Yard Crashers

This young couple receives a Thai inspired backyard transformation including a brand new deck, a custom fire feature and a barbeque grill island. A floating meditation station is housed in a structure with a high-pitched rooftop not unlike those found in Thailand "stilt" houses. The floating nature of the build creates the above ground aspect in a stilt house as well as to create a space to be calm and meditate the stress away.

New parents, Carri and Andrew, have a large backyard full of run down hardscape, weeds and no shelter from the sun. This blank slate gets turned into both an adult and kid-friendly paradise complete with pond, bar area with fire ring and pergola for adult fun and a kid playground with monkey bars and balance beam. The lush pond and large trees create a private and beautiful space, and unsightly areas of the yard get hidden behind a new fence and bar area, creating a playground paradise for adults and kids alike.

This young couple receives a nature inspired old world makeover with a touch of modern. The topography of the yard has been transformed creating natural elevation changes and boulders have been added for seating on the new elevation. Fruit trees now surround the boulder seating area. Near the house, there's a leaf stamped pathway leading to a maple leaf stamped patio. On the patio stands a 16-foot high, hand huned pergola. The hand huning or planing of the wood is an old world style of decorating the structure in a one of a kind fashion. The structure is fastened together using the time tested techniques of mortise and tenon joinery. A touch of modern is added, as large planter pots become cushioned seats. Fruit trees now surround the boulder seating area. Near the house, there's a leaf stamped pathway leading to a maple leaf stamped patio.

This newly engaged couple receives an outdoor party place with modern privacy panels, a fireplace seating area and a custom made bar. The Roman style columns are transformed and squared off. Privacy panels are built throughout the yard to match to square columns. Using lime green and cobalt blue colors on the columns and panels, a festive feel is created. This space is open and airy, yet private.

Surfing loving couple, Todd and Julie, turn their desolate and rock filled Las Vegas yard into a tropical paradise. With a surfboard garden with planted surfboards, a shell water feature and waves of colored glass, a shaded patio with pavers made from crushed seashells and a custom beach themed fire feature, the empty desert yard becomes a surfer's Shangri-la.

Homeowner Bodie and his girlfriend Kalli love their house that has been in Bodie's family for years, but unfortunately, the backyard hasn't been updated in all that time. An old-fashioned patio cover, uneven bricks and no privacy make this space unusable for them and their young son. Their love of Tahoe is the impetus behind the transformation which includes a faux river rock water feature, new entertaining area with pergola, updated patio cover and beams, and a unique piece of art made from a resident tree.

Dave and Emilie Beecroft love the bright colors, water and painted arches of Mexico, but have a backyard with a tiny deck and awkward spaces that make it a far cry from a resort destination. Mexico is brought to their backyard with the addition of a large concrete patio stamped to look like Mexican tile, a water feature with a Mexican clay pot and a fire pit lined with Mexican saltillo tiles. The old unsightly wooden deck gets a bright terracotta makeover and a wooden arch is painted to frame a new garden area and create the feel of a Mexican Resort Retreat right in the backyard.

A boring backyard is transformed from a non-usable space to a little piece of the Italian countryside with various areas to both entertain and to relax. The creation of a large elevated patio covered in pavers and an outdoor fireplace create a lounging area that provides a view reminiscent of the Italian countryside. The addition of large raised garden boxes and a multi-tiered fountain and benches create a strolling garden. With posts and wire framing a grapevine planting, a new stain on the existing patio and a handmade rustic wooden dining table, the yard becomes the perfect piece of Italy to use for entertaining.

This large backyard was empty except for a slab of concrete. Matt Blashaw and his crew totally transformed the space. A new outdoor kitchen wrapped in stone and topped with salvaged redwood, privacy walls using reclaimed farm wood, and a custom metal fire pit are just a few of the knock out designs. Surrounding the fire pit are custom-made campfire roasting forks. This large space transforms to an entertainment, eating and relaxing area for the whole family.

This Fijian couple would love to have a taste of their homeland in their backyard, but not in its current state. Matt and crew repurpose dilapidated deck into a tropical thatched palapa, turn an uneven paver deck into a fresh looking space using interlocking pavers and add bamboo plants for privacy.

A Tampa couple has no entertainment space, just grass on a sloping, uneven backyard. This backyard makeover consists of two thick paver patio areas. The top level has an outdoor bar made of polymer cabinets topped with granite and illuminated by different flashing colored LED lights. It also has a 40-inch TV built in. Adjacent to the bar are four grand water fountains underneath a decorative wood arbor. Then, step down on to a flagstone pathway leading to the lower level patio with a central fire feature adorned by three fire bowl columns.

Tampa homeowners Elizabeth & William Gourdine have a new house and a blank slate of a backyard with a lake view. The space goes from empty to entertaining with a unique bar complete with infinity edge water & fire features; a metal pergola; built in stone kitchen area and a custom TV cabinet.

This first-time homeowner wants an entertainment space out of her existing bare hillside. What she gets is three 3 terraces cut into the hillside. Level one is off the master bedroom, accessed via a new glass door to take in the view and features "T" arbors framing the view of her new space. All three levels are connected by new decorative concrete steps. Level two features a hot tub and custom fire feature. Level three features a massive, ancient olive tree. The three terraces are ringed with retaining wall seating for 40! The new space is also warmed up with additional plantings of Redwood trees, Japanese Maples, and a Willow tree.