HOME: The Backyard Retreat

Three landscapes to inspire your next season of outdoor living.

Muskoka Style

A sweeping backyard oasis with ample space for family entertaining, this design by Gelderman Landscape Services leaves only one question: which space to enjoy first?

Surrounding the pool are lounging and dining spaces, the soft sounds of the natural stone waterfall filling the air as it cascades into the pool. Two structures were added to the garden ““ a custom pool house with shower, and a custom garden shed ““ both built in a style that takes your imagination to a Muskoka retreat and the feeling of a cottage getaway.

Just beyond the pool and patio area, a large stone outdoor fireplace with built-in log storace and an ample patio for Muskoka chairs beckons once the sun sets. On the backside of the fireplace, a custom-designed pizza oven for a homeowner that loves cooking.

Gelderman Landscape Services has been providing landscape services for more than half a century. Company founder, Jan Gelderman, a Dutch immigrant, founded the company in 1955 with just $7.14 worth of tools and a 1948 Jeep Willy.

Poolside Oasis
This backyard oasis by Cedar Springs Landscape Group is focused on the pool. The central feature of the space, it incorporates both a raised hot tub and a falling water feature on the opposite side of the pool.

The homeowners opted for a stone patio surface that features many shades of grays and taupes, accented by the creamy whites used in the poolside cabana and pops of bright citrus green in the plant materials.

A patio was placed just off the back entrance of the home for a dining area and barbecue, and a bar counter was installed to create additional seating that overlooks the pool.

The covered lounge area incorporates a built-in firepit for curling up on a chilly evening, as well as a large ceiling fan to keep things cool on a steamy afternoon.

Cedar Springs Landscape Group, located in Oakville, has been creating natural beauty in Southern Ontario neighbourhoods for more than 25 years.

Petite Retreat
This backyard retreat proves you can have everything you want, right in your own backyard. When Ian McClelland and Associates Ltd. created this design, they needed to incorporate a pool and lounge space, along with outdoor cooking and eating areas and space for kids to play, all with a rustic feel in a smaller-sized backyard. The owner wanted to bring the cottage to the city.

The result is a custom space that incorporates plant materials and natural stone to create privacy, while adding beauty and the feeling of being away at the cottage. Dramatic bronze accent lighting and a fire table extend the outdoor time.

Ian McClelland Associates Ltd. is a boutique landscape firm that has specialized in the design and construction of residential properties since 1994.