Transforming Carrie’s Backyard: From Unused Space to Outdoor Oasis

Hey everyone! Today, I'm in Pensacola, Florida, visiting my client Carrie Freeman. She loves enjoying the parks around her home with her dog Maverick and her boyfriend Tori.

But there’s a catch—Carrie hardly uses her own backyard! That’s where I come in, ready to transform the space into something both functional and beautiful.

The First Impressions

When I first arrived in Carrie’s neighborhood, I couldn’t help but notice how unique and picturesque it was. Every house has its own distinct architecture, and everything is so clean and well-kept—it’s like a scene from a movie!

There’s definitely a coastal vibe here, but it also has this old-school feel, kind of like Charleston or Savannah. Plus, it’s so close to downtown and the water, and Carrie even has a small water view!

Carrie told me how much she and Tori love walking Maverick around the neighborhood, but they don’t hang out in the backyard as much as they could. She felt that if the backyard was more set up and comfortable, they’d use it a lot more. So, I knew this was a project worth diving into.

Identifying the Problem

When I first looked at Carrie’s backyard, I could see why they weren’t using it much. The layout was awkward—there was no clear place to set up a couple of chairs, and the pathway from the house to the garage just didn’t allow for a natural seating arrangement.

Our goal was simple: expand the space in a way that made it more functional and inviting.

Brainstorming the Design

Carrie and I sat down to review some design ideas. She described her style as modern, but after seeing the pieces she wanted, I thought it leaned more Scandinavian—though I’m not big on labels. Your style is your style, and it doesn’t always fit into a neat little box!

Carrie wanted to move away from gray tones and add some color to the space. We found some gray chairs with visual texture, pulled in metallics with side tables, and added some subtle pops of color.

When I suggested this approach, Carrie admitted she loves color but is scared of overusing it. I reassured her that we’d bring color in a way that felt balanced—not overwhelming.

Implementing the Design

When I showed Carrie the updated design, she was thrilled. She loved the geometric shapes and the copper accents, along with the pop of blue. Of course, there’s more work to do—like adding plants and arranging accessories—but things are really coming together.

Styling the Space

I always say, when it comes to design, the furniture sets the tone, but the accessories bring it to life. We brought in succulents, pillows, and small planters to add texture and color. For this project, copper was the go-to accent color, so we spray-painted some of the gold items to make everything match perfectly.

Even though all the furniture was built to withstand outdoor weather, the accessories gave it that extra touch of warmth and personality. Some of the pieces, like candles and pillows, are things you can pull out when entertaining and then bring back inside to keep them in good condition.

A Lesson in Color

One of the best parts of this project was helping Carrie become more comfortable with color. She told me that this experience gave her a better understanding of how to use color without overdoing it. I’m confident she’ll be incorporating more pops of color in her future projects!