Seasons Garden Design project

	SEASONS GARDEN DESIGNLLC We cultivate value in your life, your property, and our world.

MOUNTAIN TERRACE

BEFORE Above: we started with a cracked driveway and an undefined, neglected and ugly slope at the right Below: The tall, massive concrete retaining wall	THE DESIGN Above: the new garden plan; Below: the sketch for the new retaining wall design	AFTER Above: views from the driveway toward the new steps, the terrace, and views beyond Below: the newly remodeled concrete retaining wall has a mountain pattern and black pebble moon that coordinates with the black pebble mosaic
The new entry shows the owner's new basalt column water feature and the newly remodeled entry hardscape (plants will grow in over time)	MORE AFTER PHOTOS A closeup of the entry area stonework	new steps down to the stone terrace

BEFORE

Mountain Terrace, before at the driveway
Above: we started with a cracked driveway and an undefined, neglected and ugly slope at the right
Below: The tall, massive concrete retaining wall

Mountain Terrace, the concrete wall before

THE DESIGN

Above: the new garden plan;
Below: the sketch for the new retaining wall design

AFTER

Mountain Terrace, views of the new terrace and beyond
Above: views from the driveway toward the new steps, the terrace, and views beyond
Below: the newly remodeled concrete retaining wall has a mountain pattern and black pebble moon that coordinates with the black pebble mosaic

Mountain Terrace, the wall after

The new entry shows the owner's new basalt column water feature and the newly remodeled entry hardscape (plants will grow in over time)

MORE AFTER PHOTOS

Mountain Terrace, detail of stone at entry
A closeup of the entry area stonework

new steps down to the stone terrace

ABOUT

Maintain a Northwest garden style and blend the garden in with the surround mountain-side

Enhance views from the house to the garden

Create a garden that is easy to maintain and respects the various micro-climates
a 7-foot tall concrete retaining wall was the ugly view from the dining room
the path above the concrete wall was deteriorating and difficult to navigate
a large crack in the driveway needed fixing to improve the front entry
the steps to the entry needed an upgrade
a new terrace was desired below near the inside bedroom, with a new route from the upper garden to get there; it also needed to be connected to the outdoor deck through a very narrow area

PROJECT GOALS

Re-do and improve the decomposing hillside path

Resolve the large crack issue in the concrete driveway,

Give the massive concrete wall a facelift and create a feature to see from the house.

Design a smaller area of lawn to reduce maintenance.

Replace the fried shade plants on the sunny bank alongside the driveway and re-do the planting beds that surround the renovated areas.

Provide a seating terrace within easy walking distance of the back deck and the lower bedroom area.

DESIGN CONCEPTS

A beautiful new flagstone terrace with a retaining wall and steps from the upper driveway was added.
The crack in the driveway was resolved by creating a Japanese black beach pebble mosaic 'rivulet' from one side of the front entry to the other.
Between the pebble mosaic, new flagstone was laid after removing the old concrete.
The entry steps were upgraded with a slate tile to match the flagstone

The concrete wall became a massive piece of stone art, which the owners can see from their dining room window—much to their delight. The black pebble moon contrasts with its background and creates design consistency with the pebble mosaic across the driveway.

The owner purchased the basalt columns and bowl after completing the entry paving to function as a naturalistic focal point near the entry and the beginning of the 'rivulet'.

It was the intention of the owners to stain the concrete driveway, however the owner's job required them to relocate. Therefore, that portion of the project was not completed.