No. 50 Backyards · Japanese & Zen
Cedar Deck Beside Raked Gravel Garden
In this small backyard, a timber deck with a wood bench and metal fire pit sits beside raked gravel, moss, Japanese maples, and cedar screens.
Design notes
Japanese and zen design work by subtraction. Look for a few well-placed stones, raked gravel or moss instead of lawn, a Japanese maple or black pine pruned to show its structure, a stone basin or still pond, and timber and bamboo screens that hide the rest of the yard. Paths are stepping stones set to slow you down; colours are green, grey and charcoal with one seasonal flash of red.
What to look for
- How the space is zoned — dining, lounging, lawn, planting
- Sightlines from the back door to the furthest feature
- Layers of privacy: canopy, screening, structure
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