Sunday, March 15, 2009

Met Monday: Landscaping Phase 1

When we bought our home 21/2 years ago we were cramped for time. Okay that was a gross understatement we had four days to find a house that was move in ready! When we chose our home we loved the wooded back yard. What we did not care for was the slope that came down from the house into the yard. We knew we would have to do something to remedy this once we owned the home. I was eager to get to work but moving to a new state produced its own challenges. One was knowing who to call when you know not one soul in the state. Who could we rely on to accomplish the big job I had inside this head of mine? Time flew by and before we knew it we had been in the home a year before we decided to make the commitment to getting the hardscape done. If you ask my husband he was rather deperate because I don't do well without an outdoor grill to cook on and he wanted a steak! Last Summer we had our hardscape done with very little of the greenery put in. This Summer we hope to get more of the greenscape part done of the project. We had a series of three terraced patios placed in the back. We used stamped concrete and were lucky enought to find some true craftsman that created these lovely curved walls. Stacked stone? NO they actually hand sculpted these out of colored concrete. Amazing!

You can see the slope here that rolled down from the driveway and into the yard.



Here are the steps we had installed off the driveway eleminating that slope. It looks so pretty at night with the lighting. We had lights installed in the stairs and planters.



Ahhh just look at that blinding sun beaming off the grill! That rounded wall is actually a built in grill island. It has drawers on the front side to house all of our cooking goods! You will find us grilling out here about 3-4 nights a week.




Here is more of the space before. The builder gave is a 12X12 stamped patio. Not bad but not large enough for what we wanted.





The same space after.








Here is the view from my screened porch. This was that patio I mentioned that the builders gave us.






Here is the same view afterwards. The wall curved on the table patio now housed two lantern style lights on each end. In the picture you can see the wiring sticking out where they are now. These pictures were taken shortly after the main concrete work was done but before we had some of the final touches installed. You can see our grill island in this picture better and maybe peak at the drawers on the front side. Our outdoor kitchen. We have plans to plant a lot of flowers and plants. I hope to add some hydrangeas and hostas among other things. Once we work on the greenscape a bit more I will post some more transformations. Thanks for joining me for this Met Monday. To find more wonderful transformations join Susan over at Between Naps on The Porch http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/.







27 comments:

  1. That is absolutely GORGEOUS!! Everything is just perfect....what a difference the hardscape makes! I cannot wait until the "finished" project!

    {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

    Robin :o)

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  2. Oh I am so jealous of that gorgeous patio. Good for you, what a great design. I know you enjoy it very much. We recently moved also under the same circumstances with just a few days to find a home and move. It takes a while to get things done when you're starting from scratch. You've done a beautiful job. I can't wait to see the finished project. Hugs, Marty

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  3. Oh I am just drooling on my keyboard. You've been holding out on us GF!! I've never seen this. That "stone" work is gorgous. Wish we had someone around here who did that. I can't wait to see it all together. Maybe when the baby goes back to CO, I can drive up for a flower planting party. I can sit at the patio table and direct, and afterwards you can cook me a steak. :-D Woohoo! Sounds like a plan!

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  4. Wow, that is fabulous. I LOVE your back yard. I'm sure you're enjoying it! Have fun with the landscaping part this year.

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  5. Oh, I think it is fabulous, too! Oh my goodness, what a great back yard!

    Suzanne

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  6. Wow. That's great. What good vision you had!!

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  7. What a great patio and view! I bet you spend a lot of time out there.

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  8. What a beautiful patio and backyard. We're in the same situation. We have a sloped backyard too and we are terracing it but we are using railroad ties and we've been working on it forever. You did a fabulous job on yours...Christine

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  9. Oh, how lovely! I would love to have something like this, but no, I won't be jealous...well, maybe just a bit! I know you're going to enjoy this so much this summer. Hey, maybe you can have a cook out and invite us all! I'll bring potato salad! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia;)

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  10. What a beautiful yard and I love the woods behind your house.

    Roberta Anne

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  11. That is just beautiful. I've used stamped concrete on flat surfaces before, but I've never seen it done on walls. I did think it was stacked stone. It really looks good.

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  12. Beautiful! You are going to have a great times adding all the greenery this year...and next....

    susan

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  13. Gorgeous patio and area. I'm so jealous! Just beautiful! Happy Met Monday!

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  14. ~WOW~ :)
    It is so beautifuly done.

    All the different levels and extra details are amazing!

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  15. Thank you for stopping my blog and leaving your thoughtful comment. I love your hardscape project, it looks terrific. I especially like how you introduced curves in your design and integrated the grill feature. Cathy

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  16. Wow...this looks like something right out of Southern Living magazine...Those curved walls are masterpieces! You had a marvelous vision in your head... ;-) Bo

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  17. So BEAUTIFUL! I will not covet, I will not covet ... Sigh.

    Absolutely beautiful! I can only imagine how it will look this summer!

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  18. Love it! Amazing. You really add tons of drama and value to your home!

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  19. Loved the stamped concrete and seems you found some REAL craftsmen. My sister in Atlanta had a similar hardscape done to her rolling, sloping back yard, extending around to a lovely (now!) side entrance with low walls. Can't wait to see the finished project.

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  20. How incredible.I want one too.All I have is PART of a porch.No rails,no cover...baaaaaaaaaaa...Ann

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  21. Oh My thats downright beautiful. Love your house. Can't wait till spring and to see the finished project. When do we get an invite.HaHa!! Linda

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  22. What a great yard! We don't have yards -- or trees -- that big in my part of California ;-)

    Victoria

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  23. Wow! Those walls are gorgeous! What a wonderful yard you have. laurie

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  24. This is gorgeous! Your design is beautiful, and you found some really great craftsman to accomplish your vision. Love the steps with the lighting, I'm sure it is lovely at night. Throw a steak on the grill for me, I'm coming over lol. Kathy

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  25. Thank you all for your kind comments. Those of you who said I had some true craftsmen on the job are absolutely correct. It was an amazing process to watch them sculpt by hand the "stones" on the walls. So when do I schedule the party? :)

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  26. *** BEAUUUUTIFUL, jusst beauuuutiful!!! You must be so proud, and just love going out there!!! Warmly, Linda ***

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  27. Beautiful! I walked by your house tonight and showed my mother-in-law your backyard. Yours is one of my favorites.

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