A new modular fireplace, circular paver patio and mid-tier seating area filled in a residential backyard in Overland Park, Kan., replacing a lawn and concrete slab with a new, broadened gathering space tailored to the homeowner's outdoor living desires.

The outdoor living stars aligned on this project in Overland Park, Kan., bringing hardscapes, landscaping and happy homeowners together in a renovated backyard, all installed by Landworks, Inc.

The property featured a worn deck off the main level of the house, with a staircase leading down to a concrete slab patio adjacent to the finished basement. Light landscaping surrounded the concrete patio, but little had been done with the rest of the backyard.

"We essentially started with a blank canvas," said Jeff Welch, vice president of Landworks, Inc. "The homeowners were prepared to scrap their outdoor space and start from scratch."

After consulting on the scope of the project with the homeowners, the design team added an intimate mid-tier seating area for two (left) to break up the decent from the main level's new deck. Steps and seat wall pavers were selected to match the stones chosen for the ground-level patio.

Defining the Design
To start the design, Welch and his team worked with the homeowners to determine their needs for their outdoor space and how it could be tailored to their lifestyle.

"The homeowners stressed their need for a functional outdoor living space," Welch said. "They wanted a beautiful and relaxing place for family gatherings and social entertaining with friends."

Welch and his team created a design plan that included a new main level deck from one of their decking partners. Introducing wood into a hardscape design can soften the look, increase design flexibility, and broaden the scope of a project.

The design team specified a total of 14 trees and 20 shrubs for the project, including a variety of blue and green spruces, roses, grasses, and shrubs. Upright junipers also were planted for screening from the neighbors.

"Combining multiple design elements and mediums is a rising trend in residential outdoor living design," said Ken O'Neill, senior vice president of marketing for Belgard???(R)???AE???? Hardscapes. "One example is the combination of decking and hardscapes. Whether working with composite or organic wood, the aesthetic combination of wood and stone together creates a warm and inviting look, and helps homeowners solve a multilevel space dilemma."

To tie the design together, Landworks added a mid-tier landing with an intimate seating area for two. This landing helped to bridge the gap between the wood deck off the main level and the paver patio at ground level. The wooden deck stairs led down to the landing and paver stairs led to the patio area. To fulfill the homeowners' need for a functional space for entertaining, additional seating was included through the use of retaining walls. The homeowners also added a fire feature as a focal point of the patio and a way to extend the outdoor season.

Kansas City, Kan.-based design/build firm Landworks, Inc., spent 485 man-hours converting the verdant but unremarkable backyard into a family-friendly entertainment space, installing 600 square feet of pavers (Belgard Hardscapes) in total.

Picking Packs of Pavers
With the design elements in place, the team moved on to surfacing, step and wall block selections. "Our clients were torn between the look of Mega-Lafitt and Mega-Bergerac pavers," Welch said. "[The former] has a natural-looking texture resembling the look of cut flagstone, and [the latter] has a timeless, hand-cobbled appearance."

The homeowners ultimately decided on their first option, leading workers to install a total of 600 square feet of surfacing in two color blends. The second stone choice was included as an accent border.

Knowing that the homeowners wanted a fire feature in their outdoor space, Landworks recommended they consider a modular, prebuilt system that matched their paver selection. The Nottingham fireplace they selected features the same wall block selected for the seating walls and stairs.

"Prebuilt modular hardscape elements make creating an outdoor living space easier and more affordable than ever," O'Neill said. "[These] elements are designed to coordinate with the pavers and wall block so they can be seamlessly integrated into the space."

The existing deck and staircase (pictured) were replaced with a new main level deck, which leads through the mid-tier seating area and down to the ground-level paver patio.

Design Distinction
The finished product not only satisfied the homeowners – it earned the design team some accolades as well. The Mid-America Green Industry Council awarded Landworks a Distinction Award in the Residential Design/Build category for its annual Landscape Improvement Awards.

"This project really was the ideal scenario," Welch said. "We had a great team, quality products and, best of all, happy homeowners."