The owner of this Leaside semi had completed an elegant interior reno, and wanted the garden to match.  A single executive, she asked for a private retreat where she could entertain family and friends and kick back after a hard day.  Most confounding to her was the long narrow space beside her garage that led to the rear of the garden – how to make it more than just an extra-wide, non-functional walkway?  Echoing both her contemporary classic style and the relatively traditional look of her home, I designed a series of outdoor spaces screened from neighbours, using natural stone and cedar, with Japanese-inspired planting.  An outdoor kitchen and bar were built in the space bordering the garage and a covered dining terrace with water feature was installed behind it.  An open seating area at the rear of the garden completes the transformation from featureless yard to the epitome of elegant entertaining.