Country backyard and first floor deck in Charlotte with an outdoor kitchen, an awning and wood railing.

“Reconnecting ourselves to nature in our outdoor spaces, whether large or small, can be life changing.” So says Alan Titchmarsh in the introduction to ITV’s Love Your Garden, and we couldn’t agree more. It’s why we were so delighted to be involved in their latest episode – to, as Alan put it, “replace James’s rather, ahem, rustic barbeque, with something a little bit smarter…” Watch the episode to see Alan and his talented team – Danny Clarke, Katie Rushworth and Bruce Kenneth – turn a Burnley Builder’s Yard into a Burnley Bliss… with a little bit of inspiration from a familiar-looking Stockport Shangri-La. The episode saw Britain’s best loved gardener head to the Lancashire town of Burnley to meet a very special plumber. James Anderson set up a charity, Depher CIC, to provide free plumbing services to the elderly and vulnerable families in the region. What began 5 years ago as a gesture of support for his elderly neighbours has grown into a charity that’s supported more than 39,000 people across Lancashire, who otherwise simply couldn’t afford it. Even though James now heads up a team of plumbers, he’s still out there 7 days a week, 10 hours a day, leading the charge. During COVID he dedicated his front garden to those in the area who don’t have a garden, letting anyone come and plant or place something there in memory of someone they’d lost. But his own backgarden, which should have been a place of escape and relaxation from his hectic life of helping others, was little more than a neglected builders yard; paved from front to back. It was, as Alan said, one of the bleakest gardens that they’d ever taken on. In redesigning James’s garden, Alan took inspiration from a garden in that featured in LIVING ‘22 – Stockport, Cheshire. It used a lot of hard landscaping, in varying colours and shapes, to fantastic effect – making the garden not only low maintenance, but much more interesting. The garden had been divided into 3 different sections – a relaxation area, a Grillo outdoor kitchen area, and a private party social space – a veritable Ibizan party pad.

Outdoor feature stone fireplace with wood burning fire and outdoor BBQ.
This is an example of a contemporary backyard deck in Sydney with with fireplace, a roof extension and glass railing.

Photo of a beach style deck in Other with an outdoor kitchen.

Deck off of the great room with heaters tv's and amazing views. BBQ and dual beer keg with sunset bar.
Expansive transitional first floor deck in San Francisco with an outdoor kitchen, a roof extension and wood railing.

Convert the existing deck to a new indoor / outdoor space with retractable EZ Breeze windows for full enclosure, cable railing system for minimal view obstruction and space saving spiral staircase, fireplace for ambiance and cooler nights with LVP floor for worry and bug free entertainment

Al fresco dining is at a long table set to accommodate up to eight people, with meals prepared and served from an adjacent outdoor stone kitchen.
Design ideas for an expansive traditional backyard deck in Other with an outdoor kitchen and cable railing.

Design ideas for a backyard and ground level deck in Sydney with an outdoor kitchen and a roof extension.

Photo of a large traditional backyard deck in Richmond with with fireplace, no cover and metal railing.

Outdoor kitchen with built-in BBQ, sink, stainless steel cabinetry, and patio heaters. Design by: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com Built by: Crescent Builds Photos by: Julie Mannell Photography

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern rooftop and rooftop deck in Other with an outdoor kitchen, a pergola and mixed railing.

In preparation for an annual family gathering, our clients decided to upgrade their yard to include low-maintenance materials. Choosing wood composite decking retained the traditional look of wood while featuring the modern convenience of sustainability. TimberTech was selected for the plank flooring, multiple custom bench seating, and plant bases. In order to keep their guests safe at any time of the day, small round lights on programmable timers were installed to illuminate the wide decking stairs. Wanting to house the grill in an upscale way, a custom built-in stone enclosure topped with granite was created to face out into the entertainment area. This way, the chef of the house can have all the necessary conveniences while still being part of the fun. Now, these homeowners can focus more on entertaining and less on upkeep.

