A professional photographer turns her focus to creating a backyard greenhouse that's picture perfect.

Photography: Emily Yewchuk

Bigger is better. That’s just what Emily Yewchuk, owner of Yew & Co., realized after building an eight-by-12-foot greenhouse at her home in British Columbia’s Comox Valley. “After six months, I knew that all the things I wanted to do here would require more square footage,” she says. “I was faced with a choice: stick with the greenhouse I had or expand and reconfigure it. I chose the latter and that’s how the 12-by-16-foot Yew Greenhouse was born.”

The professional-grade greenhouse is a serious multi-tasker. As well as a spot to grow flowers and food, its light-filled setting is ideal for Emily’s photoshoots, and for family time with husband Tim and children Harrison (six), Autumn (five, pictured below) and Georgia (three, pictured below). “It’s a place where the kids celebrate their birthdays, and a retreat where I can quietly water my plants and be with nature.”

No greenhouse? No problem. Emily’s tips parlay style into any outdoor space – gazebo, porch or potting shed.

Photography: Emily Yewchuk | GREENHOUSE, B.C. Greenhouses. GARDEN DESIGN PLANNING, Margaret Valley Landscaping. CARPENTER, Resourceful Renovations. IRRIGATION, Monarch Irrigation. ELECTRICAL, Massey Electric. Holland 60mm grey BRICKS, Home Depot. CHAIRS, IKEA.

Look Up

“Make use of vertical space for both functionality and visual interest. Adding shelves all the way to the greenhouse roof really draws the eye up and makes the space feel grand. Hanging baskets, string lights, botanical mobiles and hanging vases are all ways to take advantage of vertical space.”

Stay Grounded

“I chose flagstone flooring in my first greenhouse. It was very dirty and uneven so put- ting any furniture inside was a wobbly mess. With this one, we worked for days prepping the ground to make sure it was solid and level and then laid 915 bricks in a herringbone pattern. It looks beautiful but also provides a really level floor.”

Pot Luck

“Use pots as decor. For me, pots are like coffee mugs and I love to collect them. Not all of my pots are the same, but that’s part of the charm. They are, however, all from the same colour palette: white, soft pinks and creams. I browse for pots at every garden or home decor shop I come across, but I always ensure they share the same tone, so the space, as a whole, has a cohesive feel. Layering in decorative furnishings like chairs and rugs in natural materials also makes an outdoor space feel cozy.”

Photography: Emily Yewchuk | GREENHOUSE, B.C. Greenhouses. GARDEN DESIGN PLANNING, Margaret Valley Landscaping. CARPENTER, Resourceful Renovations. IRRIGATION, Monarch Irrigation. ELECTRICAL, Massey Electric. Holland 60mm grey BRICKS, Home Depot. CHAIRS, IKEA.