Double duty built in seating in action. The semi circular stone bench functions as seating for the fire pit area and is also a retaining wall for the newly constructed upper garden level!

 

Functional Landscape Design:

Many homeowners start their landscape construction projects in the fall and winter in Los Angeles so that they can be “outdoor living and entertainment ready” for the summer.

 

If you have visions of hosting crowds that are bigger than your outdoor furniture can accommodate, you should seriously consider incorporating built in seating into your landscape.

The beauty of built in seat walls is that they serve a variety of functions.

 

 

My raised vegetable garden planter is both garden and furniture!

 

Double Duty Raised Vegetable Gardens

My kitchen garden is conveniently located across from the cooking area so that I can pluck fresh herbs and vegetables for my dishes  and entertain my guests while I cook.

Who wants to be alone when they are grilling?

I have a bar counter near the BBQ that seats two people, but my raised planter can seat ten more!

I love how I don’t have to rent dozens of chairs for my get togethers.

As a designer, it also gives me great pleasure to see people congregate in the areas that I designated for seating.

 

 

Seat walls should be 18″ tall for comfortable seating

 

Another benefit of the seat wall in my  outdoor kitchen area is that  it caps a raised planter for my vegetable garden.

The native soil in my yard is clay and deficient in nutrients making a raised garden bed ideal.

I don’t toil to prepare my soil for planting!

I just fill my raised garden planter  with my favorite soil blend, (Kellogg’s Patio Plus ) and plant away.

Weeds are not a problem in my garden.

 

Built in Patio Seating

 

Built-in seating near a fireplace is practical.

In this patio it also functions as a screen.

 

The  stone bench separates the spa area in the master bedroom retreat from the rest of the patio!

 

Privacy Screens and Seating

 

Built in seating can also be used to separate areas of your patio and create different rooms and destinations.

The long narrow patio runs  the span of the back of my house.

I built the arched bench to create privacy and carve out a separate master retreat area with a “hidden” spa.

Now my husband can take a dip while I have tea with my girlfriends on the other side!

I’ve ever done this, but I could if I wanted to!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Construction by award-winning California landscape contractor,  Southern California Landscape, master stone masons and builders 818.834.7241.

 

More Resources:

Planning on adding an outdoor kitchen to your yard?

Read about important considerations so that your new addition is functional, practical and beautiful.

I invite my Los Angeles area friends to listen  to the “Home Wizards” radio show this Saturday, August 16 at 8 AM (PST) on NewsTalk 870 KRLA  and call in with your landscaping questions at 866. 870.5752.

I’ll be chatting with Cindy Dole, host of the popular home improvement show about the “do’s and don’ts” for avoiding costly landsaping mistakes and how to create a dream yard that is within your budget!

Not a Los Angeles resident but want to listen to the show? Listen online to streaming audio. If you enjoy the broadcast, catch me on the upcoming HGTV television special, “25 Biggest Landscaping Mistakes” airing on Monday, August 25 at 4 PM (ET/PST) where I help count down the biggest landscaping offenses.

Happy Gardening!