WEEKEND EXPRESS

Simple comforts and low-maintenance landscaping let one family maximize every minute in their small beach house backyard.

- by RORY EVANS

Pea gravel and poured concrete provide understatedly chic texture.

BEFORE & AFTER

Designer Molly Wood and her team took this Southern California backyard from a dirt-and-weed patch to a multiuse oasis. To keep costs down, they left the yard's two existing tiers intact, using affordable hardscaping materials and plants to create a series of zones. The lower level includes spaces for grilling, dining, and lounging; the raised area in the back was transformed into a bocce court and an additional seating area.

Maximum relaxation, minimal upkeep: That goal drove every choice landscape designer Molly Wood made as she revamped this beach house yard. Cushions for the outdoor furniture? No one wants to wrestle them in and out of storage. Bold flowers? Too much deadheading—plants in various shades of green can bring color and texture instead. An expansive outdoor kitchen? Pass again. Honestly, pretty much just a grill will do.