Updated: July 2026
This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission for purchases at no additional cost to you.
Casa Rosa is a 1988 custom built pool home with two bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms on a quarter acre. This post walks through the full remodel story of the back porch and backyard, stage by stage, from a neglected outdoor space to a personal oasis built for relaxing and entertaining.
Before: The Backyard and Screened Porch at Purchase
June 2022
The backyard was solid weeds. The wood fence was one strong wind away from falling over. The screen enclosure was rusty, and half the sprinklers did not work.
The original plans for the screened porch called for 13 feet wide by 24 feet 8 inches long. Somewhere between the plan drawings and the actual build, the porch was extended to the end of the house, adding roughly 10 feet to the length and bringing the final footprint to 13 feet wide by 35 feet long.
The porch itself needed just as much work as the yard. The floor was a faded river rock. The columns were thin, rusted aluminum. The pool deck paint was chipped and faded, and the ceiling fans with their dome lights were rusted and dated. Every surface on that porch was ready for an update.
Stage One: Clearing the River Rock
July 2022
The first order of business was chipping away the old river rock floor. This project was time consuming but not difficult, and it made an immediate difference in how clean the porch felt. Roughly 35 years of collected dirt between the rocks came out in about three hours of work.
Stage Two: Paint and Furniture
July 2023
The exterior of the house was painted Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. The old ceiling fans were removed, the columns were wrapped and repainted, and new porch furniture was purchased at HomeGoods. Even with these updates, there was still plenty left to tackle.
Stage Three: New Fence, Fans, and Gutters
October 2023
Once the rickety wood fence came down, the need for privacy became immediate. The new classic black aluminum spaced picket fence that replaced it was a beautiful upgrade, though it offered no privacy of its own.
Two new 56 inch three blade Minka-Aire fans in a coal finish went up next. These fans bring a clean, contemporary look, were easy to install, move plenty of air, run quietly, and include a bright, dimmable light, making them a genuine win for the space. New white aluminum gutters were also installed to match the fresh paint, and the back porch finally started looking respectable again.
Stage Four: Planting the Podocarpus Hedge
November 2023
Next came the podocarpus hedge, planted with real excitement since the sooner they went in the ground, the sooner they would start growing toward a full privacy screen. After researching appropriate spacing, 2 foot intervals were the final call, since time was of the essence for growth.
Stage Five: Pool Deck and Porch Floor Paint, Plus a Privacy Fix
December 2023
With the cracks sealed, it was finally time to paint the pool deck and porch floor. The pool deck was painted to match the gables in Shitake by Sherwin Williams, while the porch floor was painted Swiss Coffee to match the house.
The one open problem left was privacy while the new hedge had time to fill in. The easiest and most economical solution turned out to be IKEA curtains. Read the full breakdown in Casa Rosa Lanai Privacy with IKEA Curtains: My Insider Guide.
A unique way to display an orchid collection came together around this same time too, using a copper pipe as the hanging apparatus. Read that project in Orchid Display Rod at Casa Rose: My Insider Guide.
Stage Six: Mulch, Sprinklers, and Sod
March 2024
After reviewing and repairing the sprinkler system, it was time to order mulch for the podocarpus hedge and to border the pool deck. Limestone 89 was the final choice for this project. For a full breakdown of mulch options and how to choose between them, read Mulch is an Easy Bonus to Landscape Design.
Since the backyard started out as solid weeds, St. Augustine sod was also ordered around this time. There is nothing quite like the look and smell of fresh sod going in.
Casa Rosa Close
Casa Rosa is an ongoing love story between an old house and a lot of good ideas. From dusty rose paint to the details that make a space feel like home, I am documenting every step of the renovation and styling journey right here on the blog. Follow along and see where it goes.
For more Casa Rosa projects, see How to Design a Sensational IKEA PAX Closet: My Insider Guide, Casa Rosa Powder Bathroom Renovation: My Insider Guide, and Best Dusty Rose Paint Colors: My Insider Guide to This Timeless Shade.
— izzy