Backyard Bliss

Ottawa, Ontario

This outdoor living space marries pared-back simplicity with the joy of detailing to deliver a sublime backyard experience.

The 13 by 16 foot deck, made from heat treated wood with an oil finish, functions as an outdoor dining and lounge space. The carefully detailed Douglas fir trellis provides a comfortable level of shade from the hot summer sun. Additionally, the trellis creates visual interest as shadows move across the deck throughout the day. Threaded rods with stainless steel bolts and washers provide stability to the delicate trellis.

The low-lying deck steps down to square porcelain pavers, set into the grass, leading to different areas of the yard. Keeping the deck surface low eliminated the need for guards, maintaining open sightlines to the enticing pool.

A 16 by 30 foot pool runs the width of the back property line and is surrounded by tall dense hedges on three sides, enhancing the sense of privacy in this urban backyard oasis. A sleek glass fence encloses the broom-finish concrete pool deck and keeps the rest of the yard visually connected to the pool.

At one end of the pool, another trellis creates a shaded seating area adjacent to the pool cabana. Frosted glass doors with operable windows let light and air into the change room and a storage room. Horizontal cedar siding and cement board cladding ties in with the exterior material palette of the home.

Year: 2017
Photography: James Brittain