Sometimes, the client cannot imagine what can be done on their site …. they know what they would like, but either they are ‘too close’ to the project or it is just difficult to visualize.
BEFORE: Muddy lawn and uninspiring, suffering plants with a lonely flagpole plopped along the edge of ‘lawn.’AFTER: After some regrading and adding drainage pipes, the once bleak corner has become a destination of paver patio, seating wall, fire pit and vibrant plantings, The flagpole has been incorporated into the spot, with its own mezzanine level, red, white, and blue planters and night uplighting.
Before and After Photos are a dramatic way to show the potential of what can be done on a site. Hopefully, the client will see that their project can be transformed into something much more appealing, functional, enjoyable, safe …. and personalized to their own tastes and needs; that whatever their current site looks like, there is almost always a way to accomplish their goals, resulting in a much-improved environment.
Sometimes, clients are starting with ‘a clean slate’, because the home/building is brand new, the ground is newly cleared, and there is little preparatory work to get started besides planning. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the site may need total re-grading, clearing, demolition, excavation, and more. Most clients fall somewhere between these situations. The point is that all of these situations can result in dramatic or subtle transformations, whether just a little renovation or attention to one area or aspect of the project, or a major installation or overhaul that includes many dramatic features and changes. Before and After photos are a great way of remembering original site, which can often become fuzzy over time (or deliberately forgotten) and enjoying the new yard, where good memories and good times are ready to be made over the years.
AFTER: No more crane flies – now the yard is inviting and healthy BEFORE: Unappealing yard devastated by crane flies
Sometimes, clients are starting with ‘a clean slate’, because the home/building is brand new, the ground is newly cleared, and there is little preparatory work to get started besides planning. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the site may need total re-grading, clearing, demolition, excavation, and more. Most clients fall somewhere between these situations. The point is that all of these situations can result in dramatic or subtle transformations, whether just a little renovation or attention to one area or aspect of the project, or a major installation or overhaul that includes many dramatic features and changes. Before and After photos are a great way of remembering original site, which can often become fuzzy over time (or deliberately forgotten) and enjoying the new yard, where good memories and good times are ready to be made over the years.
Below are some examples of ‘Before’ Photos and some ‘After’ Photos – taken from the same approximate place on the site.
Before
BEFORE: An apple trees that had seen better days dominates this slope of dying rose bushes below.
BEFORE: The lower patio was cracked cement and too small to feel comfortable. It had a rotting retaining wall ready to give way on it and the steps down were uneven and cracked.
BEFORE: Originally seen only from the upper deck, this Puget Sound view will soon be visible from the kitchen and dining room, and, by limbing up the Douglas Fir trees, there will also be a nice view from the lawn area.
After
AFTER: What a difference! The once neglected slope was transformed into a dry waterfall and streambed that wraps around a paver patio.
AFTER: The new patio has a nice view of the upper lawn areas as well as the plantings around the dry waterfall and streambed. The wall has night lighting below the capstones and provides extra seating for larger crowds.
AFTER: View looking down at the new yard and patio
AFTER: A great view of Puget Sound can be seen from the upper yard after removal of the apple tree and limbing up the 2 Douglas Fir trees on the property
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BEFORE: Two rows of wide planting, sloped yard make this area uninviting for use.
AFTER: New Stamped Concrete Patio and level yard, widened by removal of 2 rows of hedges make the yard a desirable place to spend some time.
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BEFORE: Construction just underway, the side yard has the topsoil in place, boulder placed and exact location of the pergola and water feature being determined on site.
AFTER: One year later the side yard provides a beautiful foreground to the pergola and water feature in the back yard. Colorful plantings look great from both the house and the yard.
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BEFORE: The large deck overlooks a narrow, weedy dog run and is cut off from the expansive side yard, except for a rugged, open staircase.
AFTER: The deck was widened and dog run moved to other side of hose in back. The staircase was replaced by wide steps, cascading to the new flagstone patio and open to the side yard and path from front yard. The hot tub became an inviting destination with the mezzanine deck level placed so that entering it and getting out was a much nicer experience than the ladder. The hot tub and back part of upper deck have a pergola or roof.
