When he moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Adam decided to make friends in the community. After inviting a few strangers over for dinner, his backyard quickly became a gathering place for the whole community. Monday Night Dinners became a tradition. But his backyard wasn’t the ideal entertainment space, so he called Ask This Old House for help. Jenn Nawada (and volunteers) answered the call.
Start by Introducing Yourself
Before your backyard can become the community hub, you need a community. Our homeowner, Adam, would head into the town and introduce himself to folks he didn’t know. After striking up a conversation, he’d invite them over to Monday Night Dinner, which he was surprised to find that almost everyone attended. With almost 100 dinners under his belt, he knew it was time for some upgrades.
The tradition itself was inspired by Adam’s mother. As Adam explained to This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada: “I grew up with a mom who’s just my role model, my inspiration. And she raised us with a dinner called Monday night dinners that when we were all moving out of the house, she said, ‘Can we just come together every Monday and just have dinner with each other? I’ll cover the food. Just let’s get together.'”
Create Flow
When new friends venture into a backyard, finding your way can be somewhat confusing. Rather than letting folks meander aimlessly, give them a path to flow through. A stone walkway that sprawls throughout the different areas around the yard is a great way to naturally direct them.
Pro Tip: The walkway materials you choose also affect how people move through your yard. According to This Old House Magazine, smooth surfaces like concrete and asphalt encourage guests to walk quickly, while rougher materials like stone or cobbled pavers force them to slow down. Use a mix if you want people to linger in some areas but not others—the variety also creates more visual interest. This technique, called “progressive realization,” provides points of interest along the way that encourage people to move through the space.
Plan for Food Prep
When your visitors get hungry, you need to be able to accommodate them. An outdoor kitchen customized to your cooking style and workflow can be a big help. Durable countertops make great prep stations, and a steel frame clad in long-lasting materials like stone or cedar will hold up to the elements. Built-in grills, griddles, refrigerators, and sinks make these spaces incredibly convenient to cook in, especially if it’s for hundreds of visitors.
Surface materials need to withstand both weather and grill heat. Good countertop choices include granite, slate, stainless steel, tile, and poured concrete—which can be stained for a custom look. In dry climates, rot-resistant woods like teak and cedar work well for cabinetry. For the structure itself, concrete block with stone veneer is a proven combination that can simply be hosed down for easy cleanup.
Keep Entertainment Front and Center
Live entertainment should always be the main focus of the party. A stage built in a shady yet central location will give party-goers a convenient angle to enjoy. Make sure the kitchen staff can see the show too. And, when live entertainment isn’t available, the stage can be a great place for a movie via screen and projector.
Green Grass Prevents a Dust Bowl
If your backyard is relatively dry and bare, hundreds of feet shuffling throughout the yard can create a dust bowl, ruining everyone’s good time. Instead, consider laying out rolls of sod. This will help keep the dust down, keep folks cooler in the summer, and provide some comfortable seating for the live show.
Pro Tip: This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook explains the value of sod over seeding: “You’re basically buying time. You’re paying for turf that someone else has coddled for 14 to 18 months.”
Resources
Monday Night Dinners event group
AMD Interiors assisted in planning and executing local landscape designs.
Mariana Otter Home & Lawn Care assisted in landscaping.
Savage Landscape Home Repair provided kitchen design and built outdoor kitchen
Living Stone provided a granite countertop for the outdoor kitchen.
Double Legacy Stone provided landscape equipment, materials, and installed the Idaho quartzite stepping stones.
Family Man General Contracting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho installed steps to the back door.
