Backyard Renovations // Inspiration Board

From the day we bought our house back in november 2014, we were itching for the warm weather to roll in. Why you ask? Well that would be to start working on yet another, back yard project. If you are new to the blog, ryan and I completely renovated and landscaped the backyard of our last home (see here) a couple years ago which was a major 180 when all the dust settled. We are back at it for our new home and have some big plans for our yard.

My goals are not out of control or unattainable... especially with how much my husband loves to get his hands' dirty and does the majority of the work on his own. In my idyllic backyard, I would like to have...

- both an entertaining and dining area

- a shaded patio 

- lighting that will bring ambiance as the sun goes down

- privacy from our neighbors

- lots of lush greenery and some hints of color

- a modern and streamlined feel

We have already planted 10 new shrubs/trees in the yard to break up the hard lines and I also purchased this new outdoor rug which looks lovely with the patio furniture we already own. I think the biggest impact for the space will be the pergola we are getting installed to increase the shade over the patio. The design we want is a bit more modern and minimalistic which I think will really give the yard a focal point. I am then hoping to add some mood lighting, a few potted plants to break up all the raw materials and then possibly a small dining area for al fresco meals. 

I cannot wait to share the progress. In the meantime, here is the inspiration board I am working off of for my backyard renovations.

(left to right:  modern pergola with dark stain  /  navy accents with whimsical lighting  /  vertical garden  /  glimmering strung bistro lighting  /  tree trunks wrapped with lights  /  potted plants with tons of texture  /  a small but cozy dining space  /  simple but inviting pergola)

Weekend Update

Wow... a weekend full of sunshine and weather over 60 degrees; I almost did not know what to do when denver was blessed with multiple consecutive hours of sunshine. Don't you fret, just like riding a bike, it all came back to me and my weekend was full of activity and soaking in the vitamin d.

The weekend kicked off with pizza at proto's followed by drinks at fermaentra with our close friend brian. Saturday morning ryan and I started tackling some landscaping projects that we have been planning on since we bought our house last november; we (and I really should say ryan beccause I was pretty close to helpless) planted 10 new shrubs/trees in our yard. I cannot wait to see our hard work grow and bloom in the coming months and years.

Sunday was my favorite day of the weekend... ryan and I hit up the pearl street farmers market to gorg on street food and to pick up some awesome produce and artisan products. I snuck in a pedicure and then spent the rest of the day relaxing at home. 

I could not be happier to have the sunshine on my side to get some projects completed and to feel like may ended with warmth and clear skies.

Backyard in Bloom

Every morning rocco goes outside to chase after the squirrels (you can read more about his friends here) and I often follow him out to watch him in his element. This morning was no exception but what truly caught my attention was the color changes popping up all over the backyard. There are buds on almost every shrub, sweet little white flowers sprinkled through the ground cover and our big tree is in full bloom with delicate pale pink flowers every where you look. I ran back inside to grab my camera to snap a couple quick photos and just had to share them. 

There is nothing more beautiful than seeing the brown and tan turning into shades of green with hints of color. Rocco even made it into a couple of the photos as he loves to smell all of the plants in his big back yard (well, in all reality, he pees on all of the plants). I know in only a couple more weeks, our grass will be a pristine green blanket stretching from fence to fence along with bright flowers filling our many pots around the front + back patios. 

Spring, I am loving what you are doing to my yard! 

Burning Bright // October Glory Maple

You might remember that ryan and I planted a new tree in our front yard this past summer to replace the one that never took from early spring. Our october glory maple has already grown more than a foot and its fall colors are absolutely beautiful right now.

When we first picked out our maple, I was excited when I read that the tree would turn bright red in the fall but I truly did not understand the scope of its color at the time. The deep burgundy, maroon, rust, mahogany and orange leaves are just stunning and I cannot help but feel like it stands out the most on our street against all the yellow-leaved-trees lining the block.

This time of year is magic in my eyes and looking out my living room windows to see our october glory maple is 100% proof of that.

