Tag: Hardscape
-
Icehouse Landscaping Update, End of May
Sooo much progress as we hustle the icehouse rehab toward its conclusion in these final days of May…
-
Fire Pit Update
This morning I received a telephone call from a freight company notifying me that they would be delivering the new Arteflame fire pit this afternoon. Glen and Tony made efficient work unpacking and assembling the fiery finale to Rosslyn’s icehouse rehabilitation. Bringing to a close yet another accomplishment in a long parade of projects initiated…
-
Icehouse Hardscape Update
As we close in on the final laps of Rosslyn’s icehouse rehab, it’s pretty exciting to see the hardscape and softscape (aka landscaping, gardening, etc.) coming together step-by-step. Today I offer you a photo update of the most recent hardscape accomplishments. Before chronicling up-to-date, progress, let’s take a quick look at the term “hardscape”. “Hardscape”…
-
Pavers Update
We’re overdue for a pavers update, so here it is. This dramatic bird’s eye view of the icehouse terrace is the first capture of the icehouse “courtyard” we’ve been hardscaping for, well, many months! Installation of the stone pavers is about 99.9% complete. There are still a few pavers at the bottom of both stone…
-
Thank You, Aaron!
Next up in our extended season of gratitude is Aaron Valachovic. I’ve recently chronicled his exceptional execution of tricky tree work, (“Fallen Giant”, “Stump-to-Lumber”, and “Aerial Arborist Haiku”), but Aaron’s input is no longer limited to tree work. It’s time I recognize the remarkable contribution he’s been making over the last four months. Thank you,…
-
Stone Wall Retrospective
Fifteen years ago, on November 5, 2008 we were many months deep into building/rebuilding the stone walls around Rosslyn’s deck. The original estimate had morphed from weeks to months. As I recall, five weeks had stretched into five months by this stage. I’ll dig into my notes to verify, but for the sake of this…
-
Solving the Paver Puzzle
Some days at Rosslyn are more kaleidoscopic than others, textures tumbling, patterns resolving then dissolving again, protean punch-lists pushing the limits of planning and patience, and ever evolving priorities and timelines. Nothing is constant except for change… Some days, many days lately, we’ve been solving and re-solving the paver puzzle. No one ever steps in…
-
Bird’s Eye View: Backyard
Over the last year, I’ve often relied on aerial photography to help me conceptualize icehouse rehab plans, visualize topographical integration, and plan landscape / hardscape layouts. Over the years I’ve relied upon bird’s eye view photography (thank you drone technology!) for many of Susan an my projects, so this isn’t something new. And yet, it’s…
-
Stone Paving Icehouse Courtyard
The title of this post conjures a hot summer’s day along the highway, stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, slooowly advancing through a construction site where hot asphalt is being laid in a stinky, tarry, gravelly layer, then rolled flat and smooth with an enormous steel drum ballasted with water, pressing the roadway into submission. Paving. We’ve…
-
Mighty Muscle, Mini Machine
I’m overdue for a shoutout to Aaron Valachovic for helping out with icehouse hardscape in recent weeks. During a site visit to review autumn tree work he happened to mention that he’s done stonework before and had some availability. Wait! What? I’ve been pleased with Aaron’s work as an arborist, and his work ethic is…
-
Hardscape Supervisor
Supervising stonework is challenging, but somebody has to do it. Fortunately Carley loves hanging out on construction sites with carpenters and contractors of all stripes. Lately she’s been spending much of the day in the icehouse observing Pam, Tony, and Aaron while they’ve been transforming rock piles into the icehouse courtyard. Carley would always prefer…
-
Hardscaping an Oasis
I’m overdue for an update on the icehouse exterior — from deck, hot tub, and grass court to sunken patio, gardens, and fire pit — at least in part because this summer’s weather has stalled many of these projects to the point of discouraging doldrums. But today I’d like to offer a glimpse at our…