Weird (But Wonderful) Backyard Additions
These outdoor areas will have you looking at the potential of your own backyard through fresh eyes. Do you dare to be different?
Joanna Tovia
5 February 2015
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
Wouldn’t it be boring if we were all the same? When it comes to interiors and outdoor trends, most of us tend to toe the line and stick with tried and true approaches. But why not take a more adventurous approach? These outdoor areas are a little out there, but they are no less functional for it. In fact, most of them are completely fabulous in their own way. See what tickles your fancy.
Scarecrows are fun in any veggie patch, but if you have the room, a sculpture as attention-grabbing as this one could be the secret ingredient your garden has been missing.
What could be more relaxing on a Sunday morning than reading the paper with the soothing sound of running water beside you? And I do mean beside you!
Having a hedge or two in your backyard is one thing, but why not create something truly extraordinary with a living sculpture? Mosaiculture is a refined horticultural art using plants creatively. This one, and the one below, were created for Mosaïcultures Internationales de Montréal.
See more living sculptures
See more living sculptures
Labyrinths have been around since ancient times but the fast pace of modern-day life makes them just as valid today – walking a labyrinth is known to reduce stress. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one way in and one way out, so you don’t have to think about where you’re walking. Research shows that walking a labyrinth slows your breathing and heart rate, and lowers your blood pressure – even after doing it just once. With health benefits like these, a labyrinth is a valuable backyard addition!
Forget the swim-up bar, this swim-up barbecue has it going on! Cooking up a storm in front of an audience will have you feeling like a MasterChef in action.
Outdoor soft furnishings are so last year. The angles on this concrete chair make it comfortable despite the hard surfaces, and the ‘fireballs’ take this gas fireplace to new heights.
Fireballs: Rasmussen
Fireballs: Rasmussen
These Queen of Love armchairs are all this deck needs to make it weird but wonderful. They’re made from UV-resistant recyclable plastic and at almost 100cm wide, they’re big enough for two people to sit in. One thing’s for sure – chairs like these are the last thing guests will expect when they step out into your backyard.
This is a fine example of how a little imagination can create a backyard of sheer delight. What could you do differently with the paving in your backyard to make it more interesting?
More: 12 Instrumental Ideas to Bring a Little More Music Into Your Life
More: 12 Instrumental Ideas to Bring a Little More Music Into Your Life
These music-loving homeowners have taken the concept a step further with a violin-shaped pool, complete with bow. Lap swimming would be a whole lot more fun in a pool like this, especially at night.
This captivating garden plays with proportion and texture brilliantly. The soft no-mow grass is creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra) and the trees were transplanted from an old olive grove. The oversized urn looks like it could have been discarded there by a giant.
A flower bed takes on a whole new meaning in this garden, adding quirky appeal to what would otherwise be a pleasant but uneventful garden.
There’s something fishy about this front gate, in the best possible sense of the word. An unexpected front gate could be just the thing to set the tone for your house … especially if you’re a little on the kooky side yourself.
YOUR SAY
Which of these do you love or loathe? Share your opinions (or a picture of your own weird but wonderful backyard) in the Comments.
MORE
12 Gorgeous Gates for Your Dream Garden
Jazz Up Your Garden With Fun Features
What’s So Funny? How to Make Space for Humour in Your Home
Funny Dunnies: 14 Weird and Wonderful Loos
YOUR SAY
Which of these do you love or loathe? Share your opinions (or a picture of your own weird but wonderful backyard) in the Comments.
MORE
12 Gorgeous Gates for Your Dream Garden
Jazz Up Your Garden With Fun Features
What’s So Funny? How to Make Space for Humour in Your Home
Funny Dunnies: 14 Weird and Wonderful Loos
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hi where can I buy the running water table?