Victorian Renovation in London Part 5 - outdoors
Comments (33)
Resh
4 years agoResh
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoAs we bought it, Overgrown, with crazy paving over some, rubble in the rest, and growth everywhere.
Not much done last year - vegetation cleared, fence put in for security, laurel hedge planted. It is now overgrown again.
So it is being dug up completely. Big drainage and foundation work for driveway. Permeable cobblestone block paving for driveway to the right (I like to work on old cars sometimes, and need a hard standing for this) and a matching path to the left for garden access. Rest a mixture of traditional 20mm gravel, and flowerbeds. Plan is for a big lavender border outside the bay window, and small wildflower/meadow patches in flowerbeds in front of the privet hedge on the left of the house and behind the laurel hedge at the front. We want a wild-ish look to offset the gravel and cobbles. Driveway will be in-out, so my old convertible can go in front of the garage and the family car in front of the front door. We have permission to drop the kerb in front of the left gates.
Manhole access to soil drain found under tonnes of rubble. This is about 3m deep - not the iron rungs for access. We have to dig a new soil to meet this construction.
Karen
4 years agoResh
4 years agonew soil pipe. boring, but very excited about the problems this will solve. think constantly blocked, needing smelly unblocking all the time!
AMB
4 years ago
Patrina
4 years ago
Carolina
4 years agoResh
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoAnd in parallel to the drive, just because I love mess and giving myself cashflow issues, air conditioning is going in for kitchen, living room, nursery and master bed. When we redo the roof in a few years, I will look at solar to help drive this in the summer when in use. Very expensive option with limited payback though, now that the government has stopped the ability to sell energy back to the grid.
Went with black wall units in kitchen and living room - they are glossy black with a lit digital display, so match the black ovens, induction hob etc. I thought about building into a cabinet that could be opened when the units are occasionally in use, but decided against for a few reasons.
Bedroom units are white.
Resh
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoAMB, lots of other stuff going on outside!
Beginnings of a lavender border at edge of patio, and pots of Star Jasmine to be planted against the back of the house.
Profusion crabapple tree planted, with lots of other border plants in the right hand bed:
And lots more planting in the left hand bed, with a secluded corner screened by Vervain and grasses, with a potted magnolia tree next to the bench. The garden is now also uplit, so at night various trees and shrubs are lit for effect.
E D
4 years agoResh
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoThey will. They are in the "service alley" side if the house behind the garage. the units need good air circulation to work properly. There will be a wooden gate and partition so that you don't see them from the garden, but no other boxing in etc.
not very Houzz - hopefully driveway and garden design will get us back to something nice to look at! Base is mostly down across the whole driveway...
Resh
4 years agoThey have done an excellent job. The drive is quite utilitarian as I wanted parking for three vehicles off the road, as we have on street parking restrictions and I would like guests to not have to pay for parking. This meant no nice, big, central lawn or flowerbed. And my trusty old Land Rover needs to stay off the street so people don't steal bits off it!
I also used straight lines, as I wanted a bit more formality out here than the curvy, organic way we have done the back lawn and borders.
so we we will be using planters and containers to augment the two flowerbeds and create some soft landscaping. I think more Mediterranean, with plenty of rosemary and lavender, and an olive tree or two.
Better pics to follow. but the tumbled cobble block paving is lovely.
Resh
4 years agoResh
4 years agoPics of them laying the block. Fencing is ultra durable concrete posts and gravel boards, that will need painting to lose that industrial look, but will last forever with very easy DIY panel replacement when necessary
Resh
4 years agoPatrina
4 years ago
Gabby Wong
4 years agoResh
4 years agoResh
4 years agop_meredith
3 years agoResh
3 years agoA lot more has been done on this including painting the place green! Not for everyone, but we like it...
Resh
3 years agoLockdown meant lots of gardening. Looking through pictures — amazing how quickly things grow.
Planted in August 2019, and a pic taken this summer.
AMB
3 years ago
Lins M
3 years agoResh
3 years agoSometimes small projects bring as much satisfaction as big ones. I decided that the kitchen fireplace needed some dressing. Decided to do it myself.
Used the rusted old fireplace bought years ago on ebay, and kept it rusty.
Tiled with crackle glazed tiles, washed with black grout to accent the crackles and give the impression of age, grouted in olive green.
Then took some lengths of steel and rusted them with peroxide, vinegar and salt. Chopped them up with a mitre saw.
Result is a nicely aged looking, rustic fire surround in tiles and steel. Finished by rubbing back lightly and several coats of furniture wax, which give the rust a lovely, glossy patina as if rubbed smooth by hand over the years.
Resh
3 years agoAnd managed to liven up the space between the outer and inner front doors by making this shoe bench and wall panel, with old school hooks. Just one more shelf to install so there will be two levels of shoe storage. Lower bench for the kids as well as buggy hook is my nod to responsible parenting...
Carolina
3 years ago
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ReshOriginal Author