Landscaping Updates // New Front Tree Too!

So just a few weeks ago I debuted our new autumn gold maidenhair tree that we planted in our front yard courtesy of denver digs.  You can read about it here.  What I have not mentioned in the past few weeks were the less than desirable weather conditions (snow + freezing temperatures) which lead to my tree crusting up to the image below.  RIP little maidenhair.  

The area we planted this tree is the 'public right away' which is the space between the street and the curb.  Previous to the maidenhair tree, we had laid sod that sadly did not make it (either) in the hot denver temperatures (at the time we did not have a sprinkler system and hand-watering did not provide enough concentrated moisture).  So, this weekend we decided to tackle the public right away with a landscaping overhaul.  

(looking back at our house from the street)

We made 5 trips to the hardware store over 2 days and bought in nearly 2,000 pounds of stone pavers to complete our project (each large stone was 38lbs!).  Throw in a few bags of paver sand, a couple shrubs, a new pair of leather gloves for ryan, a stellar new tree and some hard work to produce a great new public right away.  

(clockwise from top:  the view from our porch  /  a close up at the stone pavers set with sand  /  the final product which matches the section we did 2 years ago when we moved in)

Initially we were only going to plant the shrubs that are on the left/right of the tree and a couple lavender plants but we saw this october glory maple for an outrageously low price and changed our plans on the spot.  The tree should turn all sorts of bright amber colors in the fall that I cannot wait to see!  Oh, and those lavender plants found a new home in our backyard.  Once that space is filled in a bit more I will take some pictures to share.

(what a mature october glory maple looks like... so pretty)

I love how polished the stones look and the deep shades of green within the bushes.  The best part, all the plants thrive in high sun and do not require a lot of water.  I am hoping that this new tree will flourish in this space and provide some much needed shade to our front yard in the months/years ahead.

Weekend Update // Memorial Day

I hope everyone had a fun memorial day weekend.  Last thursday there were no plans on my weekend schedule but somehow it filled up fast and there was not much downtime.  Crazy how that happens.

Highlights of the weekend included cocktails on the patio with a homemade rosemary-infused simple syrup inspired by a recipe seen on fruetcake, bbqs with my inlaws and my family, an amazing visit with my grandparents (this was really the best part of the whole weekend), a major update to our front yard and also, a delicious brunch here on monday morning.

Thank you to all who have served our county and to the freedoms we all get to share.  This was a a wonderful memorial day weekend that I am extremely grateful for! 

Weekend Update

My past weekend was spent primarily celebrating my dear friend ashley's 30th birthday!  We had a girls spa afternoon, met friends for a golfing pub crawl and had multiple cocktails, all in her honor.  It was so much fun and I really hope she enjoyed all the festivities as she is one of my closest friends and I love her to death.  Other weekend highlights included planting our new tree, ryan and I brunching at table 6, a delicious steak dinner at my parents house and the nuggets winning their first playoff game of round one.  

Denver Digs // New Tree For Our Yard

Our front yard got some new life in it this weekend, courtesy of denver digs; a foundation that works to preserve and enhance the urban forest of denver.  Every spring and fall, residents of the city can apply for a free tree to plant in designated areas within their yard.  This spring, denver digs let you choose from about a dozen specimen to then plant in the 'public right away', the area between the sidewalk and the curb.  

(left to right by row:  digging a hole double the rootball size  /  leveling the tree  /  ryan getting him out of his container  /  filling the hole with water to settle the soil  /  mulch to conserve moisture and reduce soil erosion  /  the buds are already producing leaves)

We now are the proud owners of a autumn gold maidenhair tree.  He is a lil guy right now... maxing out at about 5'5" tall and is as wide as my thumb but he will someday become a large shade tree that is strong and up to 35-50' tall.  I was immediately drawn to this tree for it's unique leaf shape and its vivid colors of amber, gold and yellow hues.  