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BEFORE: This Street of Dreams Home in Bonney Lake has a gorgeous view across the Puyallup Valley to Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. However, they potentially had a view of Mt Ranier but…. their back yard was so shallow that to see it, you had to stand at the edge of the huge cliff 15′ out their back door. It was a very dangerous situation – if anyone got too close to the edge and slipped, they would not stop for quite some time!!!
DURING: The steep slope was graded and terraced, using very heavy block walls. The framework of the 2-level deck descended with the slope, which would allow better western view from the house as well as being a much more interesting space. Extra cross-bracing was done for this project, as it was quite elevated, despite the steps down.
AFTER: New 2-level Composite Deck. Because of the extreme heat and brightness of the western sun, the clients had us install a small pergola over the back sliding door and kitchen window. Glass panels are used for railing for better views and reduction of wind.
AFTER: Plants have been installed. Outdoor furniture is on order.
Views from the New Deck
AFTER: A spectacular view of Mt Ranier, taken from where the original dropoff of the ground had been.
AFTER: Winter Sunset from the middle of the lower deck
AFTER: Looking west, there is a beautiful view of the Puyallup Valley, Tacoma night sky, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains in the distance.
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BEFORE: Rockery divided the yard into 2 levels. Access to the upper level for a lawnmower was impossible, so it had to be lifted over the rockery.
AFTER: The rockery was removed, ground graded and the boulders were used as outcrops to make a beautiful and inviting waterfall and koi pond
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BEFORE: The client had a square patch of lawn and planting beds too narrow to put much in them. The back of the lot was fenced off because of unsightly weeds and a very steep slope of blackberries and alder starts, as well as a nasty, muddy drainage ditch on the surface of the ground.
BEFORE: The middle fence hides an unsafe and unsightly drainage ditch and keeps the weedy slope at bay.
AFTER: The fence was removed, the drainage placed underground, slope cleared, and walls installed for holding the slope and adding interest.
AFTER: The curves in the lawn softens the original parallel and perpendicular lines while allowing for the planting of larger plants and placements of the clients’ yard art.
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BEFORE: The original block staircase was tilted, unstable, and many blocks not tied in with the stair/wall system, just sitting on the ground below it, totally loose. Rain drainage from the slope above had undercut the blocks, making them even easier to slip and sink. The original tall retaining walls and tall, stiff plantings made someone using the steps feel very squeezed. There was no place to hold on and the steps were continuous the entire way, with no landings – a very dangerous situation!!!
AFTER: The dangerous stairs and much of the surrounding walls were taken apart, then reused to build a new, much safer staircase. The adjacent retaining walls were lowered, adjacent plantings were lower, the staircase was pushed farther out into the lower area that is not being used except for the dog and access to the basement door, and several landings created for safety. The landings and treads of the steps were made from capstones and pavers used in the project on the upper yard’s patio and walk. The entire staircase system was tied together with each block and capstone as well as with the adjacent retaining walls. Surplus stones were used for a seating wall on the upper yard, improved with added capstone. The ground above was drained away from the top of the steps and carried away in the same pipe as the overflow for the pond.
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BEFORE: The cement patio area is cold and uninviting. The plants are crowded and not the right plants for the spot. The block wall is moss covered and too low for seating. A tiny landing only on the side of the opening side of the sliding glass door serves as intermittent step from house. Lots of potential, but needs some help……
BEFORE: The back yard with chopped up square spaces and cramped plantings is not inviting at all.
AFTER: The block wall was reshaped and raised to become a capped seating wall, at night there are 3) LED light strips that add soft lighting to the paver patio; the old cement patio was replaced by pavers; a bubbling rock fountain adds beauty, attracts birds, butterflies and dragonflies, and colorful plants of varying sizes, colors, and textures add a lot of interest. The trellis provides privacy from the neighbor close behind the yard. 2 rounded landings /steps run entire width of the sliding glass door.
AFTER: The low walls were removed and mounded planting beds were added, both along the house and fence – both wide enough to have plants comfortably fir the beds. the paver patio transitioned into a pathway that leads to the front yard with a little curve to make the small grass area more interesting.
