In Turf War Holiday 2011, expert host and licensed landscape contractor Ahmed Hassan unleashes the ultimate Christmas-inspired makeover competition, with the battleground including both the back and front yards. Out back, two uninspired, barren backyards are transformed into two fantastic, contemporary outdoor living spaces. Tom and Christie Lynn's very small concrete pad is extended with a freshly poured brick stamped patio to accommodate a new stone outdoor kitchen. Plus, cobble seat walls are constructed out of prefabricated mesh frames. Neighbor John Kluenker overlays existing concrete with a natural sandstone flagstone and creates shade sections using recycled copper panels. Then, a concrete mortar mix is blown into a hose to make a rustic stone seat wall. In the front yards, it's a real-life Santa's workshop! The Lynns design a holiday-themed snow park with wrapped gifts, mechanical helpers and a holiday tree formed with rebar and fabric. Over at the Kluenker house, they construct a rustic plane out of metal and fire-resistant fabric, along with an enchanted forest made from old tree branches and paint.
On Team One, these golf-loving homeowners aren't inspired to play golf in their dirt and weed infested backyard. A custom 9-hole, synthetic lawn course is cut in place. A sand and water trap is installed to add challenges to the course. An overhang structure with a corrugated rooftop and a Barbeque Island are constructed out of wood and metal. In the lounge area, an all-weather flat screen TV and year-round outdoor furniture are added. On Team Two, a tropical feel is achieved with palm trees, bamboo fencing and an alligator carved out of a tree trunk. A large stucco outdoor kitchen is craned over the fence, and Plexiglas is used as the main attraction for two connected recycling water features. Finally, a composite deck is built for lounging with a repurposed swinging bench.
On Team One, a personal trainer gets to pull-up multiple times on his personal wooden exercise bars. A pergola is beefed up with foam pads and color, and texture is added to a cinder block wall. Finally, a pondless waterfall is created out of boulders and rocks. On Team Two, a modern design turns Tex-Mex with this composite outdoor kitchen area. A rustic water feature is the back- drop for a modern L-frame bench. Outdoor fabric is woven between large wooden beams and concrete square stepping-stones to create a modern path.
Team One turns their Plain-Jane yard into a Sonoma-inspired dream yard. Repurposed metal bowls fill with water to create a tranquil focal point. A natural stone barbeque island with a connecting seat bench and three custom metal gates opens to a stone fire pit and a zone just for the kids. On Team 2, three living screens made from wood and metal are designed to block out the noise and view of the neighbors. A natural wood pergola and interlocking pavers make for a cozy dining space.
Team One's backyard goes from Lack Luster to a Total Wow, with an enclosed wooden overhang structure designed with a Plexiglas roof and attached to a galvanized metal water wall. A new patio is laid with narrow modular pavers and custom wooden benches are made from exotic woods. On Team 2, a dog kennel is removed and replaced with a new doggie park complete with a recycling septic tank and red hydrant. Three cylinders of Plexiglas in the center of the yard create a transparent recycling water feature. And finally, an extension of the homeowners' existing patio is made with narrow pavers and a custom, 100-year-old, reclaimed barn wood table perfect for dining.
Neighboring sisters battle it out over the fence-line. Team One includes in their yard a pergola with stone columns and louvered roof, a stone covered fireplace with a mantel and adjacent stone water feature to match, and a loaded concrete bar complete with beer tap and dual refrigerators. On the opposite side of the yard, an L-shaped island is built for a stainless steel grill and third refrigerator. On Team Two, a pizza oven and hearth made of concrete and stucco is the center of attraction with a distressed wooden pergola cover. An old world water feature made of broken pots and stone mingles fire and water to create an exciting new look.
The Tibbitts revisit their Turkish vacation by building a pergola with large cast concrete columns and large beams. A prefabricated fireplace is faced with a stone veneer and a massive concrete block water feature sits on a concrete base. On team two, several tons of concrete is sculpted into a tranquil walk-in cave made of tons concrete. Thin sheets of water cascade over the front entrance of the cave and pours down into an adjacent recycling rock pond. A natural pond is lined with mounds of concrete and finally manipulated into boulders then hand painted to mimic rocks.
On team one, barrels of fun is created for the kid's with multiple wine barrels for a kid's fort and play structure. A custom wooden art wall is hand painted and lined with galvanized wire for hanging grape vines. Behind is a climbing rock wall and the front of the wall, is a large slab of redwood for seating. Reclaimed lumber is stripped, buffed and stained attached to a wine barrel. One team two, an old world wall is demolished and replaced with a modern rock wall made of block. A fire pit and custom wooden and stone pergola and a large Tuscan style water feature.
Team one takes their uninteresting backyard and turns it into an interesting Western themed outdoor kitchen. With composite decking in the salon and reclaimed and treated wood for the outdoor salon countertops and a natural wood burning fire pit. Team two takes their wasted space and re-purposes the area with a composite deck and spa. Glass doors smoked for privacy and old wood framed for pivoting privacy panels. A block wall gets a new face with stone veneer tiles.
This neglected outdated open space can't even inspire the homeowners' pug puppies. By removing outdated pavers and adding a roman stamped concrete patio, and building a stone fireplace that doubles as a fire and water feature, a new wooden pergola structure, and a stone BBQ island to bring this yard up to date. Team two's yard is a blank slate filled with their kid's toys everywhere. Adding a massive pergola with a floating bed in the middle, a natural wood fire pit, and a rock flowing water feature, brings this yard from blank to swank.
Team One's neglected, overgrown yard doesn't reflect upon the homeowners' party pad style. By ripping out a dilapidated deck, adding a tiki bar with thatched roof and tropical waterfall, a fire pit and spit cooking area, and painted shed with hanging surf boards provides a island paradise. On Team Two, this oversized unusable space is less than desirable. By including a chic metal fire feature and custom bar, decorative concrete flooring and stone capped seat walls, this space is now functional and desirable again.
Team One's party pad went from sad to glad with a one-of-a-kind wooden BBQ island and bar kit. An old concrete patio becomes beautiful with wooden deck tiles; a copper hood installed over the grill and masonry block is built into a custom fire feature. On team two, an outdated paver patio is removed and replaced with a colorful concrete overlay and a beefy two-post arbor is constructed over the new outdoor kitchen.
Team One's yard has gone to the dogs, but not for long. A new synthetic lawn and specialty doggie bathroom; wooden arbor fit for a dog and along with personalized fire hydrant. For entertainment, a wooden deck is added and stone fire place with mounted flatscreen television.
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