Sharen and Mark weren’t making use of their front yard because it just felt too exposed. But when grandkids came into the picture, they decided to put up a fence, to give the kids freedom to play.

The surprise of enclosing the yard was how much they started to use it; somehow, the four-foot fence gave them a license. In the late afternoons, they place their chairs in the informal, private garden to have a glass of wine. The area captures light filtered by the mature trees, so it’s refreshing when the temperatures are high. And the simple landscape design — just ferns — is in keeping with the modern interiors, which makes the space feel like another room.

Being outside so often, they started to see the same people, walking their dogs or heading to the park. At first, they just said hello, then started to chat with some every day.

A few years later, they decided to take on their next project. Sharen and Mark had been working with Andrea McLean since they bought their house in 1998, renovating a floor or room every few years. They had the kitchen left to do, but, inspired by how the front yard had improved their lives, took on the back yard, adding a double garage, hardscaping and landscaping.

What surprised them this time was how they more than doubled their usable space, and now use every square inch of their property. Even the path used to be a way to carry something from front to back, but now is a place to play and live.

Credits: - PWS Contracting - General Contractor - Peter Stewart - Teer Co Landscape - Landscape Supply & Collaboration - Aaron Teer - Ema Peter Photo - Photographer - Ema Peter - Woodquest Construction Ltd - General Contractor - Michael Macartney