An AirBnB Retreat

This was a great little project we just completed.  Our clients wanted to create a more hospitable space in the backyard in order to attract more AirBnB guests, as well as for themselves.  The backyard used to be a sloped, weedy, wet mess.  We leveled the space, and created a nice flat gravel patio for outdoor fires, complete with fire pit.  Leveling and using the gravel will help keep the space from becoming oversaturated with water during the rainy winters.  We also used varying colors and textures of bark to delineate spaces and to add a nice aesthetic appeal in the garden.

To further assist with drainage, we built a dispersion swale which will direct the water as it flows through the gravel.  The swale is also a nice visual feature, as we used river rock to mimic the look of a stream bed and logs as a foot stepping path to the outer reaches of the yard.  Our clients also qualified for a rebate on a cistern, which we installed along the side of the house.  Since the cistern isn't located in a place that creates great water pressure for watering the backyard, we installed a small pump to assist with building pressure, so our clients can water their new space using rain collected from their roof.  

The best feature of this yard, however, is really our Hugelculture raised bed made from repurposed logs.  This arc shaped bed is a lovely focal point for the space, while creating additional seating for that outdoor fire.