To start with, we got plans of the home to be built because when we first arrived, the home was only a foundation, so we needed the plans to see where windows would be among other considerations. We also needed to obtain DES permitting since the work is being done on a lakeshore. The planning and permitting processes were done over the winter so that we’d be ready to start first thing in the spring of 2017.
As is typical on many of our projects, we started near the lakeshore and worked our way out of the property. What was not typical on this project is that we needed to work around the home builders, and we were very happy with the cooperation between our companies to share the work space!
If you look at the computer design plan, you can see that this was an extensive project. At the lakeshore, we put some stone steps to the water with a stepping stone path through the woods to lead up to the stone stairs to the house. On the lake-side of the home, we installed a fieldstone retaining wall which essentially created a raised bluestone patio. There were many levels and foot traffic patterns to consider, so we did several sets of stone stairs and stone paths.
The bluestone paths go around both sides of the home. There is no lawn to mow on this property. The owners love a very naturalized woodsy setting, so we chose a look to reflect their tastes. Lots of native plants and naturalized beds.
A patterned bluestone patio used to exist on the driveway side of the home, but due to the new construction, we disassembled it in 2016 and reinstalled it in 2017. A freestanding, 2-sided fieldstone sitting wall separates this patio from the new driveway.
The driveway was done in Belgard pavers and is a wonderful compliment to this property and really welcomes you to the home. Notice the granite compass set into the paver driveway.
The planting beds all have irrigation which is pumped up from the lake, and we had pathway lighting installed in several locations along the path and steps to the lake to help ensure safety.
Overall, this project has tons of beautiful stonework, including fieldstone retaining walls, bluestone stepping stone paths, irregular bluestone patios, a patterned bluestone patio, naturalized planting beds, irrigation, lighting, and a paver driveway.