Front Yard Renovation with Belgard Outdoor Living -

When we bought our home years ago, we knew it was a fixer upper and we were so excited to get our hands on it. We have gone room by room and fixed and updated them. We have plans for the future to expand and make new spaces. The front yard was okay. It wasn’t what I had imagined in my head but it has always been on our to do list. This year we decided was the year to take on the project. We enlisted the help of my Dad, who runs a successful landscaping business here in Arizona, to go over the plans and what we wanted it to look like. We partnered up with Belgard Outdoor Living for all the hardscaping we wanted to do. We were all set.

Arizona is such a dry climate so we knew we wanted the pavers and stone to be just right since it would be the majority of our yard. Belgard had the best selection. Their showroom was amazing. Different options were put together until we found the perfect combination. The people there were so kind and so helpful. They took all the time needed to make sure we were taken care of and everything was just right.

Here is where we started:

Curb appeal can say so much about your home and we knew that even though this was fine, it didn’t represent us and what we wanted home to feel like. Our first move was to paint the house white and clean up the landscaping a bit. It wasn’t our final stop but it did start the ball rolling and made us happy for years before we were ready to begin a full renovation.

There were irrigation issues and design issues that we wanted to address when we started planning. I wanted nothing more than to have a front porch and wanted that put into the design. We started considering all the issues and ideas and if you are looking into renovating your yard, here are some things we took into consideration.

1. Assess the Current Landscape

Take inventory: Start by evaluating your current yard. What are the existing plants, trees, and structures? Identify what’s working and what isn’t.
Consider the climate: Your choice of plants and materials should reflect your region’s climate and weather patterns (e.g., drought-tolerant plants for dry areas, tropical plants for humid regions).
Consider your needs: What do you want from your front yard? Are you looking for a space to entertain? A place for kids or pets to play? Or do you want a low-maintenance, minimalist design?

2. Define Your Style

Traditional: Symmetrical layouts, formal plantings, and classic materials like brick or stone.
Modern: Clean lines, minimalist designs, and contemporary materials like concrete, gravel, or metal.
Cottage/English Garden: More informal and lush, with a mix of plants, flowers, and a natural flow.
Tropical: Palm trees, bold colors, and lush foliage for a resort-like feel.
Rustic/Farmhouse: Use natural stone, wood, and native plants to create a cozy, country-inspired atmosphere.

3. Plan Your Layout

Zoning: Divide your front yard into functional zones such as walkways, garden beds, sitting areas, and a lawn.
Paths and Walkways: Design a welcoming path from the street or driveway to your front door. You can use pavers, gravel, concrete, or stepping stones.
Focal Point: Consider adding a central feature such as a tree, sculpture, or water element that draws attention.
Lawn Alternatives: If you don’t want a traditional lawn, you can use ground cover plants, artificial turf, or gravel areas to reduce maintenance.

4. Choose Materials

Hardscaping: Think about paths, retaining walls, fencing, and seating areas. Stone, brick, wood, concrete, and gravel are popular choices.
Mulch vs. Rock: Mulch is great for garden beds as it retains moisture and adds a polished look. Rock or gravel is more low-maintenance.
Outdoor Lighting: Add path lights, uplights, and spotlights to highlight key features or plants at night.

5. Select Plants

Low Maintenance: Choose plants that suit your region and require minimal care. Native plants are often the best option.
Color and Texture: Vary plant heights, textures, and colors. Combine tall shrubs, perennials, and annuals for seasonal interest.
Layering: Plant a mix of tall trees or shrubs, mid-height bushes, and ground covers. Layering helps create depth and visual interest.
Trees: Consider planting a small ornamental tree or a larger shade tree depending on the size of your front yard.

Budgeting Tips:

DIY vs. Professional Help: Depending on the complexity of your project, you might want to hire a landscape architect or contractor. If you’re on a budget, consider doing some of the work yourself (like planting or mulching) while hiring professionals for harder tasks (like installing a patio or retaining wall).
Phased Approach: If your budget is limited, break the project into phases. Start with essential features like the walkway and foundational plants, then add decorative elements or advanced landscaping over time.

So with all that information we got to work. We couldn’t believe that our vision was finally going to come to life. Since the hardscaping was going to be the star of the show, here are the details we ended up going with:

I have all of the demolition and construction steps saved on my Instagram page so you can see the progress if you missed it. It was months of work but it was absolutely all worth it. Now we have this view we are lucky and privileged to come home to every single day.

Now that we have finished and have learned so much, I thought it would be fun to run through what we figured out along the way!

Q: How did the collaboration with Belgard come about, and what attracted you to their hardscape products for your front yard project? A: I had the opportunity to go see the HGTV Dream Home in Florida in 2023 and was absolutely floored by the entire project but the landscaping stood out to me. As the daughter of a landscaper, I have a deep love for the beauty that can come from outdoor design and Belgard had made an incredible space. We talked about my home and I knew that I wanted to use their product to complete our renovation. It was love at first sight, literally!
Q: What was your initial vision for the front yard makeover, and how did the collaboration with Belgard help you achieve those goals? A: I wanted a front porch and I wanted the criss cross paver and turf walkway for sure. We have a huge tree that we have kept since we moved in and wanted it to stay. Belgard had a gorgeous wall system and I knew that with that, we would be able to build around the tree as well as provide gorgeous spots for planters.
Q: Tell us about the design process and how you selected different products and colors. A: We were able to go to a local showroom to actually get eyes on each of the different designs. Their team knows design as well and it was so fun to try different things together until we came up with what we knew we wanted.
Q: You have shared a lot about how your husband and father were able to be a large part of the project, can you tell us a little about the installation process and how modularity played a role? A: I really lucked out in this aspect. I was in the best hands with them both managing this installation. Kyle had more fun than anyone really should pulling everything out of the space and getting it leveled. We were able to run drip lines and put down leveling layers before the hardscaping began. Once pavers were going in, that is when it got exciting because the dream was literally becoming reality.
Q: What feedback have you received from your followers or other homeowners who have seen the finished project? A: Seeing the before, the middle and the end together really is a sight. Where our front yard was just before, there were followers that wondered why we would even want to do this considering the yard was “fine”. I totally get it, from pictures and quick videos, it would look like everything was fine. Irrigation and the side yard were two of our biggest issues and if we were doing those, everything would need to be worked on anyway so meeting with Belgard was actually perfect timing. Isn’t that funny how life works out sometimes? We couldn’t be more grateful.
Q: What was the most rewarding part of this collaboration, and what did you learn from working with hardscape products like these? A: Seeing the pavers and wall system delivered and then watching it all get put into place was the best part for me. I remember standing outside on the curb watching it all come into view and having a pinch myself moment. It was absolutely beautiful and I could not believe it was my front yard. Having the pavers laid and the turf installed in between and then when it was finished and seeing it lit up at night, it was breathtaking.

If you are looking to work on a project at your home, I would absolutely recommend Belgard. They were with us every step of the way. We were so taken care of. The quality of their product is impeccable and will last for decades to come.

For the complete list of all the products we used, check out Belgards page HERE