If you’ve ever bought a house you know the two main things that will sell you on it are the kitchen and the bathroom. Those are the areas we are told time and time again a homeowner will always get their investment back on. That and an actual living gnome in the garden who acts out The Sound of Music every weekend. That's an investment you'll never lose on.
So when, 12 years ago, my real estate agent brought me to see an historic 160 year old cottage in Southwest Ontario I couldn’t wait to see the kitchen and the bathroom. I was hoping for a restaurant style kitchen and a bathroom with a dual head, rainforest shower.
Much to my surprise, when we arrived at the house my real estate agent didn’t take me in the front door. Instead she said we’d go in the back door. To do this we had to pass through a gated arbour at the side of the house covered in climbing roses. It led to the nicest backyard I had ever seen in my life. Aside from the super-cute courtyard backyard Barbara Ryan had on As The World Turns in 1984. (obviously)
The entire backyard was paved with beautiful dark grey slate. Not a blade of grass in sight. There was a natural looking pond in the back corner by a very cute potting shed. The entire space was framed by huge handmade cedar planters that bordered the whole backyard. Birds were singing, fish were swimming, fuzzy caterpillers with big smiling face were looking up at me and winking. It was perfect. Within 30 seconds of looking at the backyard, I had mentally bought the house.
In case you're wondering, the kitchen and bathroom hadn’t been updated since 1940 and there was a mouse skeleton in the ultility room. I didn’t care. I had a fetching backyard in which to throw garden parties. (I knew I would never, ever throw a garden party but I liked the notion that if I wanted to, I could)
Fast forward to March of 2007. The stunning slate had deteriorated to the point of mush, the planters surrounding the backyard were rotted and falling down and my pond had a leak which the fish weren’t too fond of. Even the birds had taken a hike. Literally every single thing that initially sold me on this house had turned into a great big load of crap at the same time. It’s like it was on a timer or something.
So … being a fairly handy and incredibly cheap kind of gal, I figured I could do something about it myself. Heck, I used to host a show that had the word "Handyman" in the title … I was MORE than qualified. I figured I could fix this sucker up in no time. 3 weeks maximum. Maybe 4 if I took it at a leisurely pace.
It took longer. And there was nothing leisurely about it.
Along with being cheap, part of the reason I decided to do this little project myself was because of an incident from a few years back. I needed a section of my fence replaced so I called around for someone to fix it. Shouldn’t be problem, right? Easy enough job. Pretty basic. Here’s what I ran into. At least 8 companies that didn’t have time to do it, 2 companies who just didn’t show up and one guy who politely did show up, and was courteous enough to bring his own booze.
The fellows I did end up hiring (because they actually showed up and appeared to be sober) ended up building my section of fence 6 inches shorter than the rest of the fence and nailed it together with nails so long they protruded by 2 inches on the other side. I was the girl with the porcupine fence. Suffice it to say, that’s around the time I decided by become handy(er).
So in the very early spring of 2007 I started planning. I decided I wanted my new backyard to go from looking cozy and naturalistic to something a little more contemporary. Sleeker. I needed a new stone “floor”, new planter beds and a new pond. I wanted to use a manmade stone product instead of the slate, in the hopes it wouldn’t flake, crack and basically rot away to nothing. Slate has a tendancy to do poorly in my area of Canada because of all the freezing and thawing. It’s made of many shaley layers that just fall apart over time.
Problem is, no one makes a manmade stone that had the look and size I wanted. So, I ended up choosing a dark grey square cut flagstone. It was small enough for me to handle (athough each piece was still over 20 pounds) and came in the rectangular shape I wanted. Going with flagstone ended up tripling the cost of my backyard. That's what's known as "unforeseen costs". Turns out my flagstone was coming from India, so that quadrupled my timeline. That's what's known as "sucking". They were running on a decidedly more casual pace in India so it took reallllyyyy long to get the stone.
By the way, if you’re doing a largish job by yourself, you have every right to ask your supplier for a contractor’s discount. I got 20% off my flagstone which was a huge savings.
