Canadian Couple Builds an Epic Amphitheatre in Their Own Backyard

When Jon and Trish bought their home 12 years ago, the backyard was a huge draw for them, but as the years ticked by and their two children began growing, the yard remained untouched. So the couple called in contractor Brian McCourt and designer Sarah Keenleyside to give the space a complete overhaul and add in an outdoor amphitheatre that the whole neighbourhood could enjoy.

1 / 10

Before: Infinite Possibility

Just look at the size of this yard — where do you even begin when it comes to designing it? Brian and Sarah certainly had a big task in front of them when it came to transforming this space, which was the Backyard Builds equivalent to a blank canvas.

2 / 10

After: A Complete Overhaul

It’s hard to believe this is the same backyard. Thanks to some stonework, a little landscaping and of course the shed and amphitheatre area, this is one cool new outdoor space.

3 / 10

After: A New Garden Bed

Sure the sign is fun, but the real draw here is the pretty landscaping. These plants help to break up the look and give the area a warm touch, but they’re also fairly low-maintenance, which is always a bonus if you ask us.

4 / 10

After: Seating Galore

Thanks to the curved seating area that Brian and Sarah built into the space with concrete blocks, there’s plenty of room for everyone in the neighbourhood the next time this couple hosts a block party movie night.

5 / 10

After: Cushioned Seating

The grass effect in-between the blocks is cool, but it’s not exactly comfortable. So Brian and Sarah gave the look a comfy and homey feel by adding simple outdoor cushions and pillows. Now movie-goers can curl up for hours at a time without any getting any kinks in their necks.

6 / 10

After Extra Seating

The screen itself is certainly impressive, but that doesn’t mean the homeowners are always going to use it. Brian and Sarah made sure to make the space convertible so that when the homeowners just wanted to enjoy the great outdoors they could do that, too.

7 / 10

After: A Fire Pit

Nothing adds to the outdoor movie-going experience like a fire pit. This one is situated in the middle of the space so that it can be used even when there’s no movie playing, giving the homeowners plenty of options.

8 / 10

After: A New Shed

This shed is great for tucking away all of those cushions and pillows when they’re not in use, not to mention any other outdoor tools this couple might want to stash away. The siding is weather-proof and will stand up to the test of time, but it’s also pretty and fits into the rest of the new yard’s flow.

9 / 10

After: A Snack Shack

Of course Brian and Sarah had other ideas for the shed in the meantime; namely a snack shack. Now that’s how you really elevate an amphitheatre.

10 / 10

After: A Marquis Space

Sarah crafted this sign herself, and we think it goes perfectly with the movie-theatre reds from the popcorn machine, table and snack containers. It’s a fun little addition to a truly breathtaking space that any movie lover would go nuts for. It won’t be long before the whole neighbourhood comes here for movie nights.