Our January project spotlight features the complete transformation of a brand-new home in North Huntingdon. Starting with a bare front yard, we created a sophisticated and welcoming landscape through comprehensive lawn installation, thoughtfully selected plantings, and natural stone elements that give this new construction instant curb appeal.
Anyone driving past this home will first notice the beautiful green lawn that blankets the front and right side of the property. We achieved this result by smoothing and rock-hounding the existing lawn, followed by spreading 25 tons of quality topsoil to create the ideal growing medium. We then applied Penn State seed mixed with mushroom manure for optimal germination and long-lasting results.
Next, your eyes will be drawn to the mulch beds throughout the front yard, which blend perfectly with the lawn. Starting with the beds along both sides of the front steps, each includes shrubs and small boulders spaced evenly for a clean, natural look. The bed on the right side of the steps extends into the mulch bed that goes down along the left side of the front of the house. This bed boasts an arrangement of large boulders, a weeping cherry tree, and a variety of shrubs.
If the left side of the house has a big mulch bed, the right side of the house has a stone bed of black granite stones. One across the driveway that goes all the way along the slope of the driveway. The other one is along the house inside the walkway that features a dwarf Japanese maple, and some flowering and evergreen shrubs. Just like the mulch bed, we also put some boulders on it. For finishing touches, we installed a Belgium block border around all of the newly installed landscape beds where the bed meets the grass.
Our clients now enjoy the beautiful and low-maintenance front yard that welcomes them home every day. The overall design also gives a welcoming impression to passersby and visitors alike that a bare front yard would never be able to achieve.
A complete backyard transformation featuring Rosetta outcropping walls, exposed aggregate concrete, boulder steps, and full landscape plantings.
Homeowners of this Bethel Park house reached out to us about their existing patio. It was small, and the hillside behind it was just sitting there, unused. There was little in the backyard worth salvaging except for some bushes we transplanted into the hillside bed.
We started by tearing out the old rear patio and excavating the hillside to create more room. We then laid the base for the wall and built a drain into it to handle water properly. With the groundwork finished, the real transformation could begin.
The two tiers of Rosetta outcropping walls installed were a real showstopper. Each boulder was carefully placed to wrap from the house across the hillside, delivering that natural stone look. Around and above the new walls, we installed a variety of perennial flowers and shrubs to add color.
We matched the wall with an exposed aggregate patio. We also built informal boulder steps into the hillside at the back right corner, creating a natural transition up the slope. Small pockets of river rock add texture, while brown mulch ties everything together.
The result? A cozy patio that is substantially larger with actual room to entertain. Everything seems to match each other perfectly. It feels like nature put them there herself.
A 50-year-old asphalt driveway replaced with wider concrete and a vibrant red exposed aggregate border, including full utility line replacement.
After nearly 50 years in his home in Pleasant Hills, the owner decided it was finally time to replace that old asphalt driveway and the aging water and sewer lines beneath it. But here's the thing, this existing client of ours loves red stone. So, we made sure the new driveway would match his taste.
We started by removing the existing driveway and excavating for the utilities. All permits and inspections required by Allegheny County were handled by us as part of the project. There were no shortcuts and no surprises down the road. We also removed all the existing red stone and boulders from the property, hauled them away during construction, and brought them back once the driveway was complete.
The new concrete driveway is 4" thick with a standard broom finish. It is also significantly wider because after five decades, why not make it easier to pull in and out? And because the owner has a thing for red, we made exposed aggregate border around the top and sides of the driveway for a vibrant two-tone look.
From a dull old driveway, he is now enjoying his brand new concrete driveway with a popping red exposed aggregate border. His driveway is already turning heads in the neighborhood.
