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Suburban Summer Retreat — Green Grass Landscape, Chicago's western suburbs
Case Study

Suburban Summer Retreat

A corner lot with an exposed deck and little privacy needed a complete outdoor transformation.

Project Overview

The homeowners wanted a place where family and friends could gather all summer long.

Their corner lot offered plenty of space, but the existing layout wasn’t working. The elevated deck felt exposed, there was very little privacy, and the outdoor living areas didn’t encourage people to spend time outside. Green Grass was brought in to create a private outdoor retreat while still preserving plenty of open lawn space for the kids to play and enjoy backyard games. Project timeline: 12–16 weeks.

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The Challenge

The homeowners wanted to add a pool, outdoor living space, and gathering areas without making the yard feel crowded. The shape of the property created several challenges. The design needed to fit within the available space while maintaining privacy, preserving drainage routes, and meeting city requirements. The project also required close coordination between the homeowner, pool company, engineer, city planner, and Green Grass team to make sure every part of the plan worked together.

Suburban Summer Retreat — Green Grass Landscape, Chicago's western suburbs

The Plan

Green Grass developed a complete outdoor living plan designed around how the family wanted to use the property. The goal was to create a dedicated entertainment area while keeping the rear yard open for children, pets, and outdoor activities. The design included a swimming pool and spa, outdoor kitchen, fire pit patio, landscape lighting, privacy screening, and seasonal plantings. Every feature was carefully placed to maximize usable space while helping the property feel private and comfortable.

Suburban Summer Retreat — Green Grass Landscape, Chicago's western suburbs

The Installation

The project transformed the side yard into a destination for relaxing, entertaining, and spending time together. The completed project included:

  • Swimming pool and spa
  • Pool patio and walkways
  • Stone masonry outdoor kitchen
  • Stone masonry gas fire pit
  • Lounge patio
  • Natural outcropping steps
  • Evergreen privacy screening
  • Mixed seasonal plantings
  • Landscape lighting
  • Outdoor television and sound system

Throughout the installation, Green Grass worked closely with the project team to ensure drainage, privacy, and city requirements were properly addressed.

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Suburban Summer Retreat — Green Grass Landscape, Chicago's western suburbs

The Result

What was once an underused side yard is now one of the most popular spaces on the property. The pool, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and entertainment features give the family a place to gather throughout the season, while the privacy plantings help the space feel comfortable and secluded. Just as importantly, the rear yard remained open for games, activities, and everyday use. The result is a backyard designed for real family life, with spaces for relaxing, entertaining, and making memories all summer long.

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Suburban Summer Retreat — Green Grass Landscape, Chicago's western suburbs

Project Highlights

  • 2-month collaborative design process
  • 3–4 month installation
  • Swimming pool and spa
  • Pool patio and walkways
  • Stone masonry outdoor kitchen
  • Stone masonry gas fire pit
  • Lounge patio
  • Natural outcropping steps
  • Evergreen privacy screening
  • Mixed seasonal plantings
  • Landscape lighting
  • Outdoor TV and sound system
Suburban Summer Retreat — Green Grass Landscape, Chicago's western suburbs
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See the Next Green Grass Project

Every property starts somewhere different. Explore the rest of the Green Grass portfolio, or tell us about your own property and what you would like it to become.

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