Murphy is very happy with his new yard!
So are his parents, Maureen and Ward!
Let's take a look at the final result:
The cottage has a new life now! It was cleaned out and gutted, then new bead board paneling was added. Double French doors really open up the room, connecting it to the back yard.
I furnished it with "leftovers" from my garage, Maureen's attic and whatever else we could find.
The mirror belonged to Ward's Mom. She would be so happy knowing it found a new home!
The wingback is a flea market find. The table and burlap skirt is from Ballard.
A gravel path connects the cottage to the fireplace. Tiny boxwood borders the new lawn.
Ten white "Iceberg" standard roses border the back fence with Mexican Sage in between.
Pittosporum sits behind the roses and will eventually provide the privacy they lost when the old, diseased Myoporum were removed.
Another "room" to sit on a cool evening and enjoy a glass of wine!
The fireplace surround was faux painted to mimic stone, which was a huge improvement from the way it came out of the box!
New low-voltage lighting was installed front and back.
We're not talking solar here. These lights will last forever!
They are all on a timer to go on at dusk and turn off at a set time later.
The outdoor kitchen sits just outside the back door, making it easily accessible.
Ward built it from scratch!
It has a state of the art barbeque, a real sink and a refrigerator stocked with Diet Dr. Pepper!
The countertop is black granite with a leather-like texture.
Eventually, pink jasmine will cover the arbor.
Behind the outdoor kitchen is a shady, private area where the new spa lives.
The coat rack is ever ready to hold white robes!
New pink hydrangeas, white azaleas and ferns will thrive in this shady area with dappled sunlight.
Sitting in the spa, the trickle of the fountain can be heard.
Mexican Sage surrounds it, since this gets full sun.
An arbor leads you through a "room" which was created to be a potting area, hiding garden tools, etc.
The front yard is beyond the gate.
The pergola was the perfect place for the bridal shower yesterday.
More on that later. . .
Let's take a peek at the front yard shall we!
The house didn't need much embellishing as it has wonderful curb appeal already!
The chimney is magnificent, so my goal was to uplight it at night and plant Japanese maples on either side of it that would grow and soften the façade.
New foundation plants, grass, more tiny boxwoods and low-voltage lights went in.
Flagstone stepping stones are set in the grass, connecting the side yard to the back yard gate, where the gravel begins. We decided on gravel for the back because Maureen loves the sound when you walk on it. It also solves some drainage issues.
More Pittosporum was planted next to the two fences that border the home, eventually growing tall enough to create more separation and privacy. When the new bark went in, dressing all the flower beds, we called it a day and said "done!"
Murphy loves to sit out front, keeping track of the neighborhood!
He loves his new yard!
Stay tuned for more photos of before and during construction, a tablescape and the bridal shower that was held yesterday, catered by my son!
