TROPIC ENHANCER EAGLE ROCK RESIDENT GETS A TIKI BAR ANY CASTAWAY WOULD ENVY, COURTESY OF HGTV MAKEOVER SHOW.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Staff Writer

Surf's up in Eagle Rock.

At least at Doug Michael's home, where friends refer to his back yard as ``Gilligan's Island.''

The 37-year-old music recording engineer says he had nothing but a slab of concrete and a pool in the back yard of his '60s home, so on a whim he entered it as a candidate for a backyard makeover on HGTV's ``Landscapers' Challenge.''

``After they read my e-mail and description of my yard, it only took them two days to get in touch with me,'' says Michael, adding ``I think they saw the challenge and also liked my dream of a tiki-tropical theme.''

Says show producer Sharon Gilmore Reilly, ``We did like his idea because most people want an English garden or a Mediterranean theme.'' The weekly show features a yard in need of help; the lucky homeowner chosen for the episode gets to choose from the designs of three landscapers who work within the homeowner's budget.

But Michael's modest budget of $20,000 added to the challenge, since many homeowners are willing to spend up to $100,000, Reilly says.

And the three landscapers were so intrigued with the tiki theme that Michael had trouble choosing just one design for the project.

``All three of the presentations were outstanding,'' Michael says. ``Timothy Burnett of Sherman Oaks designed a modern tropical look for me, while Toby MacElroy of Altadena gave my yard a very traditional '60s design with a great tiki hut, and Jeff Brown of Santa Clarita took my fantasy to the next level.''

Why a tiki theme?

``It's not because I'm a surfer. In fact I'd probably drown in the ocean ... and I wasn't a fan of those old surfing movies, either. Actually, I liked the theme because it had a retro feel that I thought would complement my '60s home. And I'd seen similar architectural designs in books, as well as in Palm Springs, where I often vacation,'' Michael explains.

In the end, Michael chose Brown's vision of a retro tiki-tropical garden, but TV viewers can see the whole process and meet all the landscapers at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The episode is part of HGTV's Backyard Challenge Week, which airs Monday through June 1 and features new episodes of ``Landscapers' Challenge'' and also ``Ground Rules!'' Among the projects: disguising ugly garages, creating stepping-stone pathways, making a Zen garden, building a wishing well and turning a carport into a baby's room.

Although Michael recalls it took only two days to be selected for the show, the makeover took two months to complete. Concrete had to be broken up, plants brought in, and the tiki hut bar of Michael's dreams had to be created from bamboo. Even the bar top - a surf board - was specially designed to be flat so drinks wouldn't spill. And the pool was given an exotic island accent of lava rock with a matching fire pit.

``I really hadn't done a tiki design before,'' says Brown, ``so I did a lot of research and I learned that the key isn't color but texture. So we added a lot of woods, such as bamboo fencing, in addition to planting bamboo, palms and banana trees.'' Brown adds that he's now done several tiki-themed yards.

The back yard was finished in January and was soon introduced to 90 friends, whom Michael asked to come as characters from the classic sitcom ``Gilligan's Island.'' He served tropical drinks in coconuts at his new bar. A few fans of cold water tried out the pool, which had been turned into lagoon.

``When guests arrived, they couldn't believe the difference,'' says Michael. ``My friends kept staring at everything and even exclaimed over the discovery of a tiki god that's sort of hiding in the greenery. I also love monkeys and insisted that the landscaper use a monkey that I'd bought. It adds a little humor ... a little eye candy.''

LANDSCAPERS' CHALLENGE

What: Doug Michael of Eagle Rock gets a backyard makeover.

Where: HGTV.

When: 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Create your own TIKI ISLAND

A vacation can be as close as your back door. To escape to your own private paradise, check out our shopping list.

PLANTS: Palm trees, banana trees and bamboo were the main plants used in Doug Michael's garden, but bird of paradise is also a great choice for Valley gardens, says landscaper Jeff Brown, who adds that it's often overlooked because people associate it with yuccas. Other choices include hibiscus, orchids, azaleas, gardenias and fuchsias, all available at local nurseries.

SET THE SCENE: Decide how kitschy you want to be and then go shopping. Fake monkeys and parrots hanging in trees, a few tiki gods hiding in the bushes, seashell-trimmed fountains or small ponds are the classics, but a fishing net, a ukulele, mosquito netting, surf boards and a weathered row boat are other decorating tricks. If you've got a garden house or outdoor bar/barbecue area, consider a thatched roof and add lava rock around the barbecue pit. You'll also want some tiki torches to light in the back yard to keep away mosquitoes and add to the ambience. Large lava rocks, fake boulders, driftwood and a sandy path strewn with small shells will also create a beachy look.

TROPICAL FURNITURE: Place woven grass mats over a concrete patio, then add bamboo and rattan furniture in natural brown with tropical-print fabric on the cushions. You'll find the furniture in several prices and qualities, ranging from designer looks such as Tommy Bahama to less-pricey styles at Cost Plus and Pier 1 Imports. At Home Depot and Restoration Hardware you'll find woven hammocks to give your design that ``Gilligan's Island'' theme.

UMBRELLA DRINKS AND MORE: It's luau time in the outdoor entertainment department, and you'll need some tropical dinnerware in unbreakable acrylic. You'll find varieties at stores all over town, from Crate & Barrel to Target as well as at off-price stores such as Marshalls, T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods. Although it's the season for ``umbrella drinks,'' those little paper umbrellas are hard to find. However, we spotted them at Pier 1 Imports (and also little monkeys to hang from drinks) for $2 a package. Gelson's markets also have them, along with coconuts and pineapples that can be hollowed out to use for fruit drinks.

- B.D.

CAPTION(S):

7 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) VALLEY HAI 

Turn your backyard into an island paradise

(2 -- 3 -- color) The formerly ordinary pool of Doug Michael's Eagle Rock home, at left, now features an exotic island accent of lava rock with a matching fire pit. Michael, below left, goes over plans with architect Jeff Brown of Santa Clarita at Michael's new tiki bar, which is the highlight of the makeover on HGTV's ``Landscapers' Challeng'' at 8:30 p.m. Thursday

(4 -- 5 -- color) Brown made this customized, flat surf board to serve as a counter for the outdoor bar. Michael has a love of monkeys, so he asked that this one be incorporated into the landscape design to help create an island ambience.

(6 -- color) Glasses, and monkeys in palm trees, from Pier 1 Imports.

(7 -- color) Fire bowl, $59.99 at Target.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) LANDSCAPERS' CHALLENGE (see text)

(2) Create your won TIKI ISLAND (see text)