While I waited for the flagstone to show up, there was the matter of ripping every single thing out of the backyard and taking it to the dump. I pulled out every piece of slate, planter bed and all of the huge landscaping rocks surrounding my pond. By myself. Like an idiot. (my 6’4” fella had JUST had shoulder surgery and couldn’t help me with anything) I’m not sure how, but I believe he planned this. Actually, that's a bit of a lie. He did help me, broken shoulder and all move the huge boulders. I was afraid if I told you he helped me move the boulders you'd assume he helped me with other stuff too. He didn't. I did it all myself. Like a dumb-dumb.
It was approximately the time this photo was taken that I started to think this was a bad idea. The one positive was that I had made a new friend in the form of a chipmunk who crawled all over me, but I was sore, tired and not at all sure about how to do any of this. And my pal Chippy wasn’t any help. Mostly he ate like a pig and watched me.
I had ripped my entire backyard apart with not much of a plan. Enter the Internet. Even though the Internet lies, if you properly research and cross reference you can actually learn how to do stuff from it. I didn't have a clue how to do any of this. But I knew I wanted a new backyard and I knew I wasn't gonna pay someone else to do it. So I researched, jumped in and gave it a shot. I taught myself to juggle. I could teach me myself how to build planter beds and lay a patio.
I housed my fish in a kiddie pool while I rebuilt my pond. I figured it would take 4 days. It took about 2 weeks. I had to redig the pond, build a wooden box to act as a rectangular form, line it and level it all. To be perfectly honest with you, the hardest thing about doing this backyard wasn’t the physical labour, it was the mental. (insert Karen's dumb joke here) Trying to figure out angles, and slopes and grades to make sure the flagstone was laid in such a way the rainwater would drain away from the house and the pond would be level and … holy crap. It made that soft spongey thing in my skull hurt.
One of the big bones I dug up.
Oh! And while digging my pond I found some kind of a femur. Did I mention the femur? Uch. I put it back where I found it and banished it from my mind until this very moment.
After completing the pond the flagstone still hadn’t arrived so I started building new planter beds. Much sleeker than the original ones, stained in a dark grey the same colour as my flagstone. By the way, if you ever plan on doing anything at all with wood, invest in a good sliding compound miter saw. It’s a girl’s best friend. I borrowed my sister's at the time. I now own my own. I call her Sally.
The planter beds were finished and still no flagstone so I began lugging in the screenings to level the backyard. I would say I lugged and dumped approximately 3 yards of screenings. For those of you who don’t know how much that is … it’s enough to make you very, very cranky. Finally after weeks of waiting, my flagstone showed up and I cut and laid all 800 pieces of it. My backyard was done.
Looking back at what I’ve written here it seems like doing the backyard was pretty simple and straightforward. It wasn’t. If anyone had told me how much work this would have been I would never, ever, ever, ever have done it. I would have rolled out a bunch of Astroturf and called it a day. Would I recommend anyone else do this? It depends on how cheap you are and how much time you have on your hands. And how prone to nervous breakdowns.
My backyard cost me about $6,000 for materials. It would have been at least $15,000 plus materials for someone else to do it. I would charge one bazillion dollars to do it for someone else. A day. One bazillion dollars a day.
I originally calculated it would take 21 days to complete my project. It took 127 days of working a minimum of 12 hours a day. I can tell you it’s a lot easier to host a handyman show than to be a full time handyman. I can also tell you I will never move from this house. Unless the backyard falls apart again.
The pond before
Cleaning the muck.
I built the pond form out of wood and made it 2 depths to create interest for the fish and places to put plants.
I built the waterfall around the pond with some of the slate from the backyard I could salvage. Reduse, reuse, reanger.
See that big pile of dirt and rocks behind me? That's what I dug out to create a bigger pond. By hand. With my hands. I'm sure you can see the word forming on my lips.
Another one of the huge bones I found. I threw them back where I found them and reburied them.
After the pond was done it was onto the planter beds around the perimeter of the backyard. And then it's straight to the store for more ugly shoes.
By month number 2 of the backyard overhaul this was me standing as straight up as I could.
Best little sliding compound miter saw around. Wish I owned it. It's Pink Tool Belt's.
Hacking off some rebar for building the planter beds.
For real. That is how much time I spent outside that summer. I was literally crawling with wildlife.
Now the beds are built and stained, the pond is completed, all that's left is another 17 million days of levelling the backyard and laying the flagstone.
