From Day 1 of purchasing this home, my husband and I knew we would need to renovate the patio. The brick pavers were uneven and cracked, which created a tripping hazard. And as expected, we’ve tended to some skinned knees a time or two over the last year years.

Also, I just didn’t like the look of it. But it was something that we knew we needed to plan for. Fast forward three years, that time has come. Or at least phase 1. Here’s our goals for this backyard renovation project.

Replace the brick with large limestone pavers.

The brick was not mortared so naturally over time, it moved and cracked. We prefer large limestone pavers for their functionality. They will be less prone to heaving. Plus, the cleaner look is a bonus. We’ll be using 2×4′ cream pavers with mortared grout to be more finished-looking and permanent. Here were some inspo pics on the color and shape.

Add a retaining wall.

We will be adding a retaining wall around the perimeter of the patio. This will give the appearance of the patio being an extension of the home and its own room. In addition, the wall will give more seating space. We’re a big outdoor family and host a decent amount. The retaining wall will give more options for people to find a spot.

I created AI renderings of the retaining wall in limestone but ultimately went with my gut and chose to use the same brick as the house. I want the patio area to feel like it was built with the home versus a separate add-on with different materials. Which do you prefer?

Shade is essential.

The maple tree provides good seasonal shade and we have a large Purple Leaf brand umbrella, which we made use of daily, but it didn’t cover the the full space. Some one would be in the shade and others in the sun at any given point.

My husband is not a fan of pergolas because they let the sun and rain through but I told him we can cover it, whether with panels or a canvas, so he came around to the idea.

Removing the tree would give more options but we can’t bring ourselves to get rid of it. It’s beautiful when green and turning yellow. While an extended roof would be wonderful, that’s just not happening due to budget so he came around to the idea. This will be Phase 2 of the project, which we hope to pursue later this year.

An outdoor kitchen is goals.

Phase 3….eventually….hopefully…will be an outdoor kitchen. We’re from Texas and the use of a gas grill is a big debate here or at least with my husband and his buddies. He does most of the cooking so I don’t have a preference aside from the aesthetics of it. His requirements are to be able to 1) use charcoal, 2) have a smoker.

I envision and L-shaped kitchen area either in front or behind the tree with the above, and counter top space for prep. TBD whether that will be built-in or a modular kitchen.

Oh and my last note! I will 100% be outsourcing this project. Although I laid pavers at our last home, which we still own as a rental property, this is too big of a project for me to realistically complete within reason. We want this project done quickly to make use of it as soon as possible. After all, it is already 80 degrees in Texas in February!

Follow along for the journey and some completion photos within the next week!