Design by Cindy McCord | Story by Terri Glazer | Photography by Ross Group Creative

Outdoor living is a trend that has steadily gained popularity recently, but the unique situation of the past year, with its stay-at-home mandates and the lower risk of disease transmission outdoors, has placed more emphasis than ever on the importance of beautiful, practical alfresco areas.

We sat down with Cindy McCord, owner of Cindy McCord Design, and her client, a Germantown homeowner whose backyard has been her family’s haven, to talk about what takes an outdoor space from routine to remarkable.

At Home Memphis & Mid South: When you built this house in 2018 did you have a plan for the backyard?

Homeowner: Yes! The architecture of the house is U-shaped around the courtyard so lots of windows face the backyard. We wanted to take advantage of the views of what we thought was a beautiful lot with lots of trees.

Cindy McCord: The backdrop is fabulous with all those trees!

Homeowner: We wanted different areas to gather—sunny areas by the pool and also more shaded areas for dining. And we loved the concept of a screen porch that we could use three or even four seasons of the year, depending on the weather. Our thought was that we wanted to be able to get together with family and friends in different areas at different times of year, and during COVID we really did. We moved furniture out of the screened area and we moved our outdoor dining table into the porch at different times so we could accommodate larger groups safely. We’ll do that beyond COVID because it’s a fun way to use that space; we’re able to adapt it easily by just moving some things around.

AHMMS: What features maximize the screened-in porch’s flexibility of use?

Cindy McCord: We installed heaters and fans on the screen porch ceiling and gave the outdoor room a beautiful fireplace covered in the same stone we used on the fireplace inside the house. We also had retractable screens put in so the homeowners can raise or lower them as the weather dictates.

AHMMS: What drove your design choices for the outdoor room?

Cindy McCord: Definitely nature. We went more neutral to enhance the green of the surroundings. We didn’t want to put a lot of color in the room; we kept everything natural to keep the emphasis on the beauty of the landscape. We chose a light fixture with a fabric drum shade to make the room warm and inviting. The big square coffee table is actually two rectangular table grouped together. It’s practical because if you need to separate them and use them in other ways you have that option.

AHMMS: Was the pool on your original list of backyard must-haves?

Homeowner: We definitely wanted the pool and a water feature as part of the pool. Jay R. West Pools did the pool. While the house was under construction Jay and I walked the lot many times to get an idea of exactly where the pool should be placed. Jay also had great ideas about the finishes. We chose ice blue flagstone for the decking so it wouldn’t get too hot in the summer, but the water feature has sandstone, so it’s a nice blend of cool and warm tone

AHMMS: Was a firepit a feature you knew you wanted from the start?

Homeowner: Absolutely. The idea of having a natural wood pit with a gas starter really appealed to us. And we knew we wanted it in a position where it was further back so smoke wouldn’t be coming towards the house. We ended up putting it in a back corner area, which I think is fun. Our homebuilder, Thomas Wirth, gave us the idea to build benches around it, which made it a fun conversation area to have fires by.

“I love the outdoors. I grew up camping; that’s how we vacationed. The outdoors was our playground and I feel the same way about our home. It’s God’s beautiful playground and we get to enjoy and take in the beauty of His creation. To be outside to me is just the biggest blessing.” —Homeowner

AHMMS: What part of the backyard do you and your family use the most?

Homeowner: We congregate according to the number we have and shade or sun or temperature. If it’s just the two of us having a glass of wine we may be seated in the two chairs that face the pool. If there’s four of us we might be around the round table having a meal. Thanksgiving evening we sat in the screen porch and watched a movie with the fireplace going

AHMMS: Who else had a hand in making your backyard such a showplace?

Homeowner: Johnny Deniston and his company, Agriscapes, designed and installed the landscaping. They did such a great job. I especially love the area between the back door and the pool, where he placed stone pads surrounded by grass borders. It combines two elements, organic and stone, and keeps the area from being just a huge expanse of concrete.

Audio Video Artistry (AVA) installed speakers in the screen porch and all around the yard. It’s so relaxing to be able to sit anywhere and enjoy music.

Michelle Bolton and Margaux Bartosch of June Wren Flowers are responsible for the beautiful color that we have in the backyard and also in the front of our home. Michelle has a great eye for color and flowers. She loves to walk the property with me and talk about colors. I look to her for inspiration; she just has such a knack for bringing out beauty in flowers and plants.