Patio of the Week: Designer’s Cozy Retreat in a Side Yard
Tight on space, big on style, this 15-foot-wide Boston patio has an outdoor kitchen, dining area and fireplace lounge
When interior designer Trevor Fulmer and his husband found a corner home with a sunny side yard in South Boston, they knew they had discovered something special. “Being in Boston proper with this square footage of outdoor livable space is very rare,” Fulmer says. “We both knew it had incredible potential.”
Soon, the designer was dreaming up plans for the space, including areas for outdoor cooking and dining and a fireplace to enjoy in the evenings. Despite the side yard’s narrow footprint, Fulmer was confident he could find room for outdoor living areas as well as a water feature and plenty of plants. “We wanted the space to feel very lush and green, like a little oasis in the concrete jungle,” he says.
Soon, the designer was dreaming up plans for the space, including areas for outdoor cooking and dining and a fireplace to enjoy in the evenings. Despite the side yard’s narrow footprint, Fulmer was confident he could find room for outdoor living areas as well as a water feature and plenty of plants. “We wanted the space to feel very lush and green, like a little oasis in the concrete jungle,” he says.
Before: The original side yard was a functional space but felt boxed in by the perimeter fencing, and there was nothing to break up all the hard surfaces.
First, Fulmer set to obtain a permit to move the fence spanning the width of the side yard (seen here at the far end of the patio) out by 5 feet so that it would be flush with the front of the house. The designer knew they would need all the space they could get to fit as many features in the garden as he was hoping to. Some months later, with permit in hand, the couple started the build-out.
First, Fulmer set to obtain a permit to move the fence spanning the width of the side yard (seen here at the far end of the patio) out by 5 feet so that it would be flush with the front of the house. The designer knew they would need all the space they could get to fit as many features in the garden as he was hoping to. Some months later, with permit in hand, the couple started the build-out.
Before: The other half of the side yard shows the entrance to the space from the driveway via a back gate. The stairs on the right go up to the home’s side door and into a mudroom just off the kitchen. The couple repurposed the original pavers to cover the ground of the crawl space, accessed below the stairs.
After: The footprint of the side yard remains the same, but the new design makes the space feel entirely different. A floor of subheated bluestone pavers sets the stage for the the outdoor living areas. Fulmer carefully chose all materials to hold up to the elements and to fit in aesthetically with the traditional Colonial-style architecture of the home and neighborhood. “I selected materials that will only look better with age, like bluestone taking on a patina. I want this patio to develop character, just like the city,” he says.
Covering the foundation of the home with brick veneer was another choice that helps tie the garden in with the neighborhood. “Brick is very Colonial and found throughout Boston,” Fulmer says. The brick forms a warm backdrop for potted plants such as culinary herbs growing at the base of the stairs.
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Covering the foundation of the home with brick veneer was another choice that helps tie the garden in with the neighborhood. “Brick is very Colonial and found throughout Boston,” Fulmer says. The brick forms a warm backdrop for potted plants such as culinary herbs growing at the base of the stairs.
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Outdoor Fireside Lounge
The garden is designed with three distinct zones: a fireside seating area, a dining area and a kitchen.
The fireside lounge sits in a nook created by the basement bulkhead and the newly gained 5 feet that came from moving the fence forward. “We kept the tree that used to be on the outside of the front fence, which we slid to the right of the fireplace,” Fulmer says. “We were told by a neighbor that this tree was planted when the previous owner’s son was born. Since we are only custodians of this home, we thought it was important to save this memory.”
The garden is designed with three distinct zones: a fireside seating area, a dining area and a kitchen.
The fireside lounge sits in a nook created by the basement bulkhead and the newly gained 5 feet that came from moving the fence forward. “We kept the tree that used to be on the outside of the front fence, which we slid to the right of the fireplace,” Fulmer says. “We were told by a neighbor that this tree was planted when the previous owner’s son was born. Since we are only custodians of this home, we thought it was important to save this memory.”
