A family in Maple Grove, Minn., wanted to transform their sloping backyard into a more usable outdoor living space but were unsure how to approach the project themselves.

"We don't have a very big backyard, and essentially it's a hill going down to a pond," says Michelle Rickard-Hempe. "We knew we needed excavation to create usable space."

Michelle and her husband Jay Hempe discussed their project with Lonny Sekeres, a landscape designer with Villa Landscapes in suburban Minneapolis/St. Paul. The family wanted separate spaces for grilling and a fire feature, as well as a pergola-covered lounge area.

Sekeres suggested that combining various hardscape products, features and colors could help define dedicated areas within the space.

"The family's main goal was to utilize space behind the garage, which was also a hill," said Sekeres. "They wanted a space for relaxing or entertaining that was on the ground level, closer to the pond."

Side freestanding walls, created from the same Standard unit, were stepped down to surround the new lounge area. A section between the garage and the wall was finished with river rock mulch to match existing landscaping, and shrubs and a small ornamental tree were planted.

"The Standard retaining wall system was perfect for retaining the soil behind the garage where we excavated to create the lounge area," said Sekeres. "There are no voids in the units to backfill, and the top-down pinning made installation easy. By back-splitting the units, we could easily create the freestanding seat walls too. Plus, the same SRW unit was used to create columns that serve as a base for the pergola and define the space."

The Hempes selected Willow Creek Cobblestone pavers in matching Bronze Blend for the patio and walkway areas. Willow Creek Cobblestone ???(R)???AE???? stone in Desert Brown was used for borders that define each area.

Sekeres also selected Standard units in Bronze Blend to create matching columns to add definition on either side of the seat wall. Natural brownstone column caps that match the color of the paver borders brought continuity into the design colors.

"It was a challenge to fit all the features into a small area, but using contrasting border pavers defined each space beautifully," said Sekeres. "The columns and seating nooks also shaped each area. The choices in products and colors were a great combination for the tan house and the mixed river rock around the perimeter."

Rickard-Hempe says the family has enjoyed the space, despite dealing with the pesky mosquitoes that Minnesota is known for: "It looks beautiful and is a great use of space."