At last—the duplex backyards are finished. We completed the last touches just in time for our first weeklong summer guests arriving this Saturday, and a few early arrivals are already enjoying one side. There are lots of photos below, so I’ll keep the text focused. This is one of our favorite transformations from the entire renovation.
To appreciate the change, here’s what the back of the house looked like when we bought it.
Beyond the structural changes we made to the house, simple landscape elements—grass, pavers, string lights and two small matching sheds—completely transformed the feel. I snapped a photo in a light drizzle and it still looked charming; string lights really do add instant ambiance.
The metal awnings and the salvaged diamond-back doors are key to the backyard’s new look. Since the keypad entry for each unit is at the rear, along with outdoor showers and the small shed where guests find beach chairs and umbrellas, we added paver paths leading to each yard. Update: renters can still use a front door key; there’s a shed key inside if they prefer.
We used inexpensive pavers in a herringbone pattern to elevate the look without blowing the budget. Each yard has a small shed built by our contractor using matching HardiePlank siding and metal roofing like the front porch. We painted the shed doors and shutters the same Pale Patina to tie everything together, and added decorative oars for a coastal touch.
I sealed the front porch bench with teak oil after the grass filled in; it enriches and protects the wood. I’ll do the same for the backyard furniture and cover it in the off season. For this project we had the contractor build the sheds rather than buy prefabricated ones—his price was better and we could match materials exactly.
The outdoor string lights are on a timer so they come on in the evening for a couple of hours; guests can adjust this if they want more or less time. We planted small Japanese maples for color and installed 6′ pressure-treated privacy fences so each yard feels cozy. Over time the wood will weather to a softer gray, which we think will be attractive.
We scored a full patio set on sale—two sofas, four chairs and two coffee tables—for an excellent price, and split the set between front and back to furnish both yards. A few accent pillows add comfort; we plan to oil and cover the furniture seasonally and to pressure-wash cushions on a low setting to keep them fresh. Extra Adirondack chairs live in the sheds for guests who want more seating.
The diamond-back doors lead directly from the back porch into the yards. To help guests identify the correct entry, we added small address plaques beside each door so they don’t stand at the wrong keypad. We also relocated the new AC units to the side yards to keep the area near the outdoor showers clear.
The outdoor shower kits work with a composite Azek base that allows water to drain into a gravel-filled bed. Our contractor builds the composite no-rot surrounds from fence panels so they stay maintenance-free. Each shower stall has a full privacy bottom board so you can’t see into the neighboring stall, and we installed plenty of hooks—eight outside per yard and another dozen in the mudroom—for towels and gear.
The yards are mirror images with a tall 6′ fence between them for privacy. If two groups renting both sides want to be together, the fence includes a removable 6′ opening so the space can function as one large yard—an option we expect to be popular with families and friends who book both units.
On the sides of the house and along the paths we kept plantings simple: crepe myrtles that will bloom through the summer, a few hydrangeas and boxwoods up front, and grass to tie everything together. The front landscaping contributes to the historic downtown charm of the neighborhood and makes the home feel much more finished than the bare dirt that was there before.
We chose low-maintenance composite decking for the back porches and railings that coordinate with the outdoor showers. The wider back steps create a welcoming, open feel—if you’re planning steps, go wider where possible to make an entry feel more gracious.
Seeing the finished duplex has been deeply rewarding after a long and sometimes difficult renovation. We’re excited to share a full video walk-through soon, but for now we’re happily celebrating this major milestone: the backyards are done, functional and charming for our guests.
It’s rewarding to look back and remember where we started. When we bought the house in 2017 some locals thought it was the least attractive on the street. Now it fits comfortably into the block and neighbors stop to photograph it—feedback that makes the long effort feel worthwhile.
P.S. You can find posts about the other finished rooms in the duplex, including two kitchens, multiple bedrooms, baths and mudrooms, in our duplex category.
*This post contains affiliate links