Peter Krumhardt

Beautify the backyard with these character-boosting outdoor projects.

Construct an Outdoor Room

Grow an open-air pavilion.

Four plum trees define the rustic backyard getaway atop pea gravel.

Building a pebble mosaic walkway

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

As they fill in, the trees' twining branches will supply foliage to cover the supports.

Step 1

Mow a 6x6-foot grassy area very short.

Plant a young, 9-foot-tall plum tree at each of the four corners.

Backyard trellis over picnic table

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Place gray landscape cloth over the square and cover it with pea gravel a few inches thick.

Step 2

Prune the lower branches.

Pound a 9-foot red-oak stake about a foot into the ground next to each of the four trees.

Building backyard outdoor room step 1

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Slide one bamboo square over the stakes so it rests on the screws.

Slide the other bamboo square over the stakes so it rests on the top set of screws.

To secure the squares, lash the bamboo to the stakes.

Building backyard outdoor room step 2

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Remove all but the top four branches of each tree.

For each tree, bend two of the top four branches to the left.

Use twine to tie one branch to the top bamboo support and the other to the bottom support.

Building backyard outdoor room step 3

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Use frosted spray paint to transfer the pattern of an aluminum radiator cover to the clear-glass panel.

With a saw, cut zinc strips into pieces to fit around the panels.

Slip individual glass panels inside the strips.

Building backyard outdoor room step 4

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Then solder a hook from a glass store to each panel corner.

Draw your choice of designs and abstract shapes onto craft paper and cut out the patterns.

Use sandpaper to smooth edges and seal cutouts with polyurethane varnish.

Outdoor decorative privacy panel

Credit:Bob Greenspan

Attach shapes to the frosted-glass panel with contact cement.

Using picture-hanging wire, loop the hooks together and suspend the pair of panels from afenceframe.

Mark the spot with masking tape.

Using frosted spray paint to transfer pattern to glass

Credit:Bob Greenspan

Bend each piece of rebar around a tree trunk at the 2-foot mark to form a partial arch.

Push two rebar lengths at least 1 foot into the ground opposite each other.

The arched ends should slightly overlap at the top.

Attaching zinc stripes to glass panel

Credit:Bob Greenspan

Bind the overlapping ends together with a piece of wire.

Repeat with the remaining lengths of rebar, spacing the four resulting arches about 15 inches apart.

Use the 4-foot lengths of rebar to form horizontal cross bars.

Cut abstract shapes out of craft paper

Credit:Bob Greenspan

Space them an equal distance apart, and secure rebar with a piece of wire wherever two bars cross.

Attach decorations, such as this lantern, to the arches as desired.

The arbor will naturally weather to a rusty color.

Tracing patterns to make metal shapes

Credit:Bob Greenspan

We’ll show you how to build a fire pit in a weekend or less.

kindly note: Before installing an open fire pit, check regulations.

Local codes often outline siting specifications and may require you to apply for a recreational burning permit.

Metal garden arbor

Credit:Kim Cornelison

In some locations, any sort of open fire is illegal.

Start by finding a flat area 10-12 feet in diameter.

Use a stake, string, and spray paint to draw the perimeter of the pit.

Building metal garden arbor step 1

Credit:Kim Cornelison

Dig out dirt within the marked circle; ours is 56 inches in diameter and 18 inches deep.

Then spread a thin layer of coarse sand over the gravel.

Tamp the sand, as well, and double-check the surface is level.

Building metal garden arbor step 2

Credit:Kim Cornelison

To create the fire pit surround, use small, curved, modular retaining-wall blocks.

(We used a 38-inch inner diameter.)

Expert Advice: before you roll digging, lay out your blocks to determine the diameter of the pit.

Building metal garden arbor step 3

Credit:Kim Cornelison

Use a level to verify the blocks are level from side to side and front to back.

Add a second row of retaining wall blocks.

Look for interlocking blocks to simplify this step.

Building metal garden arbor step 4

Credit:Kim Cornelison

Add the top row of coping blocks.

Use a concrete adhesive to glue these into place.

Sort pebbles by size, choosing flat ovals rather than irregular shapes.

Backyard firepit

Credit:Edward Gohlich

Fill a framed concrete base with a thin layer of slightly moist sand mix.

Arrange the pebbles into the desired pattern and tap into place.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 for adjacent rows of pebbles.

Building backyard firepit step 1

Credit:Edward Gohlich

If desired, include special stones as focal points.

Step 6

Gently blow excess sand mix from the mosaic using a leaf blower on low idle.

Then dampen with a spray mister.

Building backyard firepit step 2

Credit:Edward Gohlich

Step 7

Let stand for 2 hours.

Softly brush moist sand mix between the pebbles to grout.

This creates a finished surface.

Building backyard firepit step 3

Credit:Edward Gohlich

Step 8

Squeeze water from a sponge over the mosaic.

Mist once a day for five days to give it time to set.

Avoid walking on it for a week.

Building backyard firepit step 4

Credit:Edward Gohlich

Building backyard firepit step 5

Credit:Edward Gohlich

Building a pebble mosaic walkway step 1

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Building a pebble mosaic walkway step 2

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Building a pebble mosaic walkway step 3

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Building a pebble mosaic walkway step 4

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Building a pebble mosaic walkway step 5

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Building a pebble mosaic walkway step 6

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Building a pebble mosaic walkway step 7

Credit:Peter Krumhardt

Building a pebble mosaic walkway step 8

Credit:Peter Krumhardt