For outdoor living space design, our pick for what gets an outdoor space used most is real seating, like a living room. If you truly want to use the space, we recommend making it family friendly and very comfortable. On one Southlake backyard, we spent about $40,000, and the yard was very large with many pieces of outdoor furniture; the budget depends on how big your backyard is. Our portfolio shows a selection of recent projects across the DFW metroplex.
A recent Southlake project
We recently completed a Southlake project where we brought the outside into the house. Our team treated the outdoor area as if it were indoors and used the same color wave. Every chair and lounger had matching pillows, and the towels and umbrellas were matched as well. Once it was finished, the outdoor area looked like it had come straight out of a movie.
A backyard and pool area from a review
Southlake clients who hired us for a home office came back to us to design the outdoor living space and pool area in their backyard. Their review says they now entertain there. Our reply to them describes the finished yard as looking "full Serena and Lily."
How we approach a space
Choose fabrics that wash and wear very easily, so spills and paw prints are not something you have to worry about. In one of our review replies, we noted that conversational areas are an area many people miss. That reply also says usable spaces, the ones that give a family a place to create memories, are a high value to our designer. A reviewer says that from kitchen tables to outdoor areas, Veronica helps the family create "spaces that invite conversation and connection."
On one home we have been renovating for the last few years, the outdoor space comes next, after the master bedroom and master bathroom we are working on now. Before any material is chosen on a whole-home project, we plan for two to four listening conversations over about two weeks.
Our Refresh, Furnishings & Styling services include exterior paint along with furniture selections. When we make selections room by room, they go in a set order: hard finishes such as flooring and lighting come first, soft finishes such as wall color and rugs come second, and furniture and accessories come last. We hold to that sequence since picking a sofa ahead of a settled floor can leave you with one that doesn't suit the room.
We are on site for installs, where we hang the art and replace a throw pillow that turned out to be wrong. Our team tracks orders, follows up with vendors when a ship date slips and coordinates the install sequence with the builder. Under the principle we call Finish Completely, a project is done when the lighting, styling and final details feel effortless.
The Tesoro Custom Home backyard
In this photo of our Tesoro Custom Home project, a modern backyard has a pool, a covered patio, a fire pit and layered lighting. Dress Your Home handled the whole-home selections on that house. Its warm wood kitchen, with a black island and pendant lighting, has a large patio opening. The light-filled living room there pairs a brick fireplace with an indoor-outdoor connection.
Planning your own backyard
Veronica Eckhardt, our founder and lead designer, is in her sixth year working in the Southlake area.
We take projects within a 30-mile radius across DFW. Every project with us starts with a conversation; to start one, send a few details about your project. We follow up on contact-page inquiries within one business day to schedule that conversation. Before we talk, look through recent Dress Your Home projects and note the rooms you like.
