When Christy sent photos of her backyard transformation, we were equal parts inspired and a little bit jealous. Here’s the letter she sent:
Our backyard used to be mostly dirt, grass, and weeds, with an existing in-ground pool and spa. When we spotted dry-stacked clearance stones at Lowe’s, we realized we could upgrade the space affordably. We also found pavers on clearance at Lowe’s and plants on clearance at Target, and the project snowballed from there. Before we knew it, we had a real before-and-after story to share. Here’s the not-so-great before:
And here’s the near-finished after (the bench walls still need painting, but the area is much more usable now):
We enjoy fires in the fire pit weekly. Making the yard less green in the traditional sense has actually been greener overall: I’m conserving water by switching to a xeriscape lawn with low‑maintenance plants. The pavers, rocks (about 12 tons), fire pit, and plantings were all DIY projects I completed—often during long, cold evenings after work, even while nursing a broken finger. A local mason handled the benches and the barbecue, topping them with flagstone. Including labor for the mason, materials, and plants, the entire transformation cost roughly $2,000. I hope you enjoy my little DIY do‑over. – Christy
Enjoy it? We absolutely do. The result is beautifully executed: we especially love how the circular fire pit and bench arrangement echo the shape of the pool and spa. That Christy completed nearly everything herself—despite a broken finger—makes the makeover even more impressive. Thanks so much for sharing your inspiring before-and-after photos.