I know we will not be in our home to see this guy reach its mature state, many years down the road but I look forward to seeing its buds turn to leaves, it gain a few more inches in height and the beauty it will add to our home from the street.  We have some plans for the public right away that it is planted in too so I will share updates on that in the coming month.

Here is what our tree will grow to look like...

(via)

(via)

The Fence Is Up

Many of you will remember the endless posts I wrote last summer as my husband and I completely renovated our back yard.  We tore out the horrible 'landscaping' the previous owners of our home put in, along with the hundreds of weeds that accumulated over the last 2 years of us not tending to the space (we knew all along that we would redo the backyard).  We laid 900 sq ft of concrete, had a sprinkler and drip system installed, laid new sod, brought in 6 tons of dirt, 9 tons of rock, planted a dozen new shrubs and 3 pine trees along with purchasing our first real patio set.  It was a ton of work but the end result is truly amazing.

(from top:  our backyard with the fence down  /  the old broken fence  /  Ryan hard at work  /  the holes were dug for the posts, ready for cement)

But... there was one major thing that we never got around to which was fixing the fence along the back of our yard.  We had to take it down multiple times for the cement truck, rototill, dump trucks, etc. and after every take down, Ryan would jimmy-rig the fence back into place but it was never as secure as it was originally.  So, over the past few months, every time the wind would blow or a storm came in, down went our fence.

(the posts were set in cement and ready for the next step  /  the fence up, just waiting for the gate)

This past weekend the temps were in the high 50s so we decided to tackle this fence once and for all.  We made a trip to Home Depot for supplies that I mentioned in my weekend recap here, Ryan dug new holes in the ground for the 4x4 boards to go, we whipped up some cement and I helped hold the posts level as Ryan filled the cement in.  

The following day, Ryan and his dad spent the afternoon screwing in the horizontal 2x4s, building a gate and attaching all of the posts.  I cannot believe how great the final product looks.  The gate is honestly my favorite part as it is extra-wide, perfect for a wheel barrow, our recycle bins or for future projects down the road.

(the final product.  i love how bright the trees look against the new wood)

I could not be happier and am so grateful for my husband's hard work as it really has paid off on our home.  

2012 // Wrap Up

Today I am celebrating my Inaugural Blog Anniversary and I honestly cannot believe!  In the past 365 days I have put so much time, effort, thought and myself into creating a space to share with others and document my life as I go. 

I hope my blog is a place that you, my readers enjoy visiting, that I have created compelling content to keep bringing you back and most importantly, authentically shared myself through it all.  Below are some of my favorite posts from the last year.  I also want to say thank you to my readers… this blog has been something I am truly proud of and I am grateful I have had so much support from day one. 

My 30x30 remix series

Our farmer’s dinner back in October  

Rocco’s 1^st birthday

Our backyard renovation

My adorable niece’s love of my hamburgers

R & J artwork from our wedding  

I cannot get enough of this video  

One of my favorite restaurant reviews

Mental unloads 

Thankfulness… here, here, here and here

Weekend Update // End of Summer Party

Oh how I love a good party and I would like to think everyone who came to our End of Summer/ Wedding Anniversary Party would agree that ours was a success.  We had about 35 of our friends and family over for one last night under the stars before cooler weather rolls in.  

(Clockwise from top left:  my parents  /  people hanging out on the partio  /  Ryan, Darren and his girls  /  Mariah, myself & Lindy  /  Beth and Rocco  /  Ryan and his sister Peyton and brother Luke)

Ryan worked his butt off on our yard; getting it in such pristine condition for everyone to see.  We got our three new pine trees planted last Friday too and they really finish off the our yard nicely (I cannot wait until they are towering over me looking lush and strong).  People were very surprised at the transformation so it was fun to see people's reactions to their previous memories of the space.

I put out a big taco bar for everyone to enjoy and nothing was left by the end of the night so I guess it turned out okay.  With the help of our friends Hunter and Beth, we mixed up some tasty cocktails too... Sweet Tea Vodka with Lemonade and Red Sangria.  Candles kept things softly lit as the sun crept behind the foothills and heaters warmed us up as the temperatures dropped into the low 60's.  

