Chayce and Hannah Wilson are passionate about home renovation and design. As founders of Blank Slate Reno, they’ve taken on many projects, turning outdated homes into dream properties.
Their latest renovation is the dreamiest of all – thanks to Belgard and several Oldcastle APG brands. Located in the suburbs of Dallas, the 3,000+ square foot mid-century modern home sports a backyard with all the features to relax and entertain.
Developing the Backyard Design Plans
This home is a piece of prime Texas real estate. But Chayce and Hannah realized the backyard needed a makeover to maximize its full potential. That’s when they turned to Belgard.
“Having worked with Belgard before, we knew the team could create a truly out-of-this-world backyard design,” says Chayce. “We used Belgard products in other renovations, so we also knew the quality and craftsmanship would exceed even our expectations. This gorgeous property needed an equally gorgeous outdoor space, and the Belgard design team were the ones for the job.”
Vice President of Design at Oldcastle APG, Joe Raboine, worked with Chayce and the Belgard Design Studio team to design a fully functional, multi-room outdoor living area.
“This backyard gave us the space we needed to create a design that would wow any neighbor, potential buyer or just passersby,” says Joe. “Talking to Chayce, we knew we had to incorporate outdoor cooking and dining, as well as entertainment space, all designed around a stunning pool and spa. When we looked at the design, we realized the opportunity to have multiple Oldcastle APG products featured.”
Working Around Site Challenges
By utilizing Belgard Rooms and AR, Chayce, Hannah and the Belgard design team were able to really see what this design would look like. Once the concept and product selections were final, it was time to start building.
But even the best-designed projects can encounter unexpected challenges. In order to support the full design for the outdoor living room, the team needed to construct a solid retaining wall.
“While it was not an anticipated piece of the project, the Belgard team was able to bring in engineers and get the products needed to construct a pretty extensive retaining wall,” says Chayce. “Without their guidance, we would not have been able to build what we needed to make this project a reality.”
Once the retaining wall was installed, the team continued the build.
Selecting Hardscape Materials
Chayce and Hannah wanted this home to have a modern look and feel, which is why they opted for Belgard products in the Metropolitan Collection. This included Artforms modular panels, Dimensions pavers, the Melville Series landscape wall and fireplace, and Diamond Pro Smooth Face retaining wall. For accents, they also selected Glocal pavers from the Porcelain Collection and Basalt pavers, which mimic the texture of hammered or flamed stone, from the Artisan Collection.
“This home features a lot of hardscapes, so we wanted it all to look very sleek and cohesive,” says Chayce. “The products from the Metropolitan Collection accented with Basalt create a striking façade.”
Building and Outfitting the Outdoor Kitchen Space with Belgard Elements
The outdoor kitchen was constructed with smooth face Melville Wall and outfitted using Belgard Elements stainless appliances and storage accessories. The kitchen features multiple outdoor cooking options including a grill, outdoor oven, and side burner. A swim up bar was constructed with Artforms and is ready for company with a variety of Elements amenities including a beverage and prep station and outdoor refrigerator.
Making the Right Choice with Composite Decking from MoistureShield
For the decking featured in the outdoor kitchen and dining areas, the team brought in MoistureShield. Their composite decking products are made from recyclable materials and feature CoolDeck® technology – perfect for handling the Texas heat. The team selected Cathedral Stone with Mochaccino as an accent color, mimicking the color of the hardscapes. In addition to traditional decking, the products also were used in the cladding around the outdoor kitchen and outdoor shower.
Choosing the Perfect Pool Finish
Being the focal point of the design, the pool and spa also needed unique features in the design. This was a perfect fit for PebbleTec, which offers beautiful pool finishes and tiles. Chayce and Hannah decided on the popular Blue Surf Pebblesheen pool finish, giving the water that classic crystal blue appearance. They also used Pebbletec’s Lightstreams glass tiles on the spa’s exterior.
Rounding out the Oldcastle APG family of brands represented in the project, Barrette Outdoor Living provided Horizontal Vinyl Fencing, Decorative Screen Panels and their aluminum Pergola for privacy and decorative accents.
“The ability to use all Oldcastle APG products in this design really made things more efficient and kept our design as cohesive as possible,” says Chayce. “It was amazing to have a partner that is truly a one-stop for all the outdoor living products we needed to bring this backyard to life.”
Completing the Backyard Renovations and the Big Reveal
For the installation, Chayce and Hannah selected Epic Pavers to handle all the Belgard products, while Chayce and a second crew tackled the decking and smaller elements of the project. A PebbleTec licensed applicator was brought in to ensure the pool finish and tiles were perfect.
Over the course of several months, the installation crews worked to perfect each element of this one-of-a-kind project, and the grand reveal was not a disappointment.
While the space features multiple rooms, it does not lose its open layout. In addition to the Oldcastle APG products featured throughout the space, Chayce also included a mini putting green, adding to the home’s charm and entertainment capabilities.
“We’re really proud of how the Blank Slate Reno project turned out and how we were able to bring all the Oldcastle APG brands together,” says Joe. “This project, in particular, is a testament to the full range of outdoor living solutions we have at Oldcastle APG and how cohesive everything is.”
Nothing beats outdoor lights around a beautifully designed pool! 
The outdoor shower features Belgard pavers and Artforms, as well as MoistureShield cladding 
The Blank Slate house features an outdoor bar by the pool area made from Belgard Elements and Artforms Belgard hardscapes created the perfect pool area at the Blank Slate home 
The full outdoor kitchen features a Belgard pizza oven, perfect for entertaining 
The pool area hardscapes and PebbleTec pool finish look beautiful any time of day or night
Click here to learn more about the Blank Slate Reno project, and check out Belgard Rooms to start planning your own outdoor oasis.
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