We are a society of consumers, and with that comes large receptacles designed to manage our waste. It gets dutifully retrieved weekly, transported to hidden sites and gets massively degraded, piled up and sorted out. If we are fortunate, as most of us are, we have a separate receptacle specifically for items that can be smartly recycled. I love this act. Newspapers, cans, glass and plastics often go to a separate sorting facility, shipped off elsewhere and magically turned into fun things we happily consume all over again.

The “opportunity” for thoughtful homeowners concerned about home values and curb appeal, is what to do with these obese trophies of consumption … the trash receptacle itself. These guys are large enough to consume a small Volkswagen and usually smell like my back seat with a forgotten banana and last week’s fitness gear.

Fortunately, there are several clever solutions to manage the view of unsightly trash receptacles. Some have garages large enough to safely store them, although the smell can be a consideration. Others are forced to deal with them outdoors and would prefer to hide them.

This happy homeowner had the desire to confine their trashcans, utilities and air conditioning units staring at the end of the driveway. A brilliant design (meaning, not mine) grouped these issues behind custom privacy panels with tasteful landscaping to soften the area.

The privacy panels were constructed of premium cedar with oversized posts and trim details to help it blend tastefully with the architecture of the home. I love the texture contrasts of climbing hydrangea, smooth Karl Forester grasses and formal boxwoods, which are repeated elsewhere in the landscape. A traditional blue stone path carries happy guests around the forgotten utilities onto an inviting patio and gracious outdoor living space.

Enjoy your backyard!