(Clockwise from top left:  Matt, Rocco, Gina, Mariah & Lindy  /  Drinks  /  Ryan's parents John and Liz  /  Matt, Chad and Nick  /  Nicole, 4 week old Ainsley, Chelsea and Jonnie  /  Me and my sangria)

The night was highlighted by my Dad 'kicking ass and taking names' on the Beer Pong table.  He had never played before but after I coerced him into it, he surprised us all as he made shot after shot and took down Ryan and our friend Ashley. 

I love to host and provide for people... it is like giving those you care about a big hug and welcoming them into your world.  The chaos before people show up is a bubbly mix of excitement and joy, I find happiness in pouring myself into every detail and then seeing people laughing and smiling makes all the work worth it.  This might be my last party of the summer but another one will be around the corner before I know it.  

Weekend Update

This weekend Ryan was out of town so, I filled it to the brim with my family and tasty food.

I had this delicious Banh Mi from one of my favorite delis, Masterpiece Delicatessen.  Banh Mi's are Vietnamese sandwiches traditionally made on a french baguette filled with pickled veggies, fresh cilantro, succulent pork belly and savory pate.  I was in love with my sammy and it met my craving perfectly.

Saturday kicked off with Rocco getting a groom and me getting a cut and color.  

I then went with my parents to Tagawa Gardens and picked out 3 pine trees... one of the last elements for our backyard.  I'll post pictures once they are planted this week but I got two tall and slender Cupressina Spruces and one full and wider North Star Spruce.  Our hope is they will mature and act as an enclosure to make our yard more intimate.

Gina and I had a great dinner at White Chocolate Grill too.  We shared a bottle of zinfandel and the super moist grilled Idaho Trout.  It was paired wonderfully with their seasonal corn salad.

Sunday was the home opener for the Denver Broncos.  Decked out in our Broncos Gear, my family cheered on Peyton Manning and the whole team as Denver took home the win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  My dad cooked up some great game-day snacks to enjoy too and I honestly can say I miss watching games with my family.  We are such die-hard fans and I love the energy we create.

Rocco could have cared less about the game... he got tired and did a bit of napping; that is until the Broncos scored and we woke him up with our crazy cheering.  He's going to have to get used to this football thing!

Project Backyard, Completed!

I can proudly say, we are done with our back yard!!!  On Saturday our patio furniture arrived from Sam's Club and we jumped on putting it together in the 95 degree heat.  After moving the pieces around probably 25 times (no joke), we came up with a layout that is not only function but takes advantage of our 900 square feet of patio.  

(Before)

(After)

To look at the 'before' and 'after' is honestly such a shock.  I am so proud of all that we have done... on quite a budget too.  Back in June, I listed out the 6 items we wanted to change and we hit 4 out of 6 already.  We plan on planting a couple trees along our back fence line but are going to wait until the 90 degree weather subsides.  

I probably could have done a bit of a better job styling the space but I was tired and hot so this is what you get... you get the idea though!

Project Backyard, Nearly Complete

I cannot believe the changes that have occurred over the past 2 months in my backyard.  I mentioned our big backyard renovation here and I am still utterly shocked to see the transformation that is nearly complete.  If I could pinpoint one element of the backyard that has really made a huge difference would be the sod that was installed just last Friday.  We are having to water 4 times a day, 60 minutes each time (anyone want to make a donation to my water bill?!) to get the sod to take in the 90+ degree Colorado heat but it will all be worth it when Rocco is running his heart out.  All I am waiting for now is our patio furniture to show up in the mail and a BBQ with friends and family.

(Clockwise from top left:  the view after walking out of my house  /  rock and plants  /  shrub with yellow flowers  /  clematis growing up the trellis /  view from the back fence  /  clematis in bloom  /  Ryan and I basking in our hard work  /  rock and grasses)

Weekend Update

I was reminded today that I have been a bit absent in the posts over the past couple of days and I have to admit... I have been.  However, it is for good reason and I have a couple post coming together that will further prove this point.  Until then, here is a quick update on what has kept me away from my computer but full of smiles, laughter, sore muscles and complete happiness...

