Yard Makeover: Home Stretch!
The hardscaping/landscaping portion of our Yard Makeover is DONE! We’re still working on some patching, painting, wiring and decorating the back patio area, but I couldn’t wait to show you some before and after pictures of the portions of the yard that are complete.
Front Yard Before:
Lovely and green, but a real water hog and it wasn’t easy to utilize the space. The tree ferns were too big, and the bedding plants were in a sorry state indeed.
And After:
We now have two seating areas, a sturdy swing, a path to the front door from the sidewalk, and drought resistant plantings. We’ve already been enjoying sitting out here in the afternoons with the shade and the breezes.
Before:
And After:
The plants should fill in considerably within a few months. Everything is irrigated with a precision drip system, which will save a lot of water. Now that the mulch is in, the irrigation lines are hidden.
Front Porch Before:
And After:
No longer dark and dreary! I’m also going to hang a porch swing from that center beam. Now on to the back…
Driveway Area Before:
And After:
Those are potted citrus trees, so hopefully in a few months we’ll have lemons and oranges! I ‘m learning that these can be tricky, and am reading up on how best to manage citrus in containers. Anyone with experience, please chime in! We’ve had a couple of warmer days, warm enough to determine that this drivable grass strategy seems to be working and the yard should be substantially cooler in the summer. There are steel cables that run from the top of the posts by the fence across to the trellis, and which will be used for lighting and vines.
Already my chere petite Coco has made some brown spots on the lawn, but I’ve found a doggy dietary supplement that’s supposed to control it by binding up the nitrogen in the urine.
Backyard Before:
And After:
We now have a nice little seating area with overhead lighting at night. We’ve ordered a small gel fire pit for this area as well. Being near the coast, the nights can get a little chilly even in the middle of summer. The gas BBQ grill from the Before picture will have a new home soon in a much more logical and convenient place. We had a bit of an “ivy fail” on the back fence; it tore loose when we were putting up the lattice on top of the fence, but should reattach within a few weeks.
Before:
And After:
We now have a lovely burbling fountain, and room around it for more seating if needed via folding chairs. The fountain is perfectly positioned so that we can hear it from our bedroom if the window is open a bit. Behind the fountain are posts to hang le monsieur’s hammock.
Le monsieur enjoying his hammock.
We’re thrilled with how this has turned out so far. The yard feels much bigger because we’re able to use more of the square footage, and we are really looking forward to doing more entertaining this summer.
There’s some new patio dining furniture en route, in a style that evokes a certain place that’s dear to my heart. 😉 But I’m going to leave you in suspense for another couple of weeks until everything arrives and is set up. A bientot!
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Wow! It looks beautiful and I know you will enjoy it. I am really coveting that hammock.
You’ve created so many beckoning areas; specially like the front porch, which flatters your house like one of your beautiful scarves flatters your face.
Congratulations and WOW, WOW!!! What a fabulous makeover. Thank you for sharing your journey… looks like it was well worth it. Can’t wait to see your other surprises too.
Just gorgeous. I like both front and back. Especially the back because it’s such a pleasant hideaway.
What a difference! I just bet that you can’t wait to get a chance to rest in the hammock with a good book.
I just read a piece in the weekend papers about the “staycation” phenomenon — you’re definitely ready to get to full relaxation mode in your own back yard — and your front one as well! I’m a big fan of the porch swing and can just see you there with a morning coffee (or an afternoon G&T).
What a lovely, thoughtful redo Pseu. I can certainly tell that all of the work will greatly increase your home’s livability. May you, your family and friends enjoy your new space in good health for many years to come!
Party at Pseu’s house! Oh boy! I’ll bring the white wine, and some cheeses! I promise to share the front porch swing, really, I do! And kudos to you, from another Californian, for using lawns and water only where they bring a true benefit, also for opening up the front of your house to strengthen and enrich your entire neighborhood.
Seriously, party time?
I love the whole reveal…areas that beckon and invite relaxation. You can move a lot of living outside now, to read, sip a beverage, host a BBQ…I can see endless possibilities here!
Congratulations and Cheers!
Really nice! Love the extension to the porch and the back yard spaces too! Congrats!
We have citrus in pots. Maybe we have brown thumbs, but after the 2nd year, we’re finally getting produce, not just quarter-sized sour jobs. LOL Full sun and watering regularly seems to be our key.
Better use of space, more privacy in the back, and all-around gorgeousness…what’s not to love?
Now take a page out of your hammockin’ husband and enjoy what you’ve created!
I love the makeover! You’ve done a great job of creating a more useful space that is also drought tolerant.
Regarding citrus, they like full sun, and they like drying out in between waterings. Also, most of their roots are close to the surface and they really like growing in leaf mulch. I just collect the leaves my tree drops and put them back on the surface of the pot.
There absolutely is a difference in the before/after pictures. I like the fact, that the whole area is now arranged and clear. No more dark areas. Most of all I´m happy for you and your family. You now have a totally “new” outdoor area to share. Functional as well 🙂
This will make you happy every single day. And things grow so quickly in socal.
