In recent years, the typical expanse of grass and trees has become less popular with homeowners as more people opt for sophisticated backyards with expansive decks, stone patios and outdoor living rooms, kitchens and bars. Even weather-proof outdoor televisions are becoming more common.
In fact, landscaping and indoor-outdoor living areas can pay for themselves in the amount of value they add to a property.
Here, we take a look at some of Alexandria’s prettiest backyard projects.
Entertaining in Waynewood
George E. Brown Photography
George E. Brown Photography
George E. Brown Photography
Alexandria-based Landed LLC was called on to help transform a plain backyard into an indoor-outdoor space for entertaining and relaxing. The owners of the newly-built home brought in Landed to design and build an area that connected the home’s living space and backyard, which included a sport court. The home sits on nearly an acre of land near Waynewood.
The timber frame structure, made of Douglas Fir with a Pine tongue-and-groove ceiling, houses an outdoor living room complete with a fireplace and outdoor television. The floor is made of manufactured paver stones (Blu60 by Techo-Bloc) allowing some water permeability. Outside the living room is an outdoor kitchen and dining bar made of natural stone, a fire pit and an additional seating area. The project took about 6 months to complete. Landed designed, built and now maintains the space.
Chapel Hill Pool Transformation
George E. Brown Photography
George E. Brown Photography
George E. Brown Photography
George E. Brown Photography
Landed transformed a dated backyard pool in the Chapel Hill neighborhood of Alexandria City into a peaceful oasis. The homeowners added a deck with a gutter system, allowing them to use the seating area underneath the deck even in rainy weather. The lower level of the home leads out to the covered seating area through large windows and glass doors that can be pushed aside.
They created an expanded pool deck with Blu60 by Techo-Bloc permeable pavers, multi-level and spacious seating areas, walls and waterfalls added elegance. A custom, gas-powered fire pit now complements the pool. Aaron Gorski of Landed said many homeowners are trying to use native plants around their pools. In this yard, they added year-round color by using a combination of perennials, annuals and flowering bushes.
Riverfront Views
George E. Brown Photography
George E. Brown Photography
The homeowners of this Southeast Fairfax County home along the Potomac River had a few goals: They wanted to increase their indoor-outdoor living by creating spaces they could use earlier in the spring and later in the fall. And they wanted those spaces to be low-maintenance. Groff Landscape Design built a deck with a screened-in porch underneath, an expansive patio and outdoor grilling area.
The deck, which is off the home’s kitchen, was made of a Trex composite material with Trex aluminum railing, preserving the river view. The screened-in porch underneath with a porcelain tile floor was also built primarily with composite materials for durability. Groff Landscape Design also extended the stone veneer on the back of the house and created an outdoor patio Techo-Bloc concrete pavers, which are designed to last longer than traditional concrete pavers. The landscaping was also designed to be low-maintenance but colorful.