Because these are natural flagstones, not manmade cement pavers, each stone is a different thickness which means each one has to be hand laid and levelled.
Again. I'm not sure if you can make out the word that's forming on my lips.
I'm close enough to the end of the project that I can actually start to smile again. Also I'm slightly delirious.
THE AFTER GALLERY
Update: The backyard has changed even more in the past few years with the addition of a midcentury modern chicken coop and a ridiculously fantastic (and relatively easy to make) pizza oven.
Shavonda@AHomeFullOfColor
Holy smokes! You deserve a freakin metal! This was the most entertaining post I think I've read in a long time. You did such an amazing job! Now I'm super motivated to get my lazy ass out in my yard and make it look halfway decent. Thanks so much for the great read and the inspiration. You should really consider starting your own landscaping company.
Karen
Hi Shavonda - Are you NUTS?! LOL. I am *not* starting a landscaping company. Yikes! Now get your ass outside and start cleaning up. ~ karen!
TraceyD
Wow! What an awesome job you did! Unbelievable. Gorgeous!
And you made a new friend in the process...great photo of Chippy!
Karen
:) I think we're onto Chippy II or III now. ~ karen!
Mary Frances
Hi, I live on the water in Tampa and have pets buried in my yard, 30 years here. I am building a koi pond on my saltillo tiled back porch. I bought a hard shell black pond for koi and am building up around it w concrete block I plan to fill between the pond and block w sand then topped with good plant soil. My question is, would you put a liner under the concrete? I will not mortar it in, it will not need that but a liner could draw moisture and mildew over time. Any thoughts on that?
Laura
I know this has been a few years ago that you did this project but wanted to tell you great job! I have been all over the Internet trying to get some ideas for my back yard and you've given me plenty. I also am one of those people that say "I can do it! All by myself!". I usually end up down for a few days after because of back problems but am still very proud of myself for doing it. My hubby also gets on me about it, but never fails, once he's out the door for work I'm out in the yard doing something I shouldn't be. He must have given up because now he just shakes his head when he's seen what I've been up to. Once again, awesome job. Looks great! And where can I get me one of those Chippy. He's so cute and tame!
Karen
Thanks Laura! It's never EVER too late to compliment me. :) Good luck with your backyard. I'll be re-featuring mine soon. I've redone it again. Just basic aesthetics though. Minimal building. :) ~ karen!
Mimi
I just came across your blog while looking for ideas for my backyard...WOW! What you did w your backyard is nothing short of amazing. It's absolutely beautiful and astonishing to see the before and after photos. You must be so impressed w yourself, if you aren't....you really should be
Karen
LOL. Thanks Mimi. I'm impressed with myself now. At the time I was just tired. Did you say my post today? It features my backyard in a magazine ... better pictures than the ones you can see in my post. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/my-backyard-in-style-at-home-i-can-show-it-to-you-now/ Thanks again! ~ karen
WANDA
hello Karen, see your back-yard in the InStyle magazine.
Had to look it up... so glad I did.. from the mag. I thought the shed was your house!
I just wanted to ask a question about your pond, your pump etc. hidden behind?? And did you already have electrical outlets outside... trying to tackle the side of my house... you inspired me!! And I have used rope lighting for years, like you I love everything lit up...
Karen
Hi Wanda - I had one outlet in my backyard and had an electrician put in a few more a couple of years ago. The pump is right in the pond. No filter, so no filter to hide. ~ karen!
Kim
Just read this as a result of your amazing feature in Style at Home! Everyone who said, "Right out of a magazine!" was right. As I was scrolling down through the After pictures, I smiled at the lounging area and thought, "Not that she uses that much!" and, lol, the next comments were exactly that! Congrats on jobs very well-done - both the backyard AND the feature!
Karen
Hah! Thanks Kim. :) I'm making it my goal to make SURE I use the backyard to indeed relax a little this summer. ~ karen!
Debbie
Thank you so much for posting the picture of you in the beginning of this project, along with fish in kids pool. My projects always have a moment like this where, I just sit in the dirt (Indian style and cry). Its the moment I know I can't turn back and not sure I can do this any longer. Plus I am just sure all this could be done in a much tidier fashion. I always finish the project, its just part of the process for me........................
Auntiepatch
Beautiful! Just beautiful! You're my hero!