A new custom-built gas-burning fireplace acts as the patio’s central feature. Apart from visually anchoring the design, the hearth serves a practical purpose by extending the use of the patio in the early spring and late fall.
The generous wraparound bluestone base acts as a handy spot for resting a plate of appetizers and as seating for guests when the couple entertains.
Umbrella: Tuuci
The generous wraparound bluestone base acts as a handy spot for resting a plate of appetizers and as seating for guests when the couple entertains.
Umbrella: Tuuci
Outdoor Dining Area
The dining table and chairs are from Italy. All of the patio furniture gets stored beneath the mudroom (via the gates below the stairs) over the winter.
Table: Tower; chairs: Emma, both by Varaschin
The dining table and chairs are from Italy. All of the patio furniture gets stored beneath the mudroom (via the gates below the stairs) over the winter.
Table: Tower; chairs: Emma, both by Varaschin
Outdoor Kitchen
The custom outdoor kitchen is slotted into the patio corner to the left of the entry gate and is the first thing one sees when walking into the garden. “The kitchen is the heart of the home,” the designer says. “The same can be said for an outdoor space — people love to congregate there.” Wide counters offer space where a guest can rest a drink while chatting with whoever is minding the grill.
The kitchen also has a fridge, storage drawers for tools and a concealed trash can.
The custom outdoor kitchen is slotted into the patio corner to the left of the entry gate and is the first thing one sees when walking into the garden. “The kitchen is the heart of the home,” the designer says. “The same can be said for an outdoor space — people love to congregate there.” Wide counters offer space where a guest can rest a drink while chatting with whoever is minding the grill.
The kitchen also has a fridge, storage drawers for tools and a concealed trash can.
Sunburst LED wall sconces light up the outdoor kitchen in the evening. “I knew these sunburst wall sconces would add the perfect modern touch to the patio,” Fulmer says. “The ‘sun’ shines at night on our patio.”
The countertops are made of honed granite, and the backsplash is covered in porcelain mosaic tile.
Sconces: Meridiano outdoor LED wall sconce by Jordi Vilardell and Meritxell Vidal for Vibia; backsplash: Salluto porcelain mosaic tile, Ann Sacks
The countertops are made of honed granite, and the backsplash is covered in porcelain mosaic tile.
Sconces: Meridiano outdoor LED wall sconce by Jordi Vilardell and Meritxell Vidal for Vibia; backsplash: Salluto porcelain mosaic tile, Ann Sacks
Water Feature and Plantings
Including a water feature was important to the couple to help drown out the sounds of the city. The model they selected, from Campania International, features a proportionally large fall that provides more sound cover than a bubbler-type recirculating model. The fountain is drained and covered before the first winter freeze.
A purple-flowering wisteria vine twines up the fence behind, draping the fountain with a cloak of foliage and seasonal blooms.
Including a water feature was important to the couple to help drown out the sounds of the city. The model they selected, from Campania International, features a proportionally large fall that provides more sound cover than a bubbler-type recirculating model. The fountain is drained and covered before the first winter freeze.
A purple-flowering wisteria vine twines up the fence behind, draping the fountain with a cloak of foliage and seasonal blooms.
In other areas of the garden, Fulmer planted a mix of flowering shrubs and perennials, including white-blooming hydrangea and ‘John F. Kennedy’ hybrid tea roses, as well as bedding annuals for seasonal color.
The bronze-foliage Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) growing next to the outdoor kitchen is a special addition to the garden. “Jim’s grandmother had this type of tree, so it’s a nice memorial to her,” Fulmer says.
The bronze-foliage Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) growing next to the outdoor kitchen is a special addition to the garden. “Jim’s grandmother had this type of tree, so it’s a nice memorial to her,” Fulmer says.
Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: Trevor Fulmer (who also designed the space) and his husband, Jim Mattus, a corporate attorney
Location: South Boston
Size: 585 square feet (54 square meters); 15 feet (4.7 meters) wide and 39 feet (12 meters) long
Builder: B H Brown Landscape Design