Our friends, the Conrows, have a fantastic house in downtown Collingswood. For years, they've had a backyard concrete patio that didn't do much to inspire outdoor fun. It was practical, sure, but didn't reflect either of their design inclinations, nor offer much privacy.
Kevin and I spent some time thinking about the options (there are so many!). With a project like this, there are also a lot of unknown variables. How deep is the concrete? Is there re-bar laced into the poured concrete? Ultimately, we found a solution that worked for us and the Conrows. We'd outsource the concrete removal for an optimal price for them and let our energy be focused on what we do best: building something beautiful.
Concrete begone! Kevin and his crew began lowering the ground level and getting everything nice and even.
Mike even has a passion for geology! We felt even more excited to secure the most beautiful slate flagstone. This is where the project becomes art-- lots of time and attention to create a secure and attractive jigsaw patio.
Space allotted for the beds. Right now, you see there's no screen between the Conrows and their lovely neighbors. While these people are all fantastic, we all know the allure of a private oasis.
We wanted to maximize patio space so that the Conrows could fit their table, fire pit, and a few other items that live in the back patio. Instead of creating a living privacy screen, we installed a cedar trellis. It's thin, durable, affordable, and as the plant-life establishes, a vibrant screen that's appealing for the Conrows and their neighbors on either side.
As this photo demonstrates, there's a fair amount of shade. English ivy is a highly successful shade vine, but it's also pretty opportunistic and requires a lot of maintenance. The Conrows are like many Rooted clients-- they prefer low-maintenance. For those reasons, we elected to plant a shade-tolerant variety of clematis. It's a little slower to establish, but once it does it offers beautiful purple/blue flowers that are consistent with the larger color palette of the planting.
When we met to do the estimate, we walked through the Conrow's home. It's a beautiful reflection of both their tastes. I noticed lots of cool greys, purples, and earth tones. We wanted a sense of continuity as you enter the outdoor living space, so the planting also reflects a variety of purples with some bright green ferns for contrast.
Love it! Full privacy, an enchanting patio that directs drainage away from the house, and a perennial, low-maintenance planting.
Thanks, Maiga and Kevin, for providing us with this beautiful space!
ReplyDelete