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Mom's Design Build
Terraced Paradise

Terraced Paradise

PRIOR LAKE, MN

Completed 2023

Award

Nestled within a golf club community, these clients were hoping to take their steeply sloped backyard and transform it into a private oasis for their whole family to enjoy! They had an existing upper patio area that was installed when they moved in, but wanted to expand upon it and create more areas to relax, play and retreat.

To create the space of our clients dreams, we had to provide them with a more functional and purpose driven backyard that included a pool, sport/gaming area, a gas firepit with a view and various areas for lounging in both the sun and shade.

Our clients wanted various spaces that appeal to people of all ages; they envisioned a backyard that was all inclusive and fun! Also, a low maintenance landscape with a dedicated space for edible gardening was a top priority. And the most important thing was to mitigate the amount of snakes in the backyard. Yes, you read that right, there was an excessive amount of snakes taking up residence on the property, so the clients requested some solutions to stay away from that problem, including: rock mulch areas and minimizing the amount of grass for snakes to hide.

In the end, they got a stunning space with multiple tiered levels for enjoyment! Starting at the basement level of the home and working their way down from there, they are able to utilize this space year-round!

Designed by Becca Bastyr

Behind the Design

Design Notes

Before

A steeply sloped backyard in a golf club community, one existing upper patio — and, memorably, an excessive number of snakes in residence.

The Idea

Tier the slope into levels that start at the basement door and work down: pool, sport and gaming area, a gas firepit with a view, lounging in sun and shade, and a dedicated edible garden. Rock mulch and minimized grass answered the snake problem by design.

After

A stunning multi-tiered space the whole family uses year-round — all-inclusive, low-maintenance, and fun, exactly as they envisioned it.

The Brief

  • —Transform a steep slope into a private family oasis
  • —A pool, sport area, and firepit with a view
  • —Spaces for all ages — all-inclusive and fun
  • —Low-maintenance landscape with an edible garden
  • —Fewer places for snakes to hide

01

The tiers

Multiple levels step down from the basement door, each with a purpose — pool, play, fire, lounge — turning the grade into the plan.

02

Designing out the snakes

Rock mulch areas and minimized lawn removed the hiding places — a pest problem solved with hardscape, not chemicals.

03

The edible garden

A dedicated growing space made the low-maintenance landscape productive, not just pretty.

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