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Pro Spotlight: How to Unearth Your Backyard Paradise
A Seattle landscape architect shares ways to uncover your yard’s potential
Sponsored Content
Who: Carrie Culp of Urban Oasis Design & Construction
Where: Seattle
In her own words: “We aim to seamlessly integrate the home’s architecture with the yard so it feels holistic and intentional.”
Whether you snuggle up in it to watch an outdoor movie or sip wine with friends at sunset, your yard is a wonderful backdrop for creating lasting memories. “People are looking to spend more time outside and make their space more functional for at least three seasons,” says Carrie Culp, who co-owns Urban Oasis in Seattle with Trevor Daley. “We strive to create spaces that flow from indoors to outdoors, matching the home’s architecture and our clients’ aesthetic.”
Where: Seattle
In her own words: “We aim to seamlessly integrate the home’s architecture with the yard so it feels holistic and intentional.”
Whether you snuggle up in it to watch an outdoor movie or sip wine with friends at sunset, your yard is a wonderful backdrop for creating lasting memories. “People are looking to spend more time outside and make their space more functional for at least three seasons,” says Carrie Culp, who co-owns Urban Oasis in Seattle with Trevor Daley. “We strive to create spaces that flow from indoors to outdoors, matching the home’s architecture and our clients’ aesthetic.”
Providing value. Though Culp now focuses on designing residential landscapes, her previous projects include wetland mitigation and zoo exhibits. She and Daley love watching their “plans spring off the pages into a finished project” and helping clients achieve their goals. “We began our company with the idea that investing in the enjoyment of your home could also be an investment in property value,” Culp says.
Fun with clients. Culp and Daley threw a champagne breakfast to celebrate a finished project in Newcastle and helped another client transform his yard into “a waiting room in a tropical airport” complete with plane motifs. “We like to have fun with our clients,” Culp says. “We love seeing their spaces once they’ve put in personal touches; it’s fun to learn how clients use them.”
Ready to enjoy a new backyard? Read Culp’s tips to cultivate your ideal outdoor space.
Ready to enjoy a new backyard? Read Culp’s tips to cultivate your ideal outdoor space.
1. Re-Envision Your Yard
Think about what would be fun for your family and ask your landscape team to create three or four options for you to explore, Culp advises. Some people, for instance, want a huge lawn so they can play soccer with their kids while still having adult space. And don’t forget about furry friends: “We do a lot of designs that incorporate dogs’ needs,” Culp says.
The Urban Oasis team transformed an overlooked, dilapidated backyard into a sheltered haven in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. “We regraded it to create a more private patio level and a lawn level shielded by plants,” Culp says. The 120-square-foot structure seen here fills the client’s need for a contained home office.
See more of this project
Think about what would be fun for your family and ask your landscape team to create three or four options for you to explore, Culp advises. Some people, for instance, want a huge lawn so they can play soccer with their kids while still having adult space. And don’t forget about furry friends: “We do a lot of designs that incorporate dogs’ needs,” Culp says.
The Urban Oasis team transformed an overlooked, dilapidated backyard into a sheltered haven in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. “We regraded it to create a more private patio level and a lawn level shielded by plants,” Culp says. The 120-square-foot structure seen here fills the client’s need for a contained home office.
See more of this project
2. Tap Into Your Ingenuity
Get creative with elements to stay within your budget, especially if you’re renovating a larger yard. “Combine or repurpose materials to create more affordable solutions,” Culp says. “Don’t haul in new materials if you can use what’s already there.”
Woodinville clients love the look of natural stone, but using it for their entire patio was too costly. “We created a natural stone ‘river’ through a patio made of hydraulically pressed slabs, emphasizing the stone’s beauty while keeping costs manageable,” Culp says. The team plans to add a covered space for the clients too.
Get creative with elements to stay within your budget, especially if you’re renovating a larger yard. “Combine or repurpose materials to create more affordable solutions,” Culp says. “Don’t haul in new materials if you can use what’s already there.”
Woodinville clients love the look of natural stone, but using it for their entire patio was too costly. “We created a natural stone ‘river’ through a patio made of hydraulically pressed slabs, emphasizing the stone’s beauty while keeping costs manageable,” Culp says. The team plans to add a covered space for the clients too.
3. Preserve Your Natural Light
Covered porches are lovely for relaxing while being protected from the elements; just be sure they don’t block natural light from reaching your indoor spaces. Culp suggests using skylights, a reflective ceiling, louvered structures or a glass roof to keep the sunbeams coming in.
The Redmond deck seen here shows how a new coat of paint and a higher ceiling can rejuvenate a dingy outdoor space. The deck is now flush with the home’s upper level, creating a brighter, more open feel down below. The white ceiling bounces light into the adjacent rooms, and a see-through fireplace preserves views of Lake Sammamish. “The area also features an outdoor kitchen and bar for year-round grilling and entertaining,” Culp says.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Carrie Culp and Trevor Daley and examples of their work, visit Urban Oasis Design & Construction’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Covered porches are lovely for relaxing while being protected from the elements; just be sure they don’t block natural light from reaching your indoor spaces. Culp suggests using skylights, a reflective ceiling, louvered structures or a glass roof to keep the sunbeams coming in.
The Redmond deck seen here shows how a new coat of paint and a higher ceiling can rejuvenate a dingy outdoor space. The deck is now flush with the home’s upper level, creating a brighter, more open feel down below. The white ceiling bounces light into the adjacent rooms, and a see-through fireplace preserves views of Lake Sammamish. “The area also features an outdoor kitchen and bar for year-round grilling and entertaining,” Culp says.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Carrie Culp and Trevor Daley and examples of their work, visit Urban Oasis Design & Construction’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Urban Oasis LLC was formed by Carrie Culp and Trevor Daley after working together at The Highridge Corporation... Read More
Review by terekaulfus:
Urban Oasis did a beautiful job with the design and build of my project and I recommend them without reservation. They constructed a partially covered 2 level deck and terraced my very sloped back yar...More