The Backyards Library

A little curiosity. A better backyard.

Gardens to explore, things to grow, and ideas for the way you live outside. Browse the stories or follow a collection below.

Find a story ↓

Find your next good idea.

A flexible measuring tape resting on a building plan.

The Planning Notebook

Where to spend when everything is on the wish list

Choose the experiences you value before upgrading every surface and accessory.

From the notebook

A recessed spa and fireplace occupy separate terraces below the house, with steps connecting the levels

Project Feature

Terraces that leave room for the view

Stone, a spa, and places to gather are composed around a lakeside outlook.

Southview Design

Inside the project

An empty garden bench beside a mature tree with orange autumn foliage.

Before You Build

The backyard inventory: what is already working?

A simple observation exercise before the first sketch or contractor visit.

From the notebook

A white pergola rises above a rounded deck, broad steps, and stone-clad piers beside the house

Project Feature

A white pergola over warm-toned decking

A pergola frames a cooking and gathering space without a solid roof.

Keystone Outdoor LivingExton, Pennsylvania

Inside the project

Workers and a wheelbarrow on a house renovation site with a change in ground level.

Before You Build

The route into the yard belongs on the plan

A project can be beautifully designed and still overlook how materials and equipment arrive.

From the notebook

A timber pavilion with a stone cooking area glows beside the swimming pool after sunset

Project Feature

When the pool moves to the side yard

A constrained site leads to a pool garden with a strong architectural edge.

Mom's Design BuildCarver, Minnesota

Inside the project

A weekly paper planner beside a phone and stationery.

The Planning Notebook

Make a decision calendar before the work begins

A calm way to handle samples, fixtures, and approvals without choosing everything at once.

From the notebook

Turquoise metal chairs gather around a low table in front of a brick outdoor fireplace

Project Feature

A little New Orleans in St. Paul

Brick, bluestone, lanterns, and water give a city courtyard its own atmosphere.

Southview DesignSt. Paul, Minnesota

Inside the project

Stone steps with timber handrails beside an existing wooden fence.

The Backyards Edit

Keep, repair, or replace: editing an existing backyard

A renovation can gain character by retaining the right pieces.

From the notebook

An elevated gabled porch opens toward the garden, with a small dining terrace beneath and beside it

Project Feature

A porch with the warmth of a barn interior

Dark decking, a finished ceiling, and a fireplace bring a room-like character outdoors.

Keystone Outdoor LivingWest Chester, Pennsylvania

Inside the project

Woven dining chairs on a pale paved patio, with clipped planting in front of a brick house

Small Space Studies

Test the layout with the furniture you already own

A weekend rehearsal can reveal what a drawing alone misses.

From the notebook

The house, pool, and separate furnished terraces step across the garden toward the waterfront

Project Feature

A lake garden with several places to pause

Terracing, pergolas, and open lawn share a Lake Minnetonka setting.

Mom's Design BuildMound, Minnesota

Inside the project