Greenwood Heights Backyard
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August 21, 2008
Three Options, One Way to Go.
A few days after signing on with Fun City Design (Fun City Design's website), Diana came over to take measurements (for size and grade), photos, pick up a copy of our recent land survey (pre-new building going up) as well as chatting further about our ideas and hers.
One week later we had our third meeting and we were presented with three design ideas. All of them reused our plants and some materials, reduced the "concrete" by making the patio smaller and adding more permeable materials, such as a blue stone seating area and pea gravel paths. All had a very prominent use of bamboo to enhance the space, add privacy and hide a bit of that 40 ft. brick wall. Source images of different bamboo plantings, water elements (again, reuse of some of our field stone/glacial stone) and different types of hardscaping, including the possibility of bamboo & cedar partitions or fencing. (Note: descriptions of the designs are our "interpretations" of the overall presentation)
Above: original site plan of backyard (UPDATED: the area we're working with is approx. 20X60 ft.).
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Design 01:
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Probably the most "organic" of the ideas, it used curves for a patio, path and seating area to soften the oh-so-common "boxy" Brooklyn back yard grid. Three linear areas: the patio by the house, walkway/garden area in the center and seating area with pergola by the shed. A mixture of pavers, pea gravel and blue stone.
Design 02:
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This second design broke the back yard into "rooms" with each area flowing into one another, but each having its own purpose. There were four areas in this plan: raised paver patio, sunken blue stone/field stone seating area and pea gravel and stepping stone path to shed bordered by a perennial planting bed and large veggie garden. Further dividing the "rooms" was suggested to use bamboo or bamboo and cedar partitions, low enough to see over, substantial enough to break up the areas. And of course the two large paver planters, one with 17 ft. of bamboo along the new building.
Design 03:
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Similar to number 2, but more formal that either of the first two, this design decided to divide up the back yard "box" with angular lines for the patio and seating area, including angular planting beds for the veggie garden. Similar materials used as in number 2.
The nice thing about all three plans (and part of our "needs") was each could be done in stages or phases over the next 2-3 years. The most immediate stage being the hardscape, while we still had the building next door to load materials through and before the fall. Major transplants and new planting would happen in the spring of 2009.
And the winner is? Check back for the next installment!
(Note: all sketches and designs posted here are ©2008 Fun City Design)
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Comments
Would you please post a contact for Fun City Design. Great choices. What footage are you working with? Its hard to imagine fitting all that into a typical backyard space.
Posted by: BB at August 21, 2008 3:18 PM
Of these three, I like the first the best and the second the least. Number 2 is just a little too rectilinear for my tastes. While in principle I like the "rooms" idea in 2&3, I personally wouldn't find much use for the "sitting room" that's about 2/3 of the way back and prefer to have the deck area right near the house. I also think the more organic form is more appealing.
That said, any of these designs look terrific and I wish I had a budget for a garden makeover! Good luck!
Posted by: Back40 at August 21, 2008 3:40 PM
I agree with Back40. I like #1 most because of the organic shapes AND because it has a more expansive green area. The other ones feel like all the green space is chopped up into tiny elements.
Posted by: pmmtenement at August 21, 2008 3:46 PM
BB, we have an approx. space of 20X60 ft. from the back door of the house to the front of the shed.
Back40, We also like option #1 quite a bit, BUT it does not hit two of the main points: 1. large(r) veggie garden area and 2. bamboo as a substantial element in the plan.
In addition, while we loved the idea of the cupola/seating area back by the shed, it was similar (larger) than what we have now, and unfortunately in full sun and full view of our neighbors to the left and 4 stories of windows and balconies to the right.
We love our neighbors to the left! But, we think they could stand to see a wee bit less of us and us of them when you want to chill out and be private. As for the new neighbors in the condo/rentals (once they are occupied), let everyone overlook a nice veggie garden and planting area. No need to see my mug every time they look out the window or are on their balcony.
We feel #2 MAY have the best of both worlds. And the defined areas, with defined purposes, meets our needs better...as you will see as this evolves.
Check back to see which we go with and why.
Posted by: tikihouse at August 21, 2008 4:10 PM
Your yard is so LONG! Sob, the envy!
Seriously, while I am very attracted to #1, because of its curved, organic nature, I think #2 is best. I like the planters and the larger veggie garden, but I think what I like best is the outdoor living room area out of sight from the new apartment building. I like that your potting shed is right next to the garden, so your supplies are close at hand. Perhaps you can soften the edges of your right angles in place, giving some curves to pathways or planting beds, and get the best of both worlds.
Whatever you choose, it's going to be great. Congratulations.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at August 21, 2008 4:58 PM
I love design number 1, I think number 3 is great too, number 2 looks nice but I don't think is as creative as 1 and 3, but the Bamboo area is really nice, also the neighbors issue is a good thing to take in consideration.
