Design Challenge: The utility bins needed to be conveniently located near the kitchen but hidden from view. The back porch and stairs needed an improved connection between the kitchen and the 5' lower back garden. The tall blank house wall seen from the garden was uninteresting.

Now: The new stairs end with the traveler coming directly into the garden. The intermediate stair landing helps to break up the 5' elevation change between the garden floor and the kitchen door sill. On the landing a Kiwi vine climbs a trellis filling the formerly blank wall with textural greenery.

One of the seating benches hides 2 utility bins. The hinged bench seat lifts up for convenient access to the bins. This puts garbage disposal within steps of the kitchen. On the back side are doors that open so the bins can be easily wheeled to the curb on collection day. The other bench holds small gardening tools. With added cushions and pillows the benches provide overflow seating for outdoor entertaining.

This solution and others were published in: NW Gardens: Essential Fixes by Marty Wingate Seattle PI on Oct 18, 2007