Date: August 31, 2017 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Angela Alexander |
Built for both personal enjoyment as well as entertaining, this Arkadelphia family’s outdoor space invites relaxation and togetherness
Terri and Taylor King’s backyard had numerous things going for it: a generous-sized porch, a pool, and a sweeping view of their pasture. However, after raising two children in the home they built in 2001, they were ready for a few updates. “Richard Harp worked with them on a renovation of the interior of their home, and when it came time to talk about the backyard, he suggested the Kings meet with us,” David Munsey III of Better Lawns and Gardens says of his introduction to the project. Specifically, the Kings hoped to create a space they could enjoy together on weeknights as well as when family and friends visited. “This is their forever home, and we wanted to help them create something that would last and that they could enjoy with their kids and grandkids for years,” Munsey says.
First things first, Munsey needed to ensure the foundation of the area was secure and the existing features were primed for the transformation. To accomplish this, a large retaining wall was constructed at the edge of the backyard using local stone. Munsey and his team also extended the pool deck and used earth-toned pavers to make the surround fit with the transition to the wooded area behind the property.
With these elements squared away, the focus shifted to the construction of a pavilion and how it would be used. “There is a panoramic view that evolves with the seasons, so I didn’t want to do anything that blocked that,” King says. To keep the line of sight clear, Munsey chose an appropriate place to situate the structure and used low walls that allow one to see through most of the pavilion. “It’s essentially three rooms under one roof,” Munsey says of the space, which includes a kitchen, a sitting area, and a dining space. The centralized living area features a wood-burning, gas-ignition fireplace and television, along with a tongue-and-groove ceiling treatment and recessed lights, both of which flow throughout the structure. The kitchen is a full-service galley-style space that features a grill, sink, refrigerator, and granite countertops, which allow for ease of use in prep work and clean up.
Munsey put the Kings in touch with Antique Brick Outdoors in Little Rock, and the couple made a trip to their showroom to select comfortable furnishings. “Mrs. King likes color, so Loren at Antique Brick Outdoors really worked with her to find cushions and fabrics that would tie everything together with the natural environment,” Munsey notes. In the dining area, a concrete table is surrounded by chairs from Summer Classics. Similarly, generous-sized rocking chairs and a sofa pair with a teak coffee table and concrete side table in front of the hearth. Outside of the pavilion, the look conveys with chaise lounges that feature cushions in the same palette.
To complete the design, Better Lawns and Gardens filled Jackson Pottery containers with plantings that provide additional color and will last through mid-fall. “This is my oasis; I really enjoy coming home at the end of the day and having a place to relax,” King says of the end result.
Design Resources
Contractor Better Lawns and Gardens Inc.
Contractor—structure BMR Construction
Exterior design—furniture Loren Layton, Antique Brick Outdoors
Outdoor living and landscape design David Munsey III, Better Lawns and Gardens Inc.
Accessories The Everyday Chef
Appliances, containers, flooring, furniture, and stone Antique Brick Outdoors
Countertops All Natural Stone
Lighting TEC Electric
Paint Sherwin-Williams
