Pretty in pink!

Seen the projected local St. Louis weekend forecast yet? 

I am filling every vase in my house with the last gorgeous blooms of Summer, before they are taken by the Autumn frost.

Holy Hydrangeas in St. Louis Hills!

Effective vs Chronological Property Age and Project Time:Installation of Concrete Curbing.

In real estate, properties age in two ways: chronologically and effectively. Chronological age is the time from when a house was built to the present day. Effective age, on the other hand, refers to how old the home appears to be and how it functions in the realm of modern day standards, codes, and amenities.

The process of maintaining the effective age of a property as it ages chronologically is a continuous process and can be challenging if a Homeowner purchases an older home already behind on updates. Just like people, age looks VERY different from property to property, depending on how it was built, the amount of proactive maintenance, and what it has endured over the years.  Effective age can be significantly higher or lower than chronological age.

As of this summer, we have been in our house for 13 years. That is typically the timeframe that major, major renovation time hits as the life of household systems and big ticket items starts to age cycle: roofs, bathrooms, HVAC systems, water heaters, windows, etc. Steve and I were compelled to sit down this summer to discuss and decide what our next life move will be: commit to another substantial chunk of time in this house and take on the next level of renovation or consider a move. The choice was easy. We love our house and it suits our family needs perfectly- we stay!

Over the years we have shifted projects back and forth from the interior to the exterior as the need arose. This Fall, we have committed to serious exterior renovation to the front and backyard, more specifically via hardscape.  Nothing can transform the appearance and functionality of a property exterior like a new hardscape design.  That being said, it is costly, permanent (or at least not easily changed), and can solve or create issues with grade or drainage so you do NOT jump into these projects haphazardly.

Project 1 is a small one in the big picture, but important as it directly affects our curb appeal.  One of the things that we liked about the property when we purchased it was the free-flowing front garden bed defined by natural rock...

13 years later, however, it needed revamping.  Many of the rocks were split and in need of replacement. I wanted to maintain the feel but redefine the lines a tad to accommodate my well-established plants.  Hence, the beds needed an entire overhaul. We chose to go the installed concrete curb route and couldn't be happier! The process is quick, easy, and gives you total control of shape and color with only a 24 hour cure time. ... 

It is also durable and incredibly affordable at only $8.50/ft which includes your choice of color, shape, and surface texture. The size and design choices are endless, from classic brick to more textured stone. A teeny peek at the process...

We paid our chosen company (a referral from a friend) $150 for the back-breaking task of removing and hauling away the existing landscaping rock...

Once they regraded the soil and established the new lines of the beds...

... upon our approval, they began the project. See the type of machine used here.

After the machine pours the curbing, another person follows behind to surface it.  Rather than being stained, the concrete itself is tinted so it will never wear over time.  We chose the 18 inch paver stamp in the gray tinted concrete to coordinate with our gray roof and front porch slate (project HERE)...

From start to finish, the project took approximately 4 hours and we are tickled pink with the result!  

Far more tidy look and more effective at retaining our mulch and preventing further bed erosion.  They poured approximately 82ft.  At $8.50/ft, the cost of the curbing was $697.

The next project is to fill in the extended beds with soil and remulch as we head into Autumn...

If considering this project in St. Louis, I highly recommend calling Archway Lawncare and Landscaping.  They were not only incredibly professional and easy to work with, but their work at our property was impeccable!

Nitty Gritty...

Archway Lawncare and Landscaping
636-262-8319

Email: archwaylawncare@gmail.com
Web: http://www.archwaylawncare.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archway.lawncare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/archwaylawncare

Just For Fun: Hydrangea Bounty!

From my garden to my mantle this morning...

I couldn’t resist. What a terrific St. Louis growing season it has been for hydrangeas thus far!

Green grass, green thumb.

The upside to all of this rain?

We have gotten 2 new trees, 3 flowering shrubs, and 2 flats of colorful annuals in the ground at Casa de Nenonen. Our herb garden is started and our ornamental pots and urns are filled with everything from impatiens to fragrant mandevilla.

When Life hands you rain, get your hands dirty!

Welcome October!

Our fresh front porch pumpkin topiary at Casa de Nenonen...

 ...is accented by brand new blooms on the hydrangea. 

Hello October. Only in St. Louis.

Just For Fun: A peek in my garden

Summer is officially here... my hydrangeas have finally burst with gorgeous pink blooms!