If you’ve seen our other Focus on Design posts, you know that I’m super interested in house design and have been featuring some of the work I see by amazing local designers. So I thought it was only fair to share something from my own home!
One of the most distinctive features of houses in Central Park is that they usually have small yards (or no yard at all). That’s all part of the plan for the community: to push people into the ample common spaces we have, to encourage interaction with neighbors! But it can be jarring for people who are used to having more space, and one of the most common questions I hear as a Realtor in the area is, what can I do to make the most of my small yard?
I had the same question myself for my Central Park home. But once I really looked at the space and thought about uses that were most important to me, I designed an area that feels roomy and addresses all of my family’s needs.
• I added green space.
We had landscapers remove the concrete slab our builder had put in the yard outside the patio door from the house. We added stamped concrete and turf in the back.
• I used all the spaces I have.
Many houses in Central Park have gorgeous front porches begging for a porch swing or Adirondack chairs. We sit on our swing all the time and chat with neighbors strolling by! To ensure the spaces felt unified, we put in a paver path from the side yard through to the back.
• I established a seating spot.
Two comfortable chairs and an outdoor rug are inviting without swallowing up too much space. Granted, the ones shown here are just placeholders while we shop for new pieces we love!
• I picked a convenient spot for grilling.
We love to barbeque with friends whenever the weather allows—which is pretty often here in Denver! So I tucked a grilling area right by the doors from the kitchen for easy food prep.
• I switched to xeriscaping.
My fiancé is very focused on water conservation and it was also important to me to have plant life that was suitable for our dry climate. The plants look beautiful and harmonious with our natural setting and require minimal watering. We added a raised planter box with irrigation as well. Some summers, we plant vegetables and other summers, we’ve done beautiful flowers that we can pick and bring into the house. Both are great options and we’re undecided about the plan this season, but need to decide before our annual Mother’s Day planting weekend!
