Betton Hills Backyard Renovation

PROJECT

Full backyard renovation in Betton Hills, Tallahassee

PRINCIPLE DESIGN

David Cowles, Landscape Architect

INSTALLER

Bloom Garden Co.

LENGTH OF TIME TO COMPLETION

5 months.

CHANGE OF PLANS

Originally, the Cowles plan called for pavers between the pool and the house. The clients let us know that they have plans to renovate the pool within five years, so we recommended changing the hardscaping in this area to poured concrete stepping pavers with gravel. These materials were more affordable, so in the event that they needed to be demo-ed later, an investment in concrete patio pavers wouldn’t be wasted.

We also made some changes to the plant selections based on plants the clients wanted to see in their landscape. We worked with them to narrow down options based on their aesthetic preferences and site location.

The original fencing plan called for brick pillars with black aluminum fence panels. This posed two problems: it was cost prohibitive and didn’t provide privacy for the pool. The client opted for a more affordable option: a horizontal slat, wood fence, which complemented the channel rustic siding of their home and kept with the modern / mid-century aesthetic they wanted echoed in the landscape.

There was a large section of gravel around the proposed shed that we suggested changing to sod for ease of maintenance and to save on the overall project total. While gravel can help with things like drainage issues, the maintenance can be more involved than simply mowing grass.

CHALLENGES

We had to special order the concrete pavers for the patio from Atlanta, and we were responsible for the freight and unloading of nine 4500 lb pallets upon arrival, with little notice regarding a delivery date. As construction in Tallahassee was at a fever pitch during this project, we were unable to rent or borrow a skid steer to unload the delivery. We ended up having to rent a very ridiculous, oversized telehandler. It was the only available equipment available that could handle the weight. None of the crew had operated a telehandler before, but Brian managed pretty well.

This project commenced around the same time as construction of the Amazon distribution facility near 90 and I-10, and more importantly, with the concrete heavy phases of that project. As we were constructing a CMU (cinder block) wall, we needed concrete, but had to wait 5 weeks to get on the supplier’s delivery calendar. For perspective, you can usually book a concrete pour within a few days. We participated in a lot of Bezos blaming, but we made up for it by eating lunch at Whole Foods most days since it was so close to the site.

Rain was the number one enemy on this job. We had a lot of rain days. The site was mostly dense clay. The space below the demo-ed deck was especially susceptible to slow drainage. Working in these areas proved difficult during the afternoon shower days of July in North Florida. Pushing wheel barrows through thick, wet mud was a burden that stands out to me. Patience and nimble project planning helped us through it. It was a win, ultimately. Putting down drainage solutions and the right hardscaping dried out all of the spaces in the yard that really needed it.

I won’t waste time lamenting the mosquitoes.

This yard was pretty badly overgrown and unmaintained. There were a lot of mature clumping bamboo colonies that had to be removed with an excavator. It was difficult for a lot of people to see the vision through the mess, but we definitely saw the potential on our first site-visit. The demo portion of this job was immensely satisfying. Knocking everything back to the bones helped to clarify the vision. Starting with a clean slate, we were definitely more heartened about the possibilities. Luckily, our clients were very trusting and open through the process. A lot of decisions were made as the project evolved, which felt very organic and open to the input of the actual space.

FEATURES

What we love about this yard renovation is the clean, modern stucco-coated concrete retaining wall and steps. The previous wood step solution would not have been a good choice a second time around. The amount of water that moves down that slope would have given the steps a life of about 5 years. The concrete option was definitely a better longterm solution.

The grey concrete paver patio really brought the entire project together. The herringbone pattern was a classic take using a more modern material, Belgard Holland Pavers in ‘Gray Granite.’ The pavers were laid in the same footprint as the original wood deck that we demoed. We loved how the kitchen and primary bedroom exits had a seamless transition to the patio. Perfect for entertaining or enjoying a little moon bathing before bed. The living space was definitely expanded by this addition.

The mature specimen palms and philodendron were the main reason we first considered this job. We saw them as the primary focal points and springboards for the overall design. The silver of the pindo palm overhanging the pool, and the grey textures of the sabal palms with the verdant hues of the philodendron really drove the color pallet and the choice of pine bark mulch over pine straw. We always try to work with and around healthy, mature specimens in any landscape renovation we do. For one, many times they are priceless, or at least super valuable. Their maturity means they are hardy and in the right place. Landscapes need variation in height and depth and texture and complexity. Keeping mature specimens fast-tracks an aesthetic value that new installs simply can’t capture. We almost always try to guide our clients to this type of thinking.

RANDOM FACT

This home used to belong to the band Creed. We definitely had a few days of listening to entire Creed albums while working, out of honor and respect. Scott Stapp, if you’re reading this, please come play a show in your old backyard. It’s pretty epic now!

BEFORE + AFTERS