Paving with antique stone:

Sometimes the best help I offer clients are subtle details that no one will ever see from a photograph.  Here, it was convincing them that the final grade for the new patio should be 12-18" higher than they first wanted.  After the house was built, the sub-grades were low, but the site needed to be raised up, even thought access was not so good.  I eliminated 2 of the 3 steps that would have been needed which gained them more space on the long but narrow patio.  The patio now blends in with surrounding grades and looks like it has always been there.

Before: 
The site looks fairly level, but it is low.

Before:
Old sandstone lines a gravel path.

In Process:
The grade has been brought up above the
adjancent gravel path way (left).

Natural stone is un-graded (of varying thickness)
material, andmust be set by hand.

After: 
A planting strip seperates the gravel pathway
that leads to the gardens.

Note the sandstone wall and "riser" made
from the old edging that was on site.
New varigated bluestone landings blend with the
antique pavers.

A Craftsman Front Entry Renovation: This project evolved after a sucessful backyard renovation. My clients had the trust to work with me again to tackle the front of the house. Here the entry was obscured, and at a low point along the street, almost 8 feet below the entry to the house.

A new landing:
The main steps to the house got an upgrade with a new iron railing.
The main pathway is wide and gracious, and can support multiple people without feeling cramped.  The smaller, curved, concrete path leads to the back yard.

Before:
The house could not bee seen! The entry was off the corner
of an intersection (out of photo-left), which was exposed and had too many stairs to climb. 

In Process:
The holly hedge has been cut back and the new steps have 
been added. The steep pathway from the original walk 
has been removed (upper left), and lawn will take it's place.

Salvaged "clinker" brick and varigated bluestone
blend well and give the sense of "craft" to this
Craftsman home. The new lawn has nicely blended with the old.

The Chinese granite well capstone 

(center) adds a place for heather.

Salvaged Lighting add a 

flair of grace and match 

with the period of the house.

The landing is now a hub for three
pathways.

Lavander "Madrid Blue"

Small Modern Garden

Henry Hall Table

Long pavers give the feeling of space in this small garden

Small Garden

Spring Time, Clipped Boxwood

Henry Hall Chairs, Festival Lights

Raised Metal Beds

Sketch-Up rendering aided the design

Patio addition with new lap pool

Party Lights and the changing/mechanical room

This project was about adding an additional patio and lap-pool to an existing garden.  The main lawn became more defined by the addition of the pool and bluestone edge band that was used in part as a walkway.  Fitting the new utilities into the back yard was just one of the difficult tasks. We also had to build the pool over a 36" storm sewer by isolating the pipe with a concrete "bridge", five feet below the main grade of the yard.

 

The lap pool functions as a reflection pool and as a boarder to the main lawn.

Under construction the plaster is curing.