Greetings! I had to laugh at a sign I walked by yesterday. It felt like a perfect reminder that so much of what we do at home ends up centered around making life cozy and safe for our dogs. It sounds silly, but it’s true. Our side patio and backyard projects grew out of that same impulse to prioritize our pets’ comfort and safety.
Yesterday I began a series that catches you up on the before, during, and after of the outdoor projects we started soon after moving in (if you missed it, part one focused on our painted brick). I’m relieved to be approaching what I’m calling the “finish line.” That doesn’t mean every detail is perfected—there are always more ideas than time—but it does mean we’ve completed the main goals we set out to achieve. I’ll also introduce another large project I haven’t shared yet, so keep reading.
Projects take time. Around our house, by the time something feels finished it often needs a refresh already. For example, our dogs scratched up the Dutch door paint all winter because it was too cold to leave the door open, so now we’ll touch up the paint this summer. Between home maintenance and pets, life stays busy.
The first big outdoor job after we moved in nearly three years ago was replacing the sewer. It’s not glamorous, so I won’t dwell on before-and-after photos, but it’s a reality of owning an older home: you pay to fix things you wouldn’t necessarily want to blog about. We also replaced a water heater last year when it leaked—another necessary but unpretty task.
Although the sewer replacement was substantial, it finished relatively quickly. Initially it was the only large exterior project planned for the early years, since I wanted to renovate the kitchen and bathroom first. The kitchen got done; the bathroom did not. That’s fine—at least we have a new sewer.
So what encouraged us to expand our outdoor work? It started with a practical thought: “as long as they’re tearing up the driveway to fix the sewer, we might as well…” One fix often leads to another, and that was the case for us. Each job connected to the next—like nudging a line of dominoes—and soon our scope expanded beyond the original plan.
If you own a home, you’ve probably experienced this. Being a creative or perfectionist person, one completed task often sparks another idea or reveals something that would be sensible to finish while the crew is already there. Nearly three years later, you find yourself deciding where to stop.
To be honest, most of our outdoor work aimed to make the yard safer and cleaner for the dogs to be outside. That was the priority. Once we finished the final gate, we could finally claim we’d focused on safety first. Along the way, though, these practical changes resulted in outdoor spaces our whole family enjoys.
Here’s a summary of how it all began and what led to our latest backyard project:
When the sewer was updated, the driveway had to be torn up because the sewer ran beneath it. We decided to re-pour the entire driveway rather than patch it, which made sense at the time. That decision led to pouring an additional parking strip along the side of the house to prevent guests—and us—from tracking mud into the house.
Previously that area was patchy grass and mud. Adding concrete simplified maintenance and made entry to the side door neater and drier. The contractor could do it quickly, which was appealing, and that momentum set off the next round of decisions.
But behind that new parking spot was a hazardous side yard area right by our kitchen door. When we moved in it was dangerous and uneven—especially worrying for our dogs at night and for house guests. That made the need for a safer, level patio obvious: it would create a sensible side entrance and reduce the risk of accidents.
While most of the main fence had been removed to allow a neighbor’s new house to be built, we were told a new fence would go up quickly—though it ultimately took over a year. We decided to pour a level patio while concrete work was happening; it seemed efficient and sensible. I imagined we’d enjoy the space that summer, but the timeline stretched far longer than expected.
In January 2016 the side yard project began. By February the framework for the steps and patio was up and it looked promising. By April there was progress, but then complications during the concrete work stalled everything. With no fence, no posts wrapped, no railings, and no step lights, progress slowed to a crawl.
By September 2016 we had part of the neighbor’s fence and our house was painted, but we still lacked a secure front gate and railings to keep the dogs safe at night. By March 2018—two years after we started—we finally had a fence, though the gate, railings, and step lights were still outstanding. Porch posts still needed wrapping. We grew tired of barricades and temporary fixes, but at least the dogs could safely spend some time outside.
The delays were frustrating because much of it required waiting: for contractors, weather, solutions, time, and budget. I hired a new contractor this spring to finish the front gate, and I’ve been assured it will be completed shortly.
So soon we’ll genuinely be able to say the work is done. It took far longer than I imagined, but we are finally on the verge of calling this phase finished. While we waited, we decided to add one more outdoor project: a backyard deck. It made sense to continue since the areas connect visually and functionally.
This winter we designed and installed a Trex deck around the back of the house, built low to the ground. The deck project, completed in partnership with Trex and Lowe’s, has helped tie the outdoor areas together and really finished the space in a way that feels intentional and welcoming. I’m excited to share the before-and-after process soon.
We’ll be ready to host a summer get-together, and most importantly, the dogs are loving the improvements. Over the next couple of weeks I’ll share the deck design and build process with more before-and-after photos, and I’ll update you on finishing touches for the side patio—like new handrails and, fingers crossed, the final gate.
Are you working on your outdoor spaces, too?
Come back tomorrow for a giveaway!