Landscaping Inspo

I have neglected this blog for years!  It was my creative outlet and I've been missing that escape lately.  Here I am again to post my musings out into the ether.

This past week I've been working on a planting plan to add onto landscaping at our Beaumont Build.  My focus has been on other business and this project has been neglected, pretty much since shortly after we moved in about two years ago.   I like to think the existing hard- and soft-scaping we've got in place is beautiful, it just needs a little fleshing out.

To that end I've been searching for inspiration.  Here are a few images that have provided just that:

This design by Doyle Herman Design Associates is in keeping with the clean-lined aesthetic I'm going for:

:: concrete pavers & boxwood similar to our existing planting scheme :: 

I want to add some climbing elements to soften our planting plan.  I'll have to convince the mister, though.  I love this look by Kelly Nutt Design: 

:: gorgeous climbing rose ::

I want to add hydrangeas but plan to layer them with evergreen shrubs that will last year round.  These gorgeous overblown white hydrangeas featured in Domino.com are absolutely stunning:

:: beautiful display of white mophead hydrangeas ::

The following picture was taken two years ago when our landscapers were putting in our sod and yew trees:

:: Sterling Landscaping hard at work ::

I plan to take some more pics and post as we progress.  Until then bogland.....

x Julia

Progress at the New Build

Things are moving forward at the new house.  We poured walls for the garage and the basement bar last week & the trades have been on site forming the retaining walls.   I love seeing the bones of the home rise up out of the ground:

{concrete footings poured, retaining walls being framed }

{ concrete truck onsite pouring basement bar }

{ inspecting the steel }

{ walking on what will be underground }

{ vibrating the concrete to ensure concrete consolidates }

I can't wait to see the walls when they are stripped and the concrete is exposed.

I'm headed to LA at the end of this week to celebrate a friend's 40th so I am looking forward to some Southern Californian inspiration. 

'Til next time...

J

New Build Takes Shape

Quick update on the new build.  It's taking shape - we've got the framing almost completed & the roofers & plumbers are working onsite.  Here are some shots taken over the past few months:

{ house in the snow; top floor being framed }

{ forming for chimneys... best guesses we had from neighbours as to what the 'things on the side of the house' were:  elevators & grain silos!! }

{ board form chimneys installed }

{ bluebird day, roof on }

{ landscaping underway }

Established Exteriors

Inspired by my sisters' & sister-in-law's faithful blogging habits (Esther Clark's Hipona Consulting,  Leah Clark's Tiddly Bits & Karen Parry's Get the Skinny Fat) I will, once again, try to update my blog with regularity.  Here's to keeping this resolution THIS TIME.....

In spite of the fact that we are building new, I find myself drawn to exteriors that are established, have some wear & tear, some history, some 'ghosts'.  Here are some examples:

{ rustic brick & ivy covered Atlantan Home}

{ 17th C Chateau de Mossiac }

{ established manor home }

{ Francine Gardiner's residence }

It seems to me that contemporary structures don't age as well.  Or perhaps they just haven't been around long enough to be properly tested.

{ pinned by me ~ I don't know the architect }

I do love this concrete house & the landscaping looks verdant so perhaps I am being proven wrong already!!

Have a great weekend, blogland....

J xxo

New Build Begins...

I think I was as excited as my children look a few months ago when the demo of the old house started:

{ Paulina, Hugo & Sebastian watching the destruction }

{ old house is reduced to rubble }

{ kids plus a friend after school take a rest in the digger }

Prior to the demo the house looked like this:

{ dining room }

Complete with vintage wallpaper, carpet & drapes:

{ the flocked wallpaper was in great condition }

{ these drapes! }

{ this kitchen carpeting!! }

And after a "house wrecker party"with this cast of characters...

{hockey in the dining room }

{a few bevvies with the boys }

{  girls having some laughs }

{ cuties on bikes }

{ graffiti artists }

{ and more lovely guests }

The last minute party & demolition continued on into the evening as you can see below...

{ hooligans... but cute hooligans }

And this is the result:

{ I did rescue the chandelier - with a fresh coat of paint it will be quite cute }

We're well into the project now with the framing started.  I'm working on final drawings for the interior plans & elevations.  I'm going to try to keep on top of this blog a bit better as it's an interesting way to chronicle the building process plus give me a little creative outlet.  I'm also working on updating the blog & my website so to that end, wish me luck!

'Til next time, friends...

J xo

Last Project in Dream Homes of Canada

As I mentioned earlier this year, our last project is featured in the BC Edition of Dream Homes of Canada!!.  Read it online by clicking here and looking at pages 28-31.

{ shameless self promo }