I have had more repining on Pinterest of my blue stone terrace than any other photo I have posted. I know how much people like ‘before and after shots’- I like them too – so I thought I would show step by step how I developed this new garden room over several years.

First, a major renovation of the house that included an addition and a new porch was completed in 2001. Then in 2002, we had to have built a 5’ foot by 20’ foot dry stone retaining wall to create a flat area coming off the porch. In 2012,  I designed and had built by a local stone mason a small patio measuring: 18’ x 10’-5”. Also built a the same time is a 35’-4’ foot long by 4’ wide bluestone walkway that wraps around the house connecting the side of the house to the back. The walkway is on a slope and we needed to build a couple of steps that drop onto the patio.

Before shot: before house was renovated 2000

During reconstruction: Addition and porch added 2001.

Retainingg wall built in 2002: now have a flat landing coming off the porch.

Last spring 2013, after the patio was built, I began making a new border alongside the walkway so you would not see the patio all at once.  One of the ideas of the back border was to trade plants with friends rather than going to the nursery for plants. My gardening friends were all on board with the plant exchange.  I added terracotta pots and planted them with a bay, a fig tree, rosemary and annuals such a Plumbago, and Marguerite daisy, placing these potted plants on the low raised walls of the terrace to further enclose the room like feeling.  Even though it looks pretty complete the project is still ongoing and this year I plan to add the hypertufa pots I made last fall.

Wall extended on around to enclose new patio. 2012

Patio relates to vegetable garden and out building

Patio seen from window above. Japanese wisteria in bloom 2013

blue stone path wraps around house onto new terrace

Patio seen through new plantings