Its wonderful. Miss J hopes Miss Pseu has lots of time to enjoy it this summer.
C’est mignon. You did such a beautiful job in all the areas. They all have their own function with the same style. Have a wonderful summer in your new garden.
This is extraordinary, and I love how well-adapted this is to your environment. Where I lived in Italy there weren’t many lawns; they aren’t adapted to Southern California either.
We ripped out the little patches of grass in front of the three typical Montréal triplexes that make up our co-op, trucked in some decent soil, and planted hardy perennials. The back remains to be done as unfortunately we have some structural work to tackle. Unlike you, we are an island with a lot of subterranean water infiltration.
I’ll be looking forward to following the regrowth.
What a great variety of spaces to relax in, looks lovely! Enjoy!
How can you leave to go to work? You must want to stay home and wander from one delightful spot to another. All looks SO good!
It looks great! When’s the party?
That is all so wonderful! I can’t believe how quickly it’s happened … my garden seems to move excruciatingly slowly (probably because I’m doing it all myself, and because it’s rained solidly for three weeks!). Do show us updates when the plants have all grown a bit.
Gorgeous and so wonderful. I love it when outdoor space becomes ‘rooms’. How worth it!
It’s beautiful! Just in time for you to enjoy it this summer, which I know you will. Thanks for letting me do a little vicarious yardwork!
Karen in Paris
Nice! Break out the Long Island Ice Tea and the Adirondacks chairs!
Do you know what has happened with your friend’s blog, Of a Certain Age?
Julianne – thanks! We’re really excited about finishing up and really getting out there.
Duchesse – thank you so much!
SMR – thanks! I’m really looking forward to having everything in place, but already it’s become such a pleasant space.
Nancy – thank you. And with the fountain back there it’s really soothing and peaceful (at least until the dogs spot a squirrel in the tree).
metscan – thanks, and yes, it’s so nice to have a more open, brighter look.
Frugal Scholar – I’ve already noticed some growth since the plants went in!
Belle – thanks and yes, I’m looking forward to a few hours of relaxing in the yard.
materfamilias – I’m very excited about the prospect of a porch swing. Just need to find one now…
LaurieAnn – thanks so much! I love being outdoors, especially after working in an office all week, and I’m sure we’ll be spending a LOT of time in our new spaces.
LPC – I’m absolutely planning to have some “al fresco” parties this summer and fall (we usually have nice weather well into October). And yes, I feel better about using lawn where it counts, and hopefully lowering our water bill substantially.
hostess – thanks so much! We’ll have some more reveals in coming weeks…
chasecom3 – thank you very much!
spacegeek – thanks, and thanks for the citrus tips. I hope we don’t have to wait too many years to get some edible fruit.
Golla – thank you!
Daffodil Planter – I admit I really look forward to coming home to my new garden each day.
Couture Allure – when can you be here? 😉
Vix – thanks! This weekend I plan to do some serious loitering.
Fern – thank you, and also thanks for the tip on the mulch. I’m afraid the citrus may be getting too much water right now, as the irrigation is set to keep new plantings damp for the next week or so. I’ll keep an eye on them.
Miss Janey – thanks, and I know we’ll make some time to enjoy this space. Miss J needs to come visit…
tiffany – thanks so much! It definitely helped that there was a crew working on it, and that we’d given them some serious deadlines before we broke ground. I can’t imagine how many years it would’ve taken us to do this work ourselves!
I love your new yards. I meant to tell you that yesterday. =P
They did a wonderful job.
lagatta – thanks! We definitely were going for a more Mediterranean feel, which is much more in line climate-wise with Southern CA. Good luck with the rest of your landscape re-do.
Make Do Style – thank you so much! It definitely feels worth it.
Karen in Paris – merci bien! Are you able to plant any containers on your terrace?
Katriona – both of those sound great about now, thanks!
Anonymous – she told me she felt that trying to maintain a blog on top of her new career as an Image Consultant and taking care of her family was just too overwhelming. I hope someday she’ll return to blogging, even sporadically as her blog and posts were so informative and entertaining.
InnyVinny – thanks so much!
amazing!
This is FANTASTIC. I have tremendous yard envy.
What an accomplishment, and in such a short time. Wishing your family the best summer ever.
(I have to sign as Anonymous because I can’t remember my Google password for this page – oh well.)
Gorgeous renovation, and I love how you created an oasis in several different areas. Kudos! As the wife of an architect, I give you my stamp of approval 😉
Glad I found your blog — I was searching for images of vintage Chanel jackets, and found my way here. I’ve already bookmarked your site and will be back.
Quelle transformation! Your landscaping looks very appealing.
It’s amazing! Can’t wait to see in person! Was up your way last week at Buttercup–bought a fab gold finished bombe chest!
it now strikes me as a much more *californian* house… perhaps using the plants that require less watering and all that open space.. lovely, really.
i’ll be over as soon as the barbeque is ready and the comfy chairs are in!
Congratulations. Well done. Love the little secret sitting area in the back. It looks like you hired someone with a magic wand, not a landscape artist.
Have a fabulous summer in your new outdoors.