A Door and a View

So here is my new set of french doors - I can't tell you how much they open up my guest room. It is a great feel when the doors are open. But here's the clincher, as soon as you step out through the french doors you get a great view of the mountains. I have seen the view many times, but now that it is framed on the top by the pergola, it seems much more spectacular. A great trick of the eye.

Anatomy of a Pergola Part 2

Okay, it takes a little time, but this pergola is really starting to take shape. All of the posts and the main beams are now in place. Check out the fancy saddle joint my carpenter made on the long 6"X12" run. Nice work. The final step is to add the smaller cross beams on the very top. Soon the job is done.

Anatomy of a Pergola Part 1

Okay, I'm not slowing down with just a door... here comes the long lost pergola. I am using redwood and we are using a cool end detail for the overhang portions of the pergola. Right now it's just a few sticks, before you know it we will have a complete pergola.

Anatomy of a Door

Alrighty then, we are back at it. Here comes the french door installation. How do you do it? Knock a hole in the wall and then plug it with a set of doors. Isn't that easy?

Almost there

Well, we are close. My landscape contractor's work is just about complete... my electrician is hooking up the wires and the spa is up and running. As a matter of fact, I just took my first soak in the spa - damn gang, am I relaxed right now. Most of the plants are in the earth and I'll be fine tuning the irrigation to make sure everything grows. Right now the hard scape is a bit overwhelming, but it will soften as more of the plants take shape. Here are some photos for your viewing entertainment.

There's an end in sight

Okay, things aren't moving as smoothly as I would hope... but the end is in sight. I have decided to cut bait on my the pergola for right now. It has been too difficult to get the wood on site and I think it is something I can come right back and do soon. For now I'd like to wrap up my work with my contractor and get my yard back for myself - I could use a dose of backyard privacy now. I have most of my plants on site and am starting to put them in the earth. The fishtail palm is my pride and it took 7 men to get it in the ground. It really made the project "instant landscape" when it made it into the planter. We should wrap the decomposed granite tomorrow and finish getting the plants in the earth over the next day or two. The spa comes on Thursday and hopefully we can button up this sucker by the weekend.

Alright, alright, here's an update

I know, I know, it has been a while since I have posted an update. If it feels like a long time for you, put yourself in my shoes (they're covered in dirt). The progress got a little slow on my project - I even engaged in a motivational talk to get things moving along. We saw some progress this week and I can really feel the end in sight. The finish coat of stucco has been applied to all of the walls, the stair caps from one level to the next are in place, and the tile in the fountain is about complete. Next is the finish coat of stucco in the fountain (dark interior) and then the decomposed granite will be put in place. The irrigation lines and the low voltage lighting wires are now nearly all in place. Rumor has it that the lumber for the pergola will be delivered on Tuesday morning. I can't wait.