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BEFORE – Home with a fabulous view of Mt. Ranier across the Green River Valley….just needs a nice foreground…..
AFTER: Now, the view of Mt Ranier has a beautiful foreground of colorful plantings, a dry streambed and well manicured lawn.
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BEFORE: This Normandy Park home has weedy and overgrown plants at the entrance. The old, rotten RR ties used for retaining soil needs a new solution too.
AFTER: The weeds were cleared, existing plants pruned or transplanted or removed, the flagstone walk was lifted and reset to be curved, and interesting and colorful plants added. The RR ties are long gone, replaced by boulder outcrops and a new block wall along the driveway.
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BEFORE: A lone row of arborvitae is all that this massive back yard of weedy lawn has for plantings
AFTER: The arborvitae and weedy lawn were removed and replaced with a fire pit area, raised pergola, waterfall and koi pond, large entertaining paver patio, plantings and dramatic topography.
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BEFORE: A row of very tall Leyland Cypresses has just been removed. The existing plantings are very randomly placed . The upper lawn area is difficult access and not very useful. The original retaining walls were poorly installed and needed an upgrade to be in keeping with the upcoming project being built in this area.
AFTER: The row of once huge leyland cypress was replaced with a 125′ waterfall and pond. A custom bridge crosses the falls, connecting the lawn area to the flagstone fire pit area. Planting is in progress and the flagstone had just a little bit of tweaking to completion.
AFTER: 2 years after Installation, plants are maturing
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BEFORE: Original plantings on a sloped back yard made the yard useless and cramped The end of the lawn was a ‘dead end’ of unattractive plants
AFTER: New plantings, regrading the yard and removal of the crowded rows of trees and shrubs opens up this yard and makes being in it a pleasure. A staircase will soon be added to connect the upper deck and patio.
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BEFORE: This front yard was too steep to walk on comfortably, when watered, water just ran off. Too many trees were near the house and it was constantly in shade.
BEFORE: Prickly Pfitzer Junipers and thorny untended roses lined the driveway and walk to front door. The entry walk was essentially invisible from the street because of the junipers.
AFTER: A retaining wall was installed to level the yard to a 2% slope, several of the existing trees were removed and the branches limbed up to add light to the house.
AFTER: The sidewalks were widened and rounded with cut pavers so that all turns weren’t at right angles – people just don’t walk that way… Thorny Roses and prickly junipers were removed and softer plantings installed
AFTER: The clearing of trees, shrubs near the house added a lot of light to the house, plants are healthier and space to add a little seating bench by the front door. The new wall and walk to back yard were possible because of all the clearing.
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BEFORE: A rotting and unimaginative deck faces too many plantsin the middle of the back yard. The deck is close to the rockery that divides the 2 levels, making maintenance between the deck and rockery difficult.
AFTER: The deck was removed and, with a lot of grading, an area was transformed into a outdoor dining patio, surrounded by banks of low, fragrant, colorful plantings.
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BEFORE: The upper front part of the yard had overgrown plants, the topography was undulating, and the entry walk was narrow. For the setback from street and the scale of the house to the yard, everything was cramped.
BEFORE: The long walk from the driveway was quite narrow and dated. Plants all around the house were overgrown and cramped, adding to the ‘squeezed’ feeling.
BEFORE: The original entry walk from the driveway to the front door – very narrow and rigid, the plants had become quite overgrown …. so much potential….
AFTER: The ground was regraded and a new set of wide rounded block steps installed, slightly angled to the street and wider at bottom.
AFTER: The long stretch of narrow walkway and steps was replaced by an Ipe wood bridge that crosses a dry waterfall that starts at the corner of the house. The ‘source’ is hidden behind a boulder and plantings.
AFTER: The small porch was removed and replaced by a longer paver stoop
AFTER: The upper front undulating grass area has been replace by a mezzanine entry patio that has a nice overlook of the front. Planted only a year earlier,it will soon be totally private from the neighbors’ front porch. A bubble rock was incorporated into the dry waterfall and pond area. Butterflies and hummingbirds visit the area often, seeking water and nectar from the colorful plantings.
