When this Pleasant Ridge family decided to overhaul their 1925 backyard and began looking for a designer, they first shopped in their own neighborhood. The transformation of this yard was accomplished in three stages, including adding a patio, pillars, a fire pit, and a grilling station. Because the backyard is average city-size, scale was important. The grill area and fire pit flow well together, but aren’t constructed of the same materials to mix up the elements, which adds personality. The clients love to entertain and the space was designed to be inviting. While looking out toward the fire pit, Laurie says, “We’ve even had New Year’s Eve parties out here!”