The Yard
Little did Amber and Jason Ficht know when they moved in to their 1959 ranch house on a cul-de-sac in Costa Mesa, CA, that their sweet street was really one big party. Fortunately not in a frat-house-next-door kind of way. Nope, these neighbors are just a super-friendly bunch, always up for a burger and a beer in the backyard. “We actually have a Facebook group for our street,” Amber says. “Someone will post, ‘How about cocktails tonight?’ and people will show up at the door with drinks and appetizers.”
After living on the block for 10 years and hosting their share of spur-of-the-moment get-togethers, the Fichts decided it was time to spruce up their yard — and make it the entertaining hub of the hood. With the help of garden designer Molly Wood, they installed a fire pit in the front yard, transformed the side yard into an outdoor kitchen and dining area, and created a sitting spot around a fountain in the backyard. “All the updates feel like a natural extension of our home,” Amber says. “And it’s even better that we can share it with our neighbors.”