Is there anything more satisfying than watching a before and after snapshot of a home renovation project? If you’re like us, you might have indulged in one (or many!) episodes of Backyard Builds on HGTV where Brian McCourt, a trusted contractor, design expert, and real estate flipper alongside Sarah Keenleyside, a designer, take pleasure in transforming basic backyards into breathtaking custom builds for homeowners.
In the latest season of the show, Techo-Bloc products were used in the landscape design of backyard makeovers. Here are quick summaries of four episodes in which our products were featured as well as links to each episode.
When Janet sold the family home and moved into a high-rise condo, she expected to have her five children and her grandkids visit her all the time. As much as they loved “Nana”, the condo was inconvenient to get to, and the stunning wraparound glassed-in terrace with the beautiful view was not safe for the little ones. Janet ultimately decided to sell her condo and purchased a quaint back split house on a quiet street.
Janet wanted to transform her new backyard into a space that would be suitable for her grandkids as well as for adults. She was looking for a perfect mix of kids’ play and adult leisure, while still adhering to her modern aesthetic. The biggest challenge was the fact that the home was built on a hill, so hardscaping was a big focus for this backyard makeover.
Brian and Sarah were able to leverage the fact that the property was on a hill by creating a sunken lounge area built on a retaining wall. They used the Prescott retaining wall to protect the planters and the Portofino wall cap to create a functional seating area around the tree. For flooring, they chose the Borealis slab in Hazelnut Brandy in a Herringbone pattern to add dimension to the space.
Watch the full episode for yourself to see the transformation from start to finish!
Lauren and Mark bought a house in the country, got married, and went on a honeymoon, all in three months! They love their new town and want to lean into rural living – join the community, have their veggie garden and a chicken coop to tend to for eggs at home. They enjoy hosting gatherings for their friends and family, but their old century home isn’t cutting it and they’ve fallen into the ‘house move trap’ of stuffing their storage into the most optimal space – the garage. They’re finally ready to settle, organize themselves, and start optimizing the use of their backyard.
Lauren and Mark wanted a Scandinavian-Bohemian Chic style and landscape design that could accommodate indoor-outdoor entertaining. While they are repurposing much of their yard, the main gathering point is a new stone patio built with Industria pavers in Beige Cream. The patio is connected by pathways leading to different seating areas beside the barn structure where they can gather with friends to relax on the sleek new furniture, and enjoy outdoor movie nights on the adjacent screen. With all this new backyard space, the couple is poised to become the party hub of their family.
View the full episode to see their landscape renovation.
Sonia and Peter only get two weeks off a year, at which time they can’t even think of traveling with kids. The yard was the biggest selling point when they initially bought the house, but it is as bare now as on the day they purchased it in 2015 because they have no idea when or how or to execute their dream plan to transform their backyard. These homebodies need to make use of the resort-sized space they already have in their backyard to make the most of their family time together all year round.
The couple wanted to go for a space where luxury could meet relaxation. The landscaping is the ultimate canvas and inspiration for this project. The luxurious hard finishes allow this family and their friends to move easily in and out of their new lanai and around the pool. They’ll finally be able to vacation in their backyard, using their precious time to be together. The sunken lounge is surrounded by stone retaining walls and Piedimonte wall caps in Onyx Black with continued stonework throughout the property to surround their beautiful new pool. Brian and Sarah used the Blu Grande Smooth slab in Greyed Nickel to pave the area around the pool.
Check out the full backyard transformation on HGTV.
It’s been nearly a decade since Michelle and Adrian bought their semi-detached home and the couple is struggling with their lack of space. Between Adrian’s massive record collection, turntable decks, speakers, and Michelle’s crafts and event planning side hustle supplies, it was time to kick the DJ studio out of the basement and extend livable space outdoors.
The couple needed to find a way to expand their living space by tapping into their backyard potential. Brian and Sarah opt for industrial materials, geometric lines, graphics, and bold colors to make a statement and create an urban backyard design. Living space was extended to create a new soundproof DJ studio matched with stylish outdoor decor. A crafts area was also added to accommodate Michelle’s needs. To bring out the edgy look in the family space, the hosts chose the Diamond Smooth pavers in Greyed Nickel and Onyx Black.
See the stunning transformation for yourself by watching the full episode.
Want to start your backyard transformation but not sure where to begin? Check out our Backyard Planning Guide.