Yard Crashers

Sonora persuades Chris to come see her backyard in her brand new house -- a big empty space with one huge redwood tree in the middle. Using that for inspiration, Chris comes up with a mountain retreat design that starts with covering up her existing concrete pad with natural stone and building a wood privacy screen to block out her neighbor's huge RV. He adds a large ledgestone water feature as well as a big wooden deck topped with a custom-made dining table. He uses boulders to define a fire pit area and adds large redwood trees, cedars and ferns. Finally, he turns a ski lift chair into a comfy swing and surrounds it with lush landscaping.

Wendy and Demond have a plain backyard. They'd like an outdoor space to cook and chill in so Chris comes to their aide. The existing sod and old brick pathway is removed and replaced with a new flagstone pathway. A new concrete patio is poured and a beautiful redwood pergola is built onto it with some reclaimed lumber and shutters as the backdrop. A custom outdoor kitchen is constructed with a special countertop and wood siding base. A beautiful water feature surrounded by herbs and veggies becomes a functional part of the yard. Masonry and wood benches provide an entertainment spot around the metal fire feature. A one-of-a-kind sports scoreboard is created for their energetic baseball-loving family along with new sod and surrounding plants!

Tim and Robyn Arthur can't use their backyard. The deck is too small for a table and there are no railings separating the deck from the above-ground pool. Chris comes to their rescue by demoing the deck and pool, and building a new large cabana-style deck with dining space, grilling space and bar. He includes a metal and wood railing for safety and drapes for privacy. Stairs lead down to a new concrete-and-turf checked patio with a lounging area and unique water feature. Finally, grasses and birch trees are added for a beachy vibe.

Homeowners Melanie and Ian have a lackluster backyard and they want a space to entertain and relax in with their family and friends. Chris and his crew arrive to build a unique granite and redwood bar table with an adjoining prep station cabinet. New concrete is poured with random insets of flagstone throughout. A custom fire pit is constructed out of concrete with a rustic metal ring on top. A massive rock waterfall and pond is built with fragrant and lush plants. A secret garden is designed for their furry pets which includes non-toxic plants, mulch and frozen treats.

Pedro and Alicia purchased their Eichler home and have spent time redoing the inside but have neglected the outside. It's a messy space with no flow and no shade. The couple begged Chris to help them transform it into a midcentury modern entertaining space. Chris starts with demoing the existing cracked concrete pad and replacing it with concrete squares in a grid pattern. Pedro is a chef so Chris adds a large 'L' shape kitchen and bar island faced in metal mesh and an herb garden. For Alicia, he includes a large metal shade structure over a dining space. The rickety block wall is replaced with a cement and glass block water wall to become the yard's focal point.

Chris Lambton and his team takes this narrow dust bowl of a yard and converts it into a rustic romantic haven with a metal hanging bed and natural flagstone patio. Not one but two giant water features tie into one pond. Three hardscape patios and shade sails block the Reno, Nevada, heat. To define the spaces a decorative art wall is constructed and an old fence gets a new look with varying colors.

Robert and Dana love their backyard view but hate their backyard. It's boring, overgrown and nondescript and they beg Chris to give them an inviting space for dining, entertaining and playing guitar. He delivers by giving them a large paver patio with shade and a wood arbor that defines the patio and provides a backdrop for a conversation area. He adds artificial turf, a boulder water feature and stone fireplace. He builds a custom reclaimed wood dining table for Dana and a slatted wood and boulder backless bench so Robert can play his guitar. He adds a corrugated metal and wood privacy fence, upcycled wood crates as raised planters and low-growing native landscape so as not to impede on the view.

Chris Lambton and the crew convert a blank slate of a backyard into a custom urban hangout with a zinc bar and a stainless steel BBQ grill, all underneath a large redwood pergola. The team replaces the old concrete with a new broom-finished concrete patio and build a stone veneer water feature with three fountains and a redwood swing bench. Large trees are added for privacy and colorful plants border the yard.

Eric and Cristin Botsford have a large backyard but there's nothing in it. They dream of a beachy escape that reflects their love of the ocean and Chris delivers! He gives Cristin a big concrete patio for their outdoor kitchen, complete with new grill and prep space, that is wrapped in cedar planks and topped with concrete pavers. Nearby, he adds a custom wood plank table that is covered with a bright shade sail. Chris upcycles Eric's home-made bench into a bar and tops it with a cantilevered pergola. He also gives Eric an outdoor shower with privacy walls made from shutters. In the center of the space he includes a low bowl water feature surrounded by grass and lush landscaping.

This small suburban backyard is in need of a major overhaul. Chris Lambton and his crew begin this makeover by installing a redwood deck surrounding a spa with an attached bar for entertainment, a beautiful outdoor dining area under a large wooden pergola and new concrete patio. They build a rustic bar customized with corrugated metal and concrete top and a custom retaining wall using wood and metal. Finally, they plant colorful plants to soften the yard.

Tammy and Brandi are newlyweds who are looking for an outdoor space where they can relax, dine and hangout with friends. Chris comes to their rescue with a plan to transform their dog-overrun yard into an inviting space complete with a dining area with pergola, as well as a lounge area with concrete patio and a fire pit with built in benches and metal wall. In addition, the space will get a unique wood water feature, new landscaping and a long wooden landing off the house.

These busy New Orleans couples desperately need the saints to march in their backyard. Chris Lambton and his team deliver the party with a one-of-a-kind shrimp boat party bar, an outdoor kitchen galley with copper countertops and a dining area fit for the saints. A new bamboo reed fence surrounds the yard for privacy. A dry streambed with custom metal catfish jumping out of it and colorful native plants surround the yard.

Taz and Gumbo are native New Orleanians who like to party and eat with their friends and family. They have a large yard but it's uninviting, overgrown and ugly. Chris looks to the quintessential New Orleans courtyard for inspiration and transforms their space into the perfect place for crawfish boils. He starts with a large brick-colored paver patio and adds a cedar pergola with iron posts. He creates a fire pit area and builds a custom crawfish table with a grill island, a bar and dual crawfish burners. He surrounds the patio with lush tropical plants and adds a sugar kettle water feature. Finally, he turns salvaged shutters into a unique gate.