Four ideas from Japanese garden design - asymmetry, borrowed scenery, restraint in plant count, and the use of stone - that translate to an ordinary backyard.

A gravel-and-pavers fire pit seating circle that a couple of people can build in a weekend for under $400 in materials.

A material-by-material breakdown of what actually holds up outdoors year-round versus what looks good in a showroom and fails within a season.

The lighting layers and shade structure that stretch patio use from a few summer weeks into spring and fall as well.