How do Fun City Design works, do you hire them to do the designs and you are going to do it your self or they do the complete work?
Posted by: duran10 at August 21, 2008 4:59 PM
BB, added Diana's e-mail in the post. Perhaps more contact info or links down the road.
Posted by: tikihouse at August 21, 2008 6:17 PM
duran10,
Diana is doing the design plan and then the planting plan (suggested reuse of our container plants and new plantings where applicable) and then consulting during the planting stage(s). That's our contract for now. She is not doing the "work," per se. We're hiring a hardscape contractor (to be posted soon) and doing the majority of the landscaping, softscaping, transplanting and planting ourselves (fall/spring/summer of 2008/09/10, and perhaps beyond, depending on $$ on hand).
We'll also be fabricating the bamboo/cedar dividers (which ever the design) as well. We're pretty handy.
Diana's fees are very competitive and she is super-supportive and collaborative during the process, as ideas can change or be rethought as she collaborates with a client (our experience).
Posted by: tikihouse at August 21, 2008 6:24 PM
I was really surprised that your designer was not able to take advantage of obscure and convoluted zoning rules to add an additional 4 stories to that back shed...
Regardless, very excited to see you "glass half full" folks sharing your plans on Brownstoner.
Some thoughts from one gardener to another.
How will the garden look in the winter? Any evergreens or berries for the birds? Mulching area?
Do you have a lighting plan? Is there an irrigation plan? Will water/electricity be accessible from rear yard/shed so you don't have to drag a hose/cord from the house?
I like the idea of a trellis and seating in the area near the shed. (Plan #1) I could see a few nice clematis providing shade and privacy. It would be fine to have an alternative view of the garden looking back in the direction of your home.
Placing the bamboo up against the new building will help to control the spread. Are you worried that it will grow towards the sun and arch out over the patio? Please share any advice the professionals have about bamboo in Brooklyn.
I think a water feature will sound great near the house.
Again very excited, plan on stealing as many ideas as possible seeing that we might be forced to redo our garden for the same reasons.
Posted by: IMBY at August 21, 2008 11:55 PM
I love #3. The angles play against the house and are really interesting. Plus it takes great advantage of the downward slope of your yard.
All are excellent plans though!
Posted by: tinarina at August 22, 2008 10:16 AM
IMBY, we have several evergreens, spruces, the euonymus and 2 cedars (those will NOT go in the ground without a barrier, otherwise we'll be in the shade in no time).
We're planning on augmenting with some bird friendly small clumping bushes. Seasonal grasses (planned) will add texture through the winter.
We're going to be working with David at Future Green to figure out the best way to guy wire (sp?) the bamboo as it gets bigger so we don't have to thrash through it in 2 years :)
We're running power out to the water element and to the shed. We're not real fans of decorative lighting in the garden (members of the Deep Sky Assoc.), but we do do candles, tiki torches, etc. seasonally. But we'll have to see.
Diana at Fun City Design is going to recommend an irrigation system once we do the planting plans.
Glass half full, yes. Not sure "full of what" quite yet.
Posted by: tikihouse at August 22, 2008 2:09 PM
I am loving these designs. You've got my creative juices flowing.
We brought in January and have been trying to figure out a way to go. Ours is a deep backyard as well 18X73 with a bluestone paved patio near the house and really well laid out seasonal plantings (every week a new flower/shrub/vine was blooming) going all around the edges with a center space that should be a lush grass lawn, or so I thought. Our neighbors had warned (I poo-pooed them) that no one has ever been able to grow grass except the one person who hauled in tons upon tons of top-soil through their house to replace the soil. I tried my darndest with lime and all the tricks I had up my sleeve to get some grass growing but it was not happening. So, rather than have a constant fight with it I was looking for alternatives besides a concrete slab. You have inspired me!
I notice in your plans that your backyard is grading down away from the house. Is this something you're deliberately doing or is this the way it naturally slopes?
One last question, was the Magnolia tree spared?
Good luck and keep us posted!!
Posted by: TownhouseLady at August 27, 2008 9:32 AM
TownhouseLady,
The grading is partially due to the age of the house (circa 1880's, though you would not know it from the exterior) and the landing pad of a back patio we have (18-24" thick in some sections) And the lay of the land a top the highest areas around. The new plan will still have a more than average grade from the patio (to keep water away from the house and pushed out to the veggie garden), but we'll be looking several feet of fill in the regrading process.
The two main trees on the neighboring property were cut down during demo for the new building, sadly.
With all the trees gone and the new lighting, we are probably the only folks in the neighborhood that could have grass if we wanted, but not quite our cup of tea.
Posted by: tikihouse at August 28, 2008 4:55 PM
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