YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME

4324 S. Helena St.

When real estate agent Neil O’Keefe, with his wife Heather and their three children, moved to Spokane three years ago, the first thing they wanted to find was a level lot.

“Coming from Seattle, everything was on a hill,” Heather O’Keefe said. “With the children, we wanted a nice flat lot on a flat street.”

The couple purchased a 1960s rancher on Spokane’s upper South Hill. The interior had been completely renovated, but the back yard needed attention. Working with landscape professional Grant Kellar, the couple created an outdoor oasis.

Water falls over stones and a stream winds through the yard ending in a koi pond. They added a sports court and the original patio was tiled and extended to create a covered outdoor living area. “We added a sofa and furniture to make it comfortable in the summer,” O’Keefe said.

Now that backyard weather is over, O’Keefe said the view is still stunning.

“It is beautiful with the snow,” she said. “It looks like a beautiful Japanese garden out there.”

Future plans call for the addition of cedar shakes and stone to the exterior of the house.