Turning a Dull Backyard into a Family Retreat with Pergola, Kitchen & Spa

Project Overview

This was a special backyard makeover done by Zones Landscaping and Ultimate Outdoor Consultant Kate Ryan and her team. The house is a three-storey modern home made with cedar wood. But the backyard was small, disjointed, and not being used at all. The owners wanted a place where they could relax, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time with family and friends.

Kate and her team built this custom-designed pergola crafted to seamlessly complement the home's architecture, featuring premium hardwood slats both beneath the roofline and vertical slatting. The distinctive slatted detailing adds warmth and texture, elevating the structure well beyond standard designs and creating a refined outdoor focal point.

Adding a bespoke concrete outdoor kitchen, a hot tub area and tropical planting, transformed the underused backyard into a beautiful and functional area for family and friends to enjoy.

Design & Planning

The homeowners were excited about making their backyard look great. They liked the design style of Kate and her Zones landscaping team and wanted something custom-made. The team created 3D designs and working drawings before starting anything.

Because the owners were going to be overseas during the build, the team made sure to keep them updated with photos and messages. Everything had to be well planned because the pergola and kitchen were all made specially for this space. It was a lot of work, but the plan went well even though the build started in winter.

Project Execution

Building this outdoor area was not easy. The house is in a busy commercial area, with lots of other townhouses nearby. There was no easy way to bring in materials through the back. So, the team had to walk everything in by hand, heavy wood, the pergola parts, and even the outdoor concrete kitchen.

The ground was muddy, and there was only a narrow path through a small reserve at the back. The team had to talk to nearby business owners to ask for help with parking space so they could unload things. Some people were tricky to deal with, but the team stayed polite and managed it all.

The spa was so big that it had to be lifted over two houses using a crane on a weekend when the area was quiet. It was a complex, but they did it with care and attention.