Winner's Retreat: A backyard makeover

Kevin and Missy Cooper are now the proud owners of a completely redesigned backyard after winning the ArtisTree Design & Dine Contest in February. After the couple won the $10,000 backyard makeover, ArtisTree went to work creating the “Coopers’ Coastal Retreat.” Designers Kirk Brummett, Shawn Gulbrandsen, Clinton Lak and Joe Mantkowski worked with the Coopers to create this gorgeous retreat.

The backyard was officially revealed Thursday, April 25, along with a celebratory party catered by Michael’s On East. The Coopers invited family and friends to come enjoy their new patio area — which features a fire pit, water feature and a mini beach area with sand, coconut palm trees and a hammock.

Florida limestone boulders surround the patio area, which is made of Euro cobble pavers. A wide variety of bromeliads is planted around the patio as well as Buddha belly bamboo, a foxtail palm and a large silver Bismark palm. Around the rest of the yard there are African irises, black magic ti plants, dwarf Indian hawthorns, gardenias, bottlebrush trees and plenty of annuals in blue and turquoise pots.

The Coopers were excited to have pitch apple trees around the fence. Pitch apple trees have hardy leaves that do not fall off often. They plan to use the trees as a guest book and had their party guests write their names and draw pictures on some of the leaves with pencils and sticks.

To see a time-lapse video of the backyard makeover, see below.