Your backyard design style finder made simple

Your backyard design style finder made simple This is California after all; we have the best weather around but like many you need to make the most of our outdoor spaces. You may cringe if I tell you describe the current state of your home’s exterior, so I will ask you to tell me what you dream for it to look like. Are you dreaming of a picture perfect pool alongside a massive outdoor kitchen, a Zen garden and water fountain to meditate in or lush paradise that reminds you of your favorite vacation? Small or large outdoor spaces can be made simple. Tip, tricks and inspiration to help you figure out what your backyard style is:

Design style: Modern with a chef flare

This large poolside, covered patio boasts a builtin BBQ and cooking area. This is a great way to spruce up your exterior and entertain in comfort. Modern concept of outdoor kitchen designs features almost everything that a regular kitchen has, but in a compact manner.Taking ideas from holiday resorts, an outdoor kitchen concept for homes may also accommodate a bar and a classy fireplace. To talk about functionality, a complete outdoor kitchen can be equipped with pergola, BBQ grill, refrigeration and enough storage.

Design style: Kid Friendly and Compact This outdoor space is perfectly arranged to give the adults a space to grill and chat while the kids have a space to call their own. Using multi-levels breaks up a small yard and makes it appear larger with more functionality.

Design style: Complementary Modern Using the multi-levels in this great back yard the home owner took one flat lot and created a fun outdoor space to enjoy. The small areas of grass and vegetation make this yard low on the list to keep up with yet add that pop of fresh plants that it needs to feel like a backyard getaway. Living in a tight space? Use tall, and thick plants as a natural screen to give you extra privacy.

Design style: Contemporary Clean and cutting edge design does not have to stop inside the door of your home. This yard is almost no maintenance, and includes a great water feature. Do not be afraid to add luxe furniture and pops of art to your patio or outdoor space.

If you didn't find your perfect backyard style here today, drop us a comment and tell us what your perfect outdoor space looks like.

Kick up your exterior to top notch !

Kick up your exterior to top notch ! curb ap·peal

NOUN

1. the attractiveness of a property and its surroundings when viewed from the street:

"landscaping, the front entrance, and the condition of the paint or siding are the biggest factors in curb appeal"

“Driving through Los Angeles neighborhoods and any like neighborhoods you will notice houses that can use a little sprucing up. We spend some much time on the inside of our homes that we forget when the outside needs attention. Curb appeal is important no matter if your home is on the market or not. Maybe you have just neglected the outside as you don’t have the time or budget to vamp it up.” Stop neglecting the exterior of your home! Exterior design and remodel is just as important as the kitchen remodel, you just may not know it.

Exterior remodel and exterior design can add value to your home in the upward tens of thousands of dollars. You may have not noticed that your curb appeal is downright lacking in the curb appeal game, but we have and we are here to help.

First we need to talk about a few Exterior materials that can be used on your home:

1. Wood siding

2. Stone veneer

3. Stucco

4. Metal siding

5. Brick

Stucco can be seen in many different colors and textures:

With all the options of exterior materials for your home, we have to include this detailed gallery to give you a better idea of what it looks like on a home.

This Los Angeles modern home makes a very bold "curb appeal" statement with a mix of stucco and wood siding. Clean lines and minimal landscape design give this exterior something to be proud of.

This Spanish style cottage in LA gives the front entrance a tropical feel with stucco and an authentic tile door way.

A traditional Los Angeles home is tucked behind a white picket fence to showcase wood siding exterior and a faux balcony. Stone pillars connect this crisp fence and gated driveway.

This screams mid century meets contemporary exterior for the new crowd of Los Angeles. IPE siding and cement create this beauty.

Modern Spazio LA design showcasing cement, IPE fencing and siding - such a show stopper! This house's curb appeal has the neighbors green with envy.

If you can’t change it, retain it. With a retaining wall that is.

  If you can’t change it, retain it. With a retaining wall that is.

Slopping yards can be a nightmare. What a loss of all that space! And what happens when it rains? Building a retaining wall is one way to correct the errors of a slopping yard, and allow you to utilize the space safely.

A retaining wall is a protective structure, first and foremost. It is a structure that holds back soil from a building or structure. Retaining walls can serve aesthetic and landscape design functions as well. A retaining wall installation completed by a quality professional will enhance the value of one's home.

Types of Materials for Retaining Walls:

• Concrete
• Stone
• Brick
• Wood timber

Avoid Retaining wall failures, save your money and yard.  There are many complex reasons for damage or complete structural failure of retaining walls, but a combination of contributing factors and mistakes may include:

• Inadequate assessment of site conditions
• Underestimating the forces of nature: Rain and wet conditions need to be taken into consideration.
• Improper design
• Choosing a  marginal structural construction system
• Confusing the aesthetic requirements of a wall with structural necessity

Inadequate footings:   Don’t skimp out on quality footings when building, inadequate footings may also result in unseen, progressive damage and resulting in failure.

Incorrect construction:  Inadequate construction and poor quality of workmanship. Incorrect choice of materials: examples may unsuitable stone, dimensioned timbers that are too small, wrong choice of wood species, and untreated timbers that rot.

Unstable ground conditions and slumping, friable, or plastic soils. Can be caused  and exacerbated by local traffic and vibration.

Inadequate drainage: wet ground soil conditions, unrelieved subsurface water pressure

Surface water damage from constant, or unexpected, uncontrolled surface water runoff

If your Retaining wall is not built properly, it will fail!

Transform your backyard with Hardscape

Transform your backyard with Hardscape Question: What is "Hardscaping"? Which Materials Does It Encompass?

Answer: "Hardscaping" refers to the non-living components of a landscape. Hardscaping includes elements made from wood, even though wood was once an animate material (in the form of trees). Living plants, by contrast, constitute the "softscaping."

In particular, as the name implies, "hardscaping" refers to hard materials such as those composed of concrete, brick or stone, in addition to wood. For instance, constructing a patio or deck is a hardscaping project, as is a brick walkway, a stone wall, or a wooden fence.

The back yard is a great place to entertain when the weather is beautiful.  And Hardscaping is an attractive feature and offers many appealing options for your back yard, from a rustic stacked wall to a fully developed outdoor living room and kitchen. Once you've decided to create an outdoor space, you must plan carefully to meet your hardscaping goals and design your dream back yard. Every southern California home should take advantage of our incredible weather by expanding our living space into the outdoors through the use of patios, lovely dining or sitting areas. These areas are great for entertaining and just plain relaxing and also help ease the transition between house and garden!

Contact Spazio LA to design your next backyard paradise.