Mill Creek Curb Appeal- The progression of a project
Mill Creek Residence Before
As most projects do, it all started with a phone call. We discussed the project and setup a consultation. Located in a cute little neighborhood in Mill Creek it was already one of the most well maintained yards on the block. Older developments tend to be filled with overgrown plant material that has been sheered in an attempt to keep the plants from becoming a jungle and overtaking the house. This neighborhood was no exception. The first thing we discussed was removing all of the lawn and some of the trees that had become too big for their space.
Now to the drawing board… Sometimes one design flows from my pencil and I know that it is the one. Others, like this one, I have trouble narrowing down the constant flow of great ideas. The potential for a space like this one seemed endless. We finally narrowed it down to three designs.
Mill Creek Concept Plans
When presenting the client with the concepts they started to narrow the ideas down even further into what they liked and how they envisioned using their newfound space. A task often easier said than done. With the revised plan completed we began on the planting plan. As with most planting layouts it is a balance of color, texture, seasonal interest, and fitting in a couple special treasures.
Bubbler Pot Water Feature
Once the design was complete we solicited bids from our preferred contractors. We chose contractors with good attention to detail and quality masonry skills.
A contractor had been chosen and now we wait until they finish up their current projects to get started on ours. The clients were very anxious and excited to get started and I am sure each day waiting felt like months.
Once construction began the space transformed within hours, first the removal of the lawn and small shrubs.The removal of a large cherry tree and a large spruce tree opened the space up even more.
Retaining Wall
Within days I was on site setting the large stone risers for the path. With the risers set and the paths painted the exact wall location was determined. The wall, although not crucial to retaining the slope, was an integral part of the design and defining the space. We were able to match the new veneer for the wall to the existing veneer on the house which tied everything together beautifully.
As the wall was being constructed the rest of the crew worked on getting the bubbler pot water feature set and the crushed marble topdressing on the pathway. Yes, you read that correct, crushed marble. The marble we used was the perfect color to bring out the color tones of the wall veneer and stone risers.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lady in Red’
Then for the icing on the cake… plants! So many little treasures from two types of hydrangeas including Lady in Red, to the Orangeola Maple, Eternal Fragrance Daphne, and the Raphiolepis. Once the plants were set in their place the project started to wrap up. The final touch was turning the water feature on and mortaring the wall cap.
Another beautiful project completed. We were delighted with the project but even happier to hear how much the clients loved it. This project also recieved the 2013 Mill Creek’s Great Garden Award. As the plant material matures it will continue to transform and awe for years to come.
Mill Creek Residence
