Zoned for relaxation

Designated activity areas and low-maintenance finishes turn a neglected backyard into an inviting destination

- NINA MALKIN

Where a mild climate allows outdoor living year-round, a thoughtfully designed yard can double your living space. That was precisely the case for Kelly and Jeff Mindell, who bought their 1930s Los Angeles bungalow in part for the good-size backyard. But the existing lot was “a wasteland," Jeff recalls-and unsafe for their young son, with a decrepit pergola and defunct in-ground hot tub.

Happily, though, the existing features did suggest places for dining, relaxation, and play. So the couple resurfaced the patio slab alongside the house to lay patterned cement tile, and rebuilt the rotted pergola over it. They also swapped the patch of gravel around the hot tub for a fire-pit seating area paved with low-maintenance decomposed granite (DG). Then they turned to landscape designer Rachael Freitas for a planting plan. To minimize upkeep, she suggested a lawn of nontoxic synthetic turf-a smart option in a drought-prone area with water restrictions—and drip irrigation to help the plants she put in thrive.

The result: a backyard getaway that can host a neighborhood gathering or private family time. As Kelly says, “It's our little oasis."

Since the existing patio footprint was ideal for dining, a fire pit was installed to anchor a seating area in the yard's back corner-an inviting place to gather after an evening meal. The rest of the yard is largely left open for play. "It's the perfect spot for Slip 'N Slides," Jeff says, as well as for their son's annual birthday-party bounce house.

EXPERT ADVICE

"Clearly defining activity areas helps maximize an outdoor space, so think about how you really want to use the yard for kicking back, entertaining, and giving kids room to cut loose."