For city dw ellers liv in g am id urban
com m otion, the path to serenity
often leads indoors. B ut B rian
C aldw ell and Robert Shore, both avid
gardeners, w ere determ ined to use
th e ir backyard to fin d th e ir outer
peace, despite the challenges o f
liv in g on a busy corner.
“W e needed privacy fro m the
street,” says Brian. “W e knew we
couldn’t live here w ith o u t a fence.”
N or could they b u ild one as ta ll as
they needed, thanks to local bu ild in g
codes. So B rian and Robert devised a
clever, attractive design to get the
privacy they needed w ith o u t
breaking the rules.
First, they b u ilt a standard-height
cypress fence. T hen they installed a
freestanding cedar tre llis and arbor
set ju st inside the fence, w h ich
doesn’t violate code. W ith the
enclosure in place, B rian and Robert
can relax w ith friends in relative
tra n q u illity on th e ir furnished patio.
T he space is sheltered fro m the
sun by shade sails—overhead,
triangular swaths o f fabric tha t give
visual flair. “W e like a m odern style,
and the rest o f the area has a certain
Zen quality. The sails add to that
fresh look,” says Robert.
SERENITY IN STYLE
Brian Caldwell and
Robert Shore relax in the privacy created
by their do-it-yourself trellis screen.
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APRIL 2010 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
