*Winner of 2015 NJNLA Award & 2016 NJLCA Award* Starting with a blank slate at this new construction in Sparta, NJ, we wanted to create several outdoor living spaces in the backyard landscape for the young family to enjoy. We designed and installed a large pergola to define the outdoor dining room and to provide some respite from the summer sun. We added lights in the top of the pergola shining down each column to convey the sense of space into the evening. To create more interest, we excavated into the flat backyard and created a slightly sunken fire pit patio. We surrounded the fire pit patio with masonry seat walls to provide overflow seating for parties. On the slope in the rear of the backyard, we installed a border of evergreen trees for screening and in front of the evergreen trees we installed masses of deer-resistant ornamental grasses and perennials to provide seasonal interest.