This Backyard Is Ready to Party

Having just moved from Texas, where the summers were often oppressively hot, the homeowners wanted a backyard where they could enjoy the famous California indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Interior designer Fannie Allen and landscape designer Nancy Shanahan joined forces to create a bright and colorful space that doesn’t require too much upkeep and is always ready for company.

Backyard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple recently transplanted from Texas
Location: Menlo, Park, California
Designer: Fannie Allen Design
Landscape designer: Nancy Shanahan of Sycamore Design

Upon moving to California, the homeowners decided to explore the Golden State along Highway 1. During a magical weekend at the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, they became enamored of the resort’s stainless steel hot tubs. To make the memorable experience permanent, they asked Shanahan to find a similar stainless steel tub for their backyard.

Shadowly chaise lounges: Tord Boontje for Moroso


Photos by David Duncan Livingston

The homeowners are not big on gardening and wanted a low-maintenance backyard. “They didn’t want a lot of flowers that they had to constantly water, so it was decided that the color would come from the outdoor furniture,” Allen says.

Chaise and lounge chairs: Tord Boontje for Moroso; dining table and chairs: Fermob


The purple table is from French company Fermob and is made of powder-coated aluminum. “Almost all the outdoor furniture is very light and can easily be rearranged,” Allen says.


The yellow chaise comes from Italian outdoor furniture maker Moroso and is a creation by Dutch designer Tord Boontje. “His work is very sculptural. It serves as a piece of furniture and a piece of art,” Allen says.


Shanahan and her team created a custom gas fireplace and pizza oven from poured cement. The feature makes for a great space for friends and family to gather year-round.


The outdoor chairs with the wood slat backs were made in Africa using recycled oil drums for the bases. “The oil drum chairs are by far the two heaviest pieces of outdoor furniture in this yard,” Allen says. “But when you sit in them, they rock gently back and forth, so you don’t really want to move them anyways.”


A sunny area off the kitchen includes a round dining table and four chairs also made by Fermob.

More
Backyard Dreaming: 13 Ideas to Spark Your Imagination
Weird but Wonderful Backyard Features

URL: This Backyard Is Ready to Party http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-26648.html