Residence One
Spring is just around the corner and some of you might be thinking about sprucing up your outdoor area. Whether you own acres of land or just own or rent a home with a small outdoor space, it's nice to have a cozy and functional patio area for yourself and a few guests. I wanted to share a last model home tour of the outside spaces where they really made the most out of their small spaces. Here in the suburban coastal area of Southern California, real estate is at a premium. That means outdoor spaces, particularly in newer homes, are small. Why is it so expensive here? These photos were taken in January and the temperature was 80 degrees, that's why! If you miss the snow, it's just an hour and a half drive to the local mountain ski resorts. Surf in the morning, snow ski in the afternoon. I love living here. Yes, I am bragging. Don't hate me, today it's dark and cloudy and raining. Boy, we sure need the water!
If you love greenery in your outdoor space, but don't have a lot of room, a great idea is always container gardening. If you also want almost maintenance free container garden, choose drought tolerant plants. Succulents are my favorite and they're so easy and attractive.
Another space saving trick with greenery is to go vertical. In this space they planted bamboo all along the fence. It's drought tolerant, grows fast, provides privacy, and is pretty to look at. It's perfect for a planter, because it will take over your yard if it's not contained. It's actually a member of the grass family!
The jacuzzi is a perfect choice for this size of yard and is more cost effective and lower maintenance than a pool. You could turn off the heater in the Summer and use it to cool off in. I like the light feature in it. It makes the backyard look romantic at night. The tiled wall at the rear of the jacuzzi is actually a waterfall, and makes a beautiful water sound.
I really like the wooden decking (no lawn mower needed) and how they added additional wood to the tops of the planter walls for extra seating. You could seat a lot of people in this little yard!
How would you like to watch T.V. while sitting in your jacuzzi?
Or maybe watch the game with Hubby in front of the outdoor fireplace?