Joanna
I just stumbled onto your blog by googling backyard transformations ! Unbelievable that you did this all by yourself!!! And I think thats a pretty great price for the transformation. I love the lights, I am in NYC and have a small yard to work with. Also I like the less grass, here all the grass means lots of mosquito's and bugs in the summer which makes it unbearable to use the yard in the evenings, so i would skip the pond. But love this!!! Way to go!! :)
Karen
Thanks Joanna! ~ karen
Stacey
This is amazing!!! I've been thinking of some landscaping idea's I've been wanting to do for a while now but just haven't put into action. This really has inspired me to get started!
Rob T.
Congrats on all of this work. I love to see or hear about people enjoying their finished "get-aways" - On the Lounger photos you said... you don't often use the Loungers - With such a great summer I hope you got to Lounge a "little" more ? How does everything look 2 yrs later?
Karen
Rob T. - Thanks! I actually build the yard several years ago, but posted about it 2 years ago. Everything has held up fantastically. The flagstone is still level, the planter boxes are still straight and strong ... the fish are still swimmin'. :) Still haven't spent much time out there this summer. I've been in the front yard taking care of my vegetable garden. I'm thinking of building all new backyard furniture this fall. Ya know. Just for the fun of it. Clearly I'm not good at lounging in general. ~ karen!
Karol
Holy crappity crap! "Hear me roar", she said, in Helen Reddy's best voice.
Karen
Yup. And I'd NEVER do it again. :) ~ karen
Dallas
So Karen what do you do with your fish in the winter?? Do you keep them in your potting shed?
Karen
Dallas - I do not. I keep them in their pond. No need to move them anywhere as long as your pond is around 3' deep. Just keep a filter running close to the surface to allow the water to move so if it freezes over, there's always an open spot from the moving water from the filter. ~ karen!
Gracie
Oh my gosh, your my hero! I'm a do-it-yourself kinda gal and I really appreciated seeing your vision, tenacity, patience & muscle put to work! Excellent,excellent job. Especially loved the lighting, waterfalls and pond. I would ask you to help me install my pond but I can't afford the bazillion dollars a day rate! Keep up the good work and stay cute while doing it!
Karen
Thanks Gracie! Yup. It was 4 years ago or so and my muscles are STILL sore. Or maybe that's from building the chicken coop. Dunno. :) ~ karen
Sarah In Illinois
Ok, I am doing a little stalking(uhm...archiving) and first I can not believe you meant LITERALLY you had a chipmunk climbing all over you, that is AWESOME!
And second, I am totally in awe of the work you did. I would have told myself the that I could save money and started that project, and then a couple weeks in I would have realized I was in way over my head, started crying, filled in the pond and sat in a backyard of dirt and mud! You rock!
Karen
Sarah - I *did* contemplate that. ~ karen
Pam
Hold Crap! You are wonderwoman. Can I come and live with you for a few months to learn a few things? It's really amazing all the stuff you can do. Makes me want to build something. It actually makes me tired just thinking about all you do.
Karen
Pam - I just came in from digging up my entire front yard to put in vegetables. I'm tired thinking about going back out there! Oh wait. Maybe I'm tired from the digging. ~ karen
Calgary Landscaping
Wow incredible work! I love the lighting you used, it creates such a peaceful atmosphere.
Pam
Amazing job!! It's beautiful.
I have a sandpit for a backyard...I'm not kidding. I would love to do something like this but sadly my budget it about $1500 rather than $16000. :(
Hoping to take some baby steps towards beginning a backyard this year. Your after photos are an inspiration!
Karen
Pam - You'd be amazed at what you can create when you do it yourself. Paying for labour is EXPENSIVE. Good luck! ~ k!
Evelyn
I'm a gal from Calgary that was looking to redo my own backyard and pave it....and I came across this article! And then I snooped around your other articles too.
I suffer from what you refer to as "weird OCD-ness." I've always loved making my own furniture, decorations and other cool trinkets...nothing compared to what you've done...yet;)
Just thought I'd let you know that you are a true inspiration and my new hero. I know now that I need to have a pond with a water feature as well. And perhaps a chicken coop.....Kudos, Karen. You are amazing!
Karen
Well, thanks Evelyn! That was a nice comment to get. ~ karen!