My sister turned 30... I mentioned it here.  We had quite the celebration and I cannot wait to share more of the details.

(Mariah, Gina and Ashley)

I spent some serious time with this guy.... my little Rocco.  He was acting a bit scared when I took this picture before bed one night but oh how cute is he?!?!

(Rocco going to bed)

We had 9 tons of rock delivered on Friday to start filling in our planter beds.  When I told  my mom 9 tons on the phone she said 'Nine, is that what I heard?!' and my sassy response was, 'Yes mom, as in the number after 8 and before 10'.  (I am such a snot sometimes!)

(Clockwise from top left:  the 1st plant in the ground  /  hooray for backyard greenery  /  Ryan working hard /  weed barrier in, waiting on rock  /  we had to rent a truck to bring everything home  /  working hard)

Six laborious hours on Saturday, 1 1/2 hours Sunday and an hour last night hauling rock and I can proudly say we are done laying weed barrier, planting 15 new shrubs and laying the majority of the rock.

Hope everyone had a good weekend and I cannot wait to share all the fun from my sister's birthday and another update on our backyard later this week!

Weekend Update

What a productive weekend it was in the Lopez household. 

Friday we had a romantic picnic for two in the park that you can read about here.

Saturday was an early start with Rocco getting groomed, Ryan and I hitting the gym and then stopping by the Farmer’s Market… all before 10a! 

(Clockwise from top left: new digs on the patio  /  retaining wall  /  patio /  feet on the patio  /  home depot) 

We built a retaining wall for a section of the backyard that is going to (soon) house plants and a couple new linear trees.  3 trips to Home Depot and 3 hours of laborious work in 96 degree heat resulted in a final product I could not be happier with.  We also picked up an umbrella and a new outdoor rug from Target to add some love to our patio.

(Clockwise from top left:  The Lopez's working away  /  Rocco having fun in the dirt  /  starting up the rototill  /  feet by the edging  /  Ryan rototilling)

Sunday called for more toil in the backyard as we prepped for our new sprinkler system (enter me jumping up and down for joy as I cannot wait to never water by hand again!).  Ryan rented a 13-horse power-rototiller to break up the dead grass/weeds/hard soil/crab apples.  With the help of his dad, grandpa and brother, we made quick work of leveling the soil and grading it away from the house.  We then installed edging to layout where the grass will end and rock/plants will begin.

I think I was in bed by 10p last night and was out by 10:05p.  I woke up with some seriously sore muscles, tired eyes and yet, a giddy excitement that this backyard project is really coming together after a lot of sweat, work and planning.

Changing of Scenery

So as I mentioned here and here, our backyard renovation is underway.  I shared some gnarly pictures of the backyard we had been living with since we bought our house but I realized I never posted how things are really coming together since. 

(Clockwise from top left:  pouring our sidewalks  /  rebar to keep our patio strong  /  more concrete  /  900 sq ft of happiness  /  plants and rocks under the tree  /  path on side of house  /  sidewalk to garage)

We have laid a new patio, 900 square feet of concrete to be exact when you include the path to the back fence and detached garage. It has already transformed so much of the space and has got me thinking about summer BBQ's and late nights relaxing under the stars.  Now I am a little 'cart-before-the-horse' right now but look at all the beautiful patio pieces I found to really make this new space come together.  If I only had an endless budget...

(Clockwise from top left:  Pillow  /  Umbrella  /  Outdoor Rug  /  Place Mats  /  Grill  /  Beverage Dispenser  /  Couch  /  Lighting  /  Table)

Weekend Update

Honestly what a great weekend.  It was hot, productive, fun, relaxing and full of people that I love so much.

