French-Country Backyard

Harriet and Jay Apsel's daughter, Dale Korman, is having a birthday and these loving parents, along with her husband, Howard, and daughter, Caryn, have asked host Susie Coelho and the Outer Spaces team for help.

The idea is to give the Kormans' boring backyard a touch of elegance and color reminiscent of the French countryside using plants such as hibiscus, bougainvillea, hydrangea and 'Etoile Violette' clematis.

Although the backyard is nicely kept, the patio furniture is outdated and the main planting bed blocks the entry to the lawn. Set designer Suzette Ervin's plan includes building a large pavilion to enclose the patio and house new furniture. After it's strung with aircraft wire (a plastic-coated steel cable available at hardware stores) a retractable ceiling made of canvas panels along with matching drapes to create moveable "walls" will allow for maximum flexibility. Finally, a two-tiered fountain becomes the focal point as a portion of the large planting bed opens up and is replaced with stepping stones and flowering plants.

fountain (Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH))