Breaking Ground in East Hill: A Backyard Transformation in the Making

Something exciting is taking shape in East Hill.

This Pensacola neighborhood is known for its charm — old oaks, front porches, and homes with character that tell stories from generations past. It’s the kind of area where craftsmanship still matters and neighbors stop to ask what you’re building.

That’s exactly the kind of setting where a project like this belongs.

We just broke ground on a new backyard build: an open-air pavilion extension that ties directly into the homeowner’s existing shed. When it’s complete, the entire space will flow together beautifully, surrounded by all-new hardscaping that turns the backyard into a true outdoor living area.

Right now, the site is in its early stages (see below). You’ll see lumber stacked near the work zone, foundation posts set in place, and our MISTI Construction sign marking what’s soon to become a standout space in one of Pensacola’s most beloved neighborhoods.

But when you look at the renderings above, you can already picture what’s ahead — an outdoor retreat with timeless design, a gathering place built to match the home’s original character while adding a fresh, modern layer of functionality and beauty.

For us, it’s more than a construction job.

It’s a transformation.

A chance to blend East Hill’s history with new craftsmanship that will serve this family for decades to come.

Designing a Space That Feels Like It’s Always Belonged

Every home in East Hill has a story, and this one is no exception.

When we first discussed the vision for this project, the goal was clear: build something new that looks like it has always belonged there. The homeowners loved the character of their existing shed and the overall feel of their property. Rather than tearing it down or building something that stood out too sharply, we set out to design an open-air pavilion that would complement it perfectly.

That meant paying attention to proportions, roof lines, and materials. We studied how the sunlight moved through the yard, where shade fell in the afternoon, and how people would naturally flow between the house, the shed, and the new pavilion.

The result is a structure that doesn’t just sit in the backyard… it feels connected.

The renderings bring that vision to life. You can see how the pavilion’s roofline echoes the angles of the shed, how the columns and trim details tie back to the home’s craftsman-inspired architecture, and how the hardscaping will anchor everything together with clean, timeless lines.

When it’s finished, this won’t just be a covered patio. It will be a full outdoor living space — a place to gather, to unwind, and to make memories that happen as naturally as the breeze that moves through those tall East Hill trees.

And because we’re blending old and new, every cut, every joint, every board matters. It’s that level of detail that makes projects like this special — the kind of work we take pride in.

Building the Foundation: Where Every Great Project Starts

Before anything beautiful takes shape, there’s a lot of unseen work that has to happen first.

That’s where we are right now in East Hill — in the early, gritty, exciting stage of building something from the ground up.

Every project begins with the same principle: get the foundation right. Without a solid base, nothing else matters. The ground has to be prepped and leveled, the posts have to be measured and set with care, and every structural piece must be tied together exactly as designed. It’s not flashy, but it’s the part of the job that determines whether everything else stands straight and strong for decades to come.

In this project, the new pavilion’s framework is being tied into the existing shed. That means we’re not starting from scratch — we’re connecting something new to something old. It takes a little more planning and a lot more precision. We measure twice, cut once, and check everything again to make sure both structures align perfectly.

Once the framing takes shape, you can start to see the vision come alive. Even now, as the beams go up, you can feel the space beginning to take form — the size of the pavilion, the angles of the roofline, the way it will all fit into the yard.

There’s a quiet satisfaction that comes with that stage. You know what’s coming, but the world hasn’t seen it yet. It’s the moment where imagination and craftsmanship start to meet in real life.

And for us, that’s the best part of the job.

What Comes Next

As the posts go up and the framing takes shape, you can already start to picture what this backyard will become. It’s one of those projects that will quietly transform how a family uses their home — turning a once underused corner of the yard into the new favorite spot for morning coffee, weekend dinners, and late-night conversations under string lights.

That’s the beauty of building in places like East Hill. Every home here has a heartbeat, and every project becomes part of the neighborhood’s story. You’re not just adding a structure — you’re adding life to a space, something that will serve real people in real moments.

For our crew, this kind of work means a lot. We live and build right here in the Pensacola area, so when we take on a project like this, it’s personal. We want it to look like it’s always been part of the home. We want the craftsmanship to hold up through every season. And we want the family to feel proud every time they step outside.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll share more updates as the project moves forward — the progress photos, the design details coming to life, and the finished reveal once every board, paver, and beam is in place.

If you’re dreaming about creating your own outdoor living space — whether that’s a pavilion, a patio, or a full backyard transformation — we’d love to help you bring it to life. Reach out to our team at MISTI Construction, and let’s start designing a space that feels like home from day one.