Putting on the Finishing Touches!

It's time to put the finishing touches on the yard at the Coral Cottage!

Bill Griffin of Griffin Landscape Design and Contracting and his crew worked hard to install our sprinkler system, plants and turf quickly and get the Coral Cottage ready for her debut at the Jane Coslick Holiday Tour of Homes back in December.

The team of three installers worked so efficiently and expertly!  Here is Bill with his crew members, Tyrone and Bryan, getting the rock in the tire track style driveway.

 Now if I had been in charge of this project, there would have been more rock in the middle than in the tire tracks area.  When they were done, it was perfect!  

Meanwhile Luis was working to put down the stepping stones.  The ones in the turf were placed on the grass and then Luis cut around them and lifted the turf out of the way before placing them into the grass--perfect fit every time!

In this photo Luis is working on a little paved pad made of stepping stones.  In a future project I want to set up a nice spot for sitting and relaxing.

 Next time I will do the reveal of the landscaping job--it looks so fabulous!  Come back for the grand finale!

Surfin' Turf!

We're almost there--the yard at The Coral Cottage has been measured, a plan drawn and grading completed.  Now comes the good stuff--turf and plants!

Front yard with the three palms we planted 

The driveway tracks ready for gravel...look to the left at how they are piecing the sod together around the curves.  It's like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

Standing in the backyard looking forward to the street and the driveway

I love the way the sod curves!  All the plants are set in place before any of them go in the ground.

Another view from the front right corner of the yard--it's already such an improvement from this!

Nearly done!  More next time!

It's Time to Pay the Piper!

Water is an expensive commodity at the beach but it is a necessity if you have a grassy lawn--and we wanted a grassy lawn.  Bill Griffin, our landscape architect, strongly urged us to install a sprinkler system.  I didn't want to but everyone I spoke with backed him up--if you want turf to stay alive in the hot sun, you have to water it.  So Bill's crew put the pipes in...

Source for photos:  Bill Griffin

Bill's crew laid out the pipe according to the grid on the plan and dug trenches to bury the pipes.

It required quite a network in order to water all areas of the lawn and the beds.  Once it was covered up it was time for the turf.  I'll show you in my next post!

Getting a Good Grade!

The Coral Cottage is all gorgeous-ed up but it is like a shiny jewel that needs a beautiful setting.  I hired a landscape architect from Griffin Landscape Design and Contracting.  He just happens to be my brother, Bill Griffin.

This is the yard (and the house) BEFORE anything was done.

Front yard--the sand is very deep and the front walkway is cracked-up cement.

There was a shed with a tin roof to the left.  The yard comprises a lot and a half--actually
fairly large for a lot at the beach.

Backyard with cement pad 

After measuring and evaluating the property, Bill gave me a plan showing the beds, walkways, and plant material he recommended.  You can see the three palms we planted in the front yard drawn in on the left side of the paper.

Source for this and following photos:  Bill Griffin

One thing Bill noted was that the lot sloped so that water ran off in the  direction of the house--not a good thing.  He planned to correct this problem so drainage would flow away from the house.  I'm so grateful for his expertise--this is something I would not have realized until there was a problem.  Here are photos of the yard after grading was done.

Front yard

As you can see, we opted to take down the shed.

Back yard

Good beginning--check back for how it all turns out!

Landscaping--I've Got It in the Palm of my Hand!

What kind of plants and trees do you think of when you think of the beach?  For me nothing says "Beach" better than a Palm tree.  We were super-excited when we had the chance to get three palm trees for FREE!  They were needing to be moved from our other lot to make room for the house we were relocating (more on that here and here).

It was amazing to watch--let me show you!

Tom is shown digging a huge hole for the tree.  A pipe was placed in the hole for watering the tree.  During the first week the water ran slowly and continually to keep the tree hydrated.

Tom, using equipment with a pincer-like claw, lifted a tree from the flat bed and brought it down the street to the Coral Cottage.  His assistant, Bobby, helped to give directions.

With great expertise, Tom and Bobby worked together to swing the tree into the hole which had been marked previously by our landscape architect, Bill Griffin.

 Bobby gave directions to enable Tom to straighten the tree--then my husband Henry gave the final okay to place the tree.  While water rushed into the hole, Bobby and Tom filled the hole back in with dirt.  Tom packed it tightly with the claw of the equipment.  Tom's supervisor, Duke, kept a watchful eye on things.

And that's how it was done!  Cool, huh?

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

The Coral Cottage interior is beautiful and ready for guests but  the yard is in desperate need of some love--and expert attention.  Cue the landscape architect:

None other than my baby brother, Bill Griffin!

Of course, he's not a baby anymore--I hope Bill will forgive this blast from the past.  Can you tell from these that he had three adoring sisters?  You can't hold me responsible--he was totally irresistible!

As you can see, I am a good bit older than Bill (12 years) so I missed living at home during many of his growing up years since I went to college about the time he started first grade!  He grew up in Savannah, graduated from Calvary Baptist Day School (where I can't help adding that he was a standout athlete in football, basketball and golf).

He went to the University of Georgia and graduated from the School of Landscape Architecture Then he decided to return to Savannah where he started his business,
Griffin Landscape Design and Contracting....

...Which brings us to now.  Recently I asked Bill to come out to the Coral Cottage to measure and make some plans for the yard.  He was happy to oblige. 

Source:  Kristen Sagar

I know what you're thinking--that as a sister I'm a freebie but that is not so--I am a client and gladly so.  If you're going to spend lots of money installing a yard, why not spend a bit more and get it right?  I did ask Bill to hold the cost down as much as possible and he gave me an excellent plan and installation for a good price.

Here's the preliminary plan that Bill worked on that day.

Source:  Kristen Sagar

It's amazing what a difference a beautiful setting can make for a home!  Can't wait to show you the process from start to finish!

Final Inspection? Check!

Big Day!  This was the day we had our final inspection and passed!

John Horton, owner of Horton Remodeling--the company that worked on The Coral Cottage--came by to deliver the good news and 

THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY!

We're all finished now, right?  Wrong.

This photo was taken on the same day to document what was accomplished.  Notice anything that  seems to be missing?  Like a pretty yard?

Time to call in my brother, Bill Griffin, a landscape architect whose business, Griffin Landscape Design and Contracting, is in nearby Savannah.

On we go...I have lots to show you!