🖼️
The project:
Turning our plain backyard into our dream. A place for our children to play and run and a place for us to entertain. My partner and I with no experience in these trades have created this space over the past two years all on our own.
- Materials:
- Bessa blocks
- Breeze blocks
- Concrete
- Timber
- Blueboard
- Render
- Bricks
- Rocks
- Paint
- Paint brushes
- Paint rollers.
- Step 1:
Starting with our fence. My partner dug the holes and cemented the poles in, built a frame and covered in blueboard.
I rendered the back and painted white. I collected travertine pavers and smashed them up to create the crazy paved look and grouted. We will be adding a garden in front of the wall.
We then made the slat-look fence in the cut out and the fence door.
- Step 2:
We moved the cubby house down the end of the yard so we had more space for grass. We added rocks and pavers to the cubby house and gave it a fresh coat of paint (Delux Lexington Quarter).
We then dug a garden up the side of the fence and added different size plants to later grow and cover the fence (Birds of Paradise, Golden Cane, Elephant Ears, Succulents).
- Step 3:
The fire pit. We dug the grass from the corner and added a concrete footing. We used Bessa blocks to build the seat we wanted. My partner used bars inside and filled with concrete.
I then rendered the whole seat and painted white, we added rocks and bricks to section it off. We then added Bird of Paradise plants behind the seat.
- Step 4:
We extended our outdoor area so we could have a great space to entertain.
My partner built the pergola and I painted it all. Then we added clear Perspex roof.
We then enclosed the area, framing it up, adding Blueboard and I then rendered it. We found some Breeze blocks on marketplace and made a half wall and added them to the top. We also added a garden bed on that wall.
Currently I am painting this area using the Dulux texture paint (Sandy Days) and have waterproofed the garden bed ready for some cactus to be added.
- Step 5:
Next… We will be adding an outdoor kitchen for a barbecue, bar fridge and pizza oven with a TV on the wall perfect place to entertain and watch the footy while the kids play.
I have also started to collect and smash up more travertine pavers to crazy pave the floor when done. We will add some Fenton string lights on the pergola and around the fire pit.
- Help and inspiration:
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How to plan a garden makeover
The key to a successful project is planning. Get expert advice on How to plan a garden makeover from experienced Bunnings Workshop member Adam Woodhams.
More inspiration for your backyard
Starting with just a sloping bare lawn, Bunnings Workshop member WelcomeHome completed a comprehensive backyard landscaping project creating a vibrant, bird-friendly oasis including a mix of native, evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs plus decking, arbour, water feature, paving and outdoor shower.
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