First, Tackle the Plants

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Anyone who knows me knows the front yard was my priority number one. The landscaping surrounding the house was mostly overgrown, and while it had probably been lovely at one point, it was in need of a total refresh. The foundation plants were a mixture of holly and azalea shrubs, and the front garden spill was an ancient juniper mass. The sidewalk is edged in loriope, and that portion of the front landscape is the only bit that we saved over to carry into the new design.

I sourced most of my plants from my prior landscape design at our rental home, and I added to that several new shrubs to serve as foundation plants: cryptomeria globosa, little lime and strawberry sundae hydrangeas, one gardenia, and several dystilliums.

Before I could get to the install point, though, I had to do a massive tear-out of the existing landscape. The entire front yard project took several weekends between Micah & I, and I can’t wait until next spring to see the full effect of a new landscape design.

Mint Condition

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We were really lucky to find a solid house that was well taken care of and clearly loved. According to the county purchase data available, our house was built in 1972 and owned by just one couple. The house has the standard 1970’s vibes: wood paneling, intensely patterned linoleum, colorful bathroom tile, and popcorn ceilings, but everything is in mint condition. The bones of this little house are solid, and we’re at the very beginning of a total cosmetic update. Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the updates we’d like to do, here are some photos from the listing to give you an idea of what we’re working with at the front end.