$100K for a Backyard Makeover

While it seems extreme, homeowner Jennifer Bater couldn't be happier about her yard - or lack thereof. The Chicago resident said that the small yard between her brick house and brick garage was "like a kiln" and simply a place that you'd rather not go. Instead of going the route of many homeowners, installing plants and trees, she hired her interior designer to create a Spanish retreat for her.

A 5-sided gazebo, which can be seen in the picture, is attached to the garage and is outfitted with marble basin-style fountains and a weatherproof ceiling fan, in addition to chairs and tables. The water and powerlines have been laid underground, to minimize "urban distractions" and a deck and stairway were added on to the back of the house, leading down. The gazebo is surrounded by roses and other perennials. The cost was around $100,000, but Bater seems to think that it was worth every penny. "When you sit out there in the gazebo, you are of the garden, not in the garden. It's cool."