THE DIRT HAS ARRIVED

Back in July, I posted about a Huge Yard Project that we were about to undertake (see that here), however, due to new zoning laws from the VA Dept. of Transportation, our original plans were no longer possible. The biggest thing being that we were going to build a pole barn for parking our cars in - the new law would prohibit this from happening. So, we had to start working on Plan "B".

I realized our plans were finally going to come to fruition when ten truckloads of top-soil was delivered earlier this week... YEAH!!!!!!

This is what Plan "B" now entails (compliments of the Doodle Tool in Picnik):

BEFORE

Now when you come down the driveway, you're greeted by an expanse of gravel that runs all the way around the front of the house to allow you to drive and park under the house.

AFTER

When guests come down the driveway, there will be a nice paved parking area, and a fence that encloses the yard with our storage shed off to the right. The space between the paved area and house will be nicely landscaped using ferns and hosta.

BEFORE

Now, once you're up on the deck, there is an 8' wide deck that leads you to the front door.

AFTER

The deck will be extended to the end of the house and pushed out 3', so we will now have an expansive 11' x 13' deck where before there was nothing.

BEFORE

Now, as you look out from the deck, you see the gravel driveway below with our storage shed in the corner.

AFTER

The driveway will soon become a lush grassy yard with a fire pit and seating area in the corner. There will also be Leland Firs planted along the grass perimeter to give us some privacy from our neighbors.

BEFORE

Now, still looking out from the deck, you see overgrown woods and the gravel driveway.

AFTER

The woods are going to be cleared out, except for the big trees, which will make room for more grass and a great Swing Set for the boys.

BEFORE

Now, when you look to the right as you go down the stairs, you see woods and driveway.

AFTER

The shed, that has now been moved to the front of the house, will mark the corner of the enclosed part of the yard.

BEFORE

Now, standing down in the driveway looking back at the house and to the left, you see the huge expanse of the gravel driveway.

AFTER

With the shed moved and the privacy fence up, there will be a wonderful expanse of grassy yard on which the boys can run and play.

BEFORE

Now, this is what the side of the house looks like from the driveway.

AFTER

With the expanded deck, there will now also be a covered patio that runs all the way from the stairs to the end of the house. Another set of stairs will be added to the back side of the lower landing, which will allow for easier access to the upper deck.

All this additional outdoor living space is going to make our house so much more livable for the next couple of years. I just know the boys are really going to enjoy playing in their new yard.

BUT.... I bet you're wondering, if we have turned most all of our driveway into a grassy yard, how are we going to get to the parking under the house? Well let me show you.

We are going to add an additional driveway that will start at the top of the hill.

BEFORE:

Now, the west side of our house is completely wooded.

AFTER

We're going to clear some of the woods to create a gravel driveway to this side of the house. Then we're going to remove the lattice that covers the bottom part of the house to allow for an opening to the parking below.

We will then hang sliding, barn type, doors to act as a garage door.

So there you have it. That's our Huge Yard Project