Outdoor living, thoughtfully considered
BACKYARDSMAGAZINE
Explore Backyards
The Library / Reading paths
A Backyards reading path

The material edit

Boards, paving, fabric, and the joins between them. Compare the surfaces you like with the work of cleaning, repairing, and living with them.

  1. Pale stone and fabric samples arranged beside a wooden ruler and a leafy stem.01
    Material Matters

    A quieter palette, a stronger garden ↗

    Use repetition to connect the house, paving, structure, and planting.

  2. Stone steps with timber handrails beside an existing wooden fence.02
    The Backyards Edit

    Keep, repair, or replace: editing an existing backyard ↗

    A renovation can gain character by retaining the right pieces.

  3. The completed deck and lower terrace remain connected to the house, with open lawn in front.03
    Project Feature

    An existing deck becomes an outdoor room ↗

    A fireplace and open pergola reshape an elevated deck, while a lower terrace gives the garden a second gathering place.

    Mom's Design Build
  4. Warm brown TimberTech Vintage decking boards with visible wood-grain texture04
    Material Matters / Product note

    TimberTech Vintage: a deck in three board widths ↗

    Compare narrow and wide boards across the furnished deck before settling on a layout.

    TimberTech
  5. Deckorators Voyage deck with contrasting border boards, dark railing, and an outdoor dining counter05
    Material Matters / Product note

    Deckorators Voyage, from the field boards to the steps ↗

    Board widths and edge profiles need to work together at the stairs, border, and main deck.

    Deckorators
  6. Gray Fiberon Good Life decking with a textured wood-grain surface06
    Material Matters / Product note

    Fiberon Good Life: choosing a quieter deck finish ↗

    Two visual approaches within one decking family make a useful sample comparison.

    Fiberon
  7. Pale seat cushions and green and brown pillows furnish timber outdoor seating beneath a leafy tree07
    Material Matters / Product note

    Sunbrella outdoors: beyond the fabric swatch ↗

    Outdoor upholstery decisions should include the exact fabric, construction, and cleaning guidance.

    Sunbrella
  8. Rounded stones meet timber deck boards along a straight edge.08
    The Considered Detail

    The most important detail may be where materials meet ↗

    Resolve the junctions before adding more finishes to the palette.

  9. A long outdoor kitchen counter and gas cooktop overlooking a pool terrace.09
    Material Matters

    Choose the outdoor counter around the work it will do ↗

    The best-looking sample still needs to suit the location and cooking routine.

Another way in

Keep following your curiosity.

Explore the library ↗
An umbrella shades woven seating on a timber terrace surrounded by potted plants.
A Backyards reading path

At home outdoors

A porch to settle into, a table for company, and flowers brought in from the garden.

A wheelbarrow, watering can, pot, and bag of soil on a lawn beside a shed.
A Backyards reading path

Before the first shovel

A clear brief, a realistic sequence, and the decisions that make a project easier to understand.

Red garden flowers beside an outdoor table and glowing string lights at dusk.
A Backyards reading path

The ground beneath the garden

Water, soil, exposure, and the planting decisions that begin with the place.