If you check my Instagram, you might have seen that we've dedicated a lot of our time to a significant backyard renovation during quarantine. It’s been quite a journey—challenging yet exhilarating—with more physical work than I've ever experienced in landscaping. Adam has always had a passion for gardening and has previously designed our outdoor spaces alone, but this project has ignited my own love for planting and nurturing. I’ve fully embraced the gardening lifestyle.

For this endeavor, we partnered with our talented landscape designer friend, Cameron Campbell, to transform the empty land behind our home into a vibrant area for cooking, dining, and soaking up the sun. Although we still have several smaller projects ahead, I’m thrilled to reveal the first set of “After” photos. Phase 1 is officially complete!

Background of the Project.

To provide some context, those familiar with my backyard photos may recall a large stone terrace with an infinity pool and a grill area draped in vines. That’s the section along the rear side of our home, just outside the steel doors from our living room. Beyond the railing lies a 20-foot retaining wall, while the other side of the house has been an overgrown stretch leading into a dense wooded area. We’ve often discussed enhancing this space but knew it would be a considerable undertaking.

When we acquired our property, we found crumbling stone terraces from the original owner dating back to the 50s, hidden beneath thick vines. They reminded us of classic European estates, prompting dreams of restoring them to their former glory. Over time, Adam gradually cleared the brush, repaired, and expanded the old terraces. As the landscape evolved, so did our vision, leading us to consult with Cameron, who crafted architectural plans to guide us through this ambitious project.

Here’s our initial concept drawing—it's exciting to see which elements we stayed true to and those that shifted throughout the process.

Creating the Fire Pit.

We always envisioned hosting grand open-fire cooking gatherings with friends, and we were pleasantly surprised to discover that this concept became central to our design. Drawing inspiration from our trip to Mallorca two summers ago, we decided to use the same stone from the terraces to construct the fire pit, while Cameron designed a curved staircase that seamlessly integrates into the circular seating area. The overall effect feels as though it’s naturally part of the hillside, reminiscent of the Spanish homes that captured our hearts.

This was taken from the lowest terrace near the fire pit, showcasing the back of the house and our cantilevered bedroom window on the right. Ten years ago, Adam planted fig ivy at the base of the retaining wall, and now it’s fully enveloped.

I never imagined I could be enamored with a staircase until I encountered this one. Crafted from solid slabs of lueders limestone, each weighing over 300 pounds, its organic curve adds a unique charm.

Looking Ahead

We’re declaring this the conclusion of “Phase 1,” as the main hardscaping and planting are done. However, there are still smaller tasks to address before the space feels complete. Beyond the lowest retaining wall, we aim to cover a rocky plot with meadow grass and plant vegetable gardens and lemon trees. Plus, new plants will need time to mature and integrate into the design.

Choosing the Plants

Now, let’s dive into the plant selection! This was the most thrilling aspect—visiting the nursery to pick our olive trees. Many of you might recall the day when Adam, my father-in-law Gary, and I moved hundreds of plants from our driveway down a flight of stairs, utilizing an innovative “slide” technique for the heavy ones (watch it on my #casacamille Instagram highlight if you missed it).

I've received numerous inquiries on Instagram about our plant choices, so here’s a list of our favorites. Adam and I envisioned a Mediterranean atmosphere, and luckily, Austin's climate is compatible with many plants from Spain and Italy. We selected around eight varieties that we loved and consistently used them throughout the project. Here are the key plants we incorporated:

If I had to choose one favorite plant, it would undoubtedly be the olive tree. The beautiful shades of grey and silvery green in the foliage, along with the gnarled trunks, captivate me. We sourced three 100-gallon olive trees from Austin Plant Supply to serve as standout features in the backyard, and they’ll grow into stunning specimens over the years. (We also obtained many plants from Leaf Landscape Supply.)

In our front yard, we have a large agave americana that produces “pups” each year. Instead of discarding them, Adam always relocates them to the backyard, resulting in ten beautiful plants now adorning the space. It’s incredible that one plant we introduced a decade ago has led to all these agave in our project.

We used plenty of boxwood around the borders, which will eventually be shaped into neat hedges, while trailing rosemary adds softness and an inviting scent.

To achieve that classic Mediterranean vibe, we planted several bougainvillea in terra cotta pots, hoping they’ll thrive and climb (they can be a bit temperamental). We also included White Guara, a perennial that Cameron recommended—I love how it contrasts with the sturdier evergreens. Lastly, we added Little Ollies, a dwarf olive that can either be pruned into a formal shape or left wild and free-spirited.

We adore our new outdoor area, and we eagerly await the day when we can gather around this fire pit with friends and family. In the meantime, I've just purchased Francis Mallmann’s cookbook to enhance our open-fire cooking skills.

***

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out in the comments or on Instagram, and I’ll do my best to respond—whether it’s about plants, the design journey, or how we’ve accessorized the space so far… Onward to the next phase!