Modern Yard for a Traditional Home
Montlake Backyard Gathering Space
A compact backyard transformed into a flexible, all-season outdoor living space.
A small area can make a big impact. The homeowners of this refreshed backyard came to us knowing this, and looking to partner with a design team that could take their urban backyard and transform it into an all-season space.
Mostly grass, the backyard was soggy and unusable for much of the year, it lacked privacy from their nearby neighbors, and its orientation left it sweltering in the sun but chilly as soon as it was out of the sun’s rays.
Outdoor Rooms
To maximize this backyard, the design breaks up the space into a series of related but discrete outdoor rooms, each with its own atmosphere and purpose. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Outdoor Rooms
To maximize this backyard, the design breaks up the space into a series of related but discrete outdoor rooms, each with its own atmosphere and purpose. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Highly Programmed Space
Though modest in size, this backyard packs in program, with a relaxing lounge patio, in-ground hot tub for year-round use, and a covered deck for casual dining. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Highly Programmed Space
Though modest in size, this backyard packs in program, with a relaxing lounge patio, in-ground hot tub for year-round use, and a covered deck for casual dining. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
The homeowners had a big vision for the modest space. The family of five dreamed of being able to use it nearly every day, with a balance of spaces that each felt unique and intimate, while welcoming guests to explore more deeply into the backyard.
To accommodate the dense programming desired by the homeowners and address their desire for year-round use, we designed a series of discrete outdoor rooms which flow together to create a holistically flexible, inviting, and comfortable outdoor living space.
The design challenge centered on an intentional transition between contrasting styles while introducing functional outdoor spaces and strengthening the indoor-outdoor relationship for year-round enjoyment.
Covered Porch
The new covered porch serves as a transition, both spatially and stylistically, from the traditional home to the more modern backyard. A grill, bar seating, and overhead heating keep it comfortable all year round. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Covered Porch
The new covered porch serves as a transition, both spatially and stylistically, from the traditional home to the more modern backyard. A grill, bar seating, and overhead heating keep it comfortable all year round. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Traditional Meets Modern
Cable railings bring a sense of the modern to the more traditional porch, creating a seamless transition along the stairs as they descend to the Kebony deck below. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Traditional Meets Modern
Cable railings bring a sense of the modern to the more traditional porch, creating a seamless transition along the stairs as they descend to the Kebony deck below. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
The home opens to a new covered porch overlooking the updated yard below. A natural transition to the outdoors, the porch honors the home’s traditional detailing, punctuated with modern cable railings.
Working within the constraints of a rear setback, the porch maximizes space with a bar-height counter. Overhead light and heating, along with a grill and bar seating transform the porch into a sheltered gathering space for every season.
Leading from the porch, stairs descend to a lower deck clad in Kebony, a sustainably-modified wood product that delivers durability with minimal maintenance, while retaining the warmth of natural timber.
The deck features an in-ground, stainless steel hot tub, perfect for the chilly weather of the Pacific Northwest. Generously sized, the hot tub serves as both a winter retreat and a summer pool for the whole family.
An integrated bench seat conceals an ingenious storage solution: a secret cubby for storing the hot tub cover. Removing the lowest wood panel reveals rollers that allow the hot tub cover to effortlessly slide beneath the deck.
A single step down from the deck is a patio of smooth finish, precast concrete pavers, carefully sized to accommodate both a casual lounge area and a six-person dining table.
All-Season Space
A generous fire pit and comfortable lounge furniture create the perfect, cozy gathering space on cool evenings. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
All-Season Space
A generous fire pit and comfortable lounge furniture create the perfect, cozy gathering space on cool evenings. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Lounge in the Shade
A large umbrella creates a shady spot to retreat on warm days. The fire pit’s cover not only protects it, but doubles as a small table when the fire pit is not in use. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Lounge in the Shade
A large umbrella creates a shady spot to retreat on warm days. The fire pit’s cover not only protects it, but doubles as a small table when the fire pit is not in use. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
A fire pit anchors the patio lounge, perfect for gathering on cooler evenings. A fitted lid and a large umbrella convert the space into a shaded retreat on sunny days. Clean lines, crisp edges, and carefully chosen materials maintain a fresh, unfussy aesthetic with plantings framing the yard’s perimeter in color and texture.
Despite its modest footprint, this backyard delivers versatile spaces. Whether working from the upper porch, soaking in the hot tub, or gathering around the fire pit, this refreshed backyard now provides the homeowners flexible and comfortable spaces to enjoy all year round.
Patio Gathering Space
Precast concrete pavers delineate a dual purpose gathering space, designed for formal dining at the 6-person table, or casual gathering at the fire pit and lounge. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Patio Gathering Space
Precast concrete pavers delineate a dual purpose gathering space, designed for formal dining at the 6-person table, or casual gathering at the fire pit and lounge. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Perimeter Plantings
Plantings around the perimeter of the yard add organic color and texture, creating a subtle softness that brings out the sharp corners and clean lines of the modern design. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Perimeter Plantings
Plantings around the perimeter of the yard add organic color and texture, creating a subtle softness that brings out the sharp corners and clean lines of the modern design. Montlake Backyard Gathering Space | Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
Notes & Credits
Landscape Architecture by Board & Vellum.
This project was build by Manos Construction.
Photography by Meghan Montgomery.
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