Federal Heights is one of Salt Lake City’s most established neighborhoods, where mature trees, century-old streetscapes, and original carriage houses set the tone. The backyards here carry the same character, along with the same problem: layouts that were never built for the way families actually spend time outside. This property had the bones of something better, but a crumbling flagstone patio, an overgrown ivy hedge along the back fence, and a pine-needle-covered corner near the carriage house were all standing in the way. Simms rebuilt the entire backyard as a connected sequence of outdoor rooms, including a pergola-covered outdoor kitchen, a dedicated lounge and dining area, and defined planting beds anchored by Japanese maples. The carriage house that once felt like an afterthought now anchors the far end of the design.
Before
The backyard had no shortage of space, but nothing in it connected. An aging flagstone patio sat off the back door with stones shifting and weeds pushing through the gravel. The lawn beyond it was patchy and hard to maintain, bordered by old brick-edged beds that had gone largely unmanaged. A massive overgrown ivy hedge consumed the back fence line, and the large pine in the carriage house corner dropped needles across everything below it, making that whole section of the yard feel like a lost cause.
After
Each area of the yard now has a clear purpose, turning what was once a disconnected space into a full outdoor living environment. From the pergola-covered outdoor kitchen to the dining area and string-lit lounge with a Corten fire feature, there is a spot for every occasion. Concrete retaining walls with integrated lighting define the planting beds, artificial turf keeps the green without the upkeep, and Japanese maples give the whole space seasonal color. The carriage house went from an awkward endpoint to a natural anchor for the design.
