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The biggest savings here were found in labour: Liz and Matt got hands on with almost everything, and called in favors for the electric work.

Rear garden

A healthy budget for landscaping allowed Leah to achieve a natural, wild look with plants. “I wanted to look out and see just lush plants growing wild,” she says. The collage of native vegetation was also used to soften the transitions between surface materials and backyard zones.

In the backyard, the couple added a pergola, greenhouse, and outdoor dining space for $6,000.