(Clockwise from left:  wine while I peruse the menu  /  pork belly  /  veggie four square)

Friday kicked off with a light dinner with Ryan at one of my favorites, Rioja.  We started with the cardamom spiced pork belly with the most silky and rich garbanzo bean puree.  The pork was salty, smoky and seared just enough to create a nice balance of crusty and tender textures.  We then moved on to the vegetarian four square which has four ever-changing options to sample.  I loved the polenta croquettes with a herb creme fresh and the shiso peppers were another highlight that came with a spicy jam that brought some lingering heat to the back of my throat.  I will have to write a review on this place someday soon as there are so many things that Rioja does right in my book.

Saturday kicked off with a terrifying encounter with a bat that I found while spraying down my porch.  I honestly had a near full-blown panic attack as a little wing with claws came creeping out of a wood crack.  Slowly the wing reached out followed by a little beady head with two black eyes staring right at me.  I SCREAMED for my husband who came rushing to my screams to watch it (thankfully) fly away.  Two words... very traumatic!

(Lindy  /  Gina  /  Beth  /  Ashley  /  Sara  /  Me  /  Mariah)

The best part of Saturday was the pool party that my sister threw for a bunch of girlfriends at her apartment.  We had margaritas, snacks, hilarious conversations and some serious girl-time with the 6 most important women in my life.  Oh, my mom also stopped by for a bit and played honorary Grandma to Lindy's bundle of  joy  Rory which was enjoyed by all.  I think everyone had a wonderful time and I hope we will be doing this a bunch more this summer.

(Clockwise from top left:  our new patio with little Rocco running around  /  Ryan's brickwork  /  Gina and I planting  /  'R + J' with Rocco's paw print)

Sunday was another day spent in the backyard for our major backyard renovation that I mentioned here.  We made a trip to the Home Depot for tons of items and were able to complete a brick boarder for our patio, plant both a bougainvillea and a clematis in two bright yellow/gold pots, mosaic some flag stone under our big tree and finally add some ground cover that will eventually grow to wrap around all the stones.  We got some major help from Ryan's dad Jon, my sister and Beth even came over to enjoy all the changes.  I could not be luckier to have so much support on this project and to see what a difference some hard work has already made.

Project Backyard Underway

My husband and I bought our 1922 brick bungalow just about 2 ½ years ago now.  It has all the charm of an older home like cove ceilings, 6” high baseboards, antique glass doorknobs, original built-ins and an exposed brick wall just to share a bit. 

The not-so-glamorous parts of owning an older home are the funky features that people install, bad paint colors, drafty windows and horrible landscaping.  Luckily most of these issues we have tackled and have truly improved the look and efficiency of our home; one I even shared here. 

Well, it has been some time coming and we are finally undertaking the biggest project of them all, our backyard!

(Clockwise from top left:  our very sad 'patio'  /  badly in need of a prune  /  a very sad walkway to our garage  /  pathetic excuse for a pathway)

I am going to go out on a whim and say that the previous homeowners did not have a green thumb.  The concrete patio is a cracked mess, the overgrown tree is begging for a prune, grass is barely alive and the ‘rock/stone’ pathway to our detached garage was laid without any weed barrier below it and in a very haphazard way.  At one very low and shameful point last summer, we had weeds that were 6 feet tall.  To say the very least, we knew a total overhaul would be in our future and now with our wedding behind us, we are full-steam ahead.

We have met with multiple landscapers, contractors and horticulturist to figure out our plan.  We are hoping to do the majority of work ourselves but somethings are a bit above our skill level and quite frankly not something I want to even try to tackle.  We have decided on the following elements for our backyard…

• Install a new concrete patio which will nearly double in its current size
• Install a sprinkler and drip system
• Lay new sod
• Add in a couple trees along the back fence create some privacy
• Lay a 3 feet rock boarder around the perimeter of our yard along with shrubs and plants to soften the space
• Replace the old fence

More on the patio later this week because… spoiler alert… we are working on this right now!  Until then, any suggestions on removing weeds, landscaping in a dry climate and/or any oversights on our backyard plans?