Outdoor covered deck features grilling station, gas fireplace, outdoor tv and ceiling heaters.
Large arts and crafts backyard deck in Seattle with with fireplace and a roof extension.

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style backyard deck in Other with with fireplace and a roof extension.

The focal point is the ultra-versatile and envy-inducing outdoor living space. Intelligent and aesthetic features abound. There’s always an opportunity to use this area thanks to the retractable screen and automated ceiling louvres. The recessed TV above the gas fireplace allows the ‘game’ to be watched in any weather.

Natural Stone Eden Steps ilo Traditional Cedar Steps
Mid-sized traditional backyard deck in Chicago with an outdoor kitchen and a pergola.

Country deck in Other with with fireplace and a roof extension.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional backyard deck in Other with an outdoor kitchen and no cover.

Creating a clear contrast between work and home environments is always ideal, but it’s almost essential for those who live in urban areas. The pleasant suburb Westmere is close to many of Auckland’s major attractions - from the city centre to Auckland Zoo. While practical and close to both work and play, living so close to a city centre can produce the need for a home that provides a retreat from the hustle and bustle. When Zones landscaping specialist Kate Ryan was contacted by a Westmere family with some exciting landscaping ideas, she used the Zones bespoke design and build process to help them create an outdoor living space that meets their lifestyle needs. Homeowner Matt and his family were interested in creating an outdoor living area that would lead out from their interior living space. It needed to be a space that they would gravitate toward regardless of the season. “The back area was under utilised with a hard concrete pad that wasn’t big enough to sit on or pleasant to look at, and a lawn that didn’t grow well due to the lower position”, explains Kate. “The clients wanted the area to look smart and modern, and for it to link with their house. Creating a space that they would be able to use all year around was a priority.” Kate presented her customers with a design that cohesively featured their ideas. She then worked with them to perfect this design to their specifications. “The process was very client orientated - we worked on the finer details of everything”, tells Kate. “There were meetings making out the space and taking the time to get the proportions right. The design encompassed a new outdoor living area with a large concrete fire, louvre roof, new decking, spa area and artificial turf.” Once the homeowners were happy with the finer details of the design and the related costs, Kate and her team began the construction and installation process. Accessing the site proved challenging, as the landscape is closely surrounded by other houses. “The access was difficult and getting the thick concrete pad out was very challenging and costly”, says Kate. “I found a decking supplier that could fix timber onto the concrete with special fixings so it could be flush with the house floor height. This saved the client money on the excavation and disposal. We still took part of the concrete out to make the lawn area bigger and get the proportions of the decking, louvre roof and lawn looking great.” Every stylistic choice reflected Kate’s customers’ goal to be able to have an enjoyable outdoor area that is functional no matter the weather. Team Turf supplied the artificial turf, which allows the homeowners to live in a mud-free zone throughout the winter. It also provides an easy maintenance solution in comparison to their original lawn. Vitex decking, from HiDeck, now offers an aesthetic contrast between the open and covered areas, while the Eclipse louvre roof allows sunlight to stream through in the summer while providing sealed coverage in the winter. The outdoor fireplace and spa area were the final touches, creating some winter warmth. “Kate was very efficient in coordinating all of the tradies”, tells homeowner Matt. “She had a very good bunch of people working on the project and it all went very smoothly. The Zones project management process was pretty much as I expected. It was quick, efficient and everything was on budget. Kate listened to my ideas, which were ever changing of course. It took the responsibility away from me, which was what I wanted.” Kate and her customers enjoyed champagne by the roaring fire to celebrate the completed result. Kate says working with her customers was great and that, together, they achieved “such a good result!” “It’s all come together really well,’’ agrees Matt. “I would have to say my favourite features are the Louvre and the fireplace. The louvre guys have been really good to work with. All of the suppliers were very accommodating and helped us through some tricky little problems. We’re very impressed!”