he did a fantastic job! would love to have him come to our lawn and consult! i’m very serious; we have drainage issues that i think he could address and advise us how to beautify the space. would y’all come to dinner and we could talk about that?
Jenn, I’m sure he could come up with ideas for you!!! And a hammock is on the spring to-do list, I’ll tell him you agree with that! ox
Absolutely stunning! Congratulations on a gorgeous outdoor space! (Which is the pinterest board I just pinned this to!)
Laura, thank you so much friend for pinning and for being so kind!ox
I LOVE everything about your backyard. It’s just perfect. You are blessed with a large family and this is the perfect yard to entertain them all. You and your hubby have such wonderful ideas. Your home, inside and out, is so warm and inviting. Love, love, love.
Kathy, thank you so much,you’ve encouraged me today my friend xo
That door your husband made is beautiful and I am mildly obsessed with it, lol. Your backyard looks great! Pinned 🙂
Thank you Katie!And I’m with you on that door!!! I’m in mad love with it, but I can’t wait to tell The Husband you liked it, he’ll be so happy! ox
Wow, perfect. I can hear your family laughing out their now.
I love your page topper, my favorite!
Wow, perfect. I can hear your family laughing out there now.
I love your page topper, my favorite!
Thanks so much Ruthie…sending love xo
Perfect space for relaxing and making family memories. There’s nothing more tranquil than the sound of water trickling over the stones. I can even picture tiny white lights lighting the area at night. May you enjoy this space for many years to come, my dear friend!!! Hugs!
Eileen, I agree about the water! And my daughter Steph said the same thing about lights! I’ll tell The Husband you mentioned them too! xo
Just can’t believe I left before the bubbles!!!
And I didn’t swing on the girls’ swing. Tell The Husband I’ll be back~He was so sweet to tell me about the swing, and then I forgot to swing.
Can’t EVEN tell you how much I love your home. I think I took a piece of Heaven with me.
XOXO
Julie I can’t believe you didn’t swing! It’s just the best feeling…like you’re 10 again! ox love u
Oh Robin! It’s just beautiful!!!!!!! I’m so envious of all your new outdoor living space! Wow!! Just love it alllll!!! 🙂
xoxo laurie
Thank you Laurie, come over!!! ox
You guys really have created the best backyard ever!
Thanks Julia, but we still need a cat walk like yours! xo
It’s so lovely…and getting to see photos of you and Julie together on Julie’s blog was lovely also!
Elizabeth, thank you so much friend xo
I love the photos of the backyard project as it was being transformed! Mike did an amazing job!!
He has such a vision for beauty and the stamina to complete them. The finished product is beautiful!!
Brenda, He really does have a great eye for design and the know=how to make it happen! Love you
It looks awesome! And I absolutely love that garden gate!
thank you Erin! xo
Robin, I just LOVE all that y’all have done to your backyard….SO inviting!! Love the waterfall, under deck area, firepit! It looks wonderful, and I know y’all are going to make so many sweet memories with those grandbabies out there!! xo I’m pinning this and showing my hubby, because we have a very similar under deck area that needs something!!
Melanie, don’t you think a farm table would be fun under there!!!? Thanks for pinning sweet friendox
Hi Robin, Your husband made the transformations look so very easy-love the waterfall and the fire pit. O.k. so being the dog lover I am(even though we only have one now)I’m wondering what breed your small white dog is-Maltese? I’m so excited reading all about your home and your projects since you moved. Looking forward to going back over past posts too.
Hugs, Noreen
Noreen, YES! We have THREE Malteses!!!! Can you beeelieve it!? I’m so happy to talk to you and look forward to getting to know you better! ox
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything, but especially the gate!
Just stunning!!! Your husband should be very proud of himself!! What a beautiful place to enjoy for many years to come!!!
Hi! I love your backyard! We recently just made a firepit just like yours but we need a cover. How did you make it? Where did you u buy it? We have been looking everywhere and don’t know what to do. Thanks for your help!!
Hi Kathryn! Here is the Fire Pit Cover post:
http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/2014/08/diy-fire-pit-cover/