Do you dream of a serene backyard escape complete with a crystal-clear koi pond? Maintaining a koi pond can be both rewarding and challenging. One of the most frustrating problems faced by pond owners is dealing with the dreaded "pea-green soup" water, which can obscure the beauty of your pond and make it difficult to enjoy your fish. In this blog post, we'll delve into the journey of a dedicated pond owner who reached out for help and asked us to restore the tranquility of his backyard oasis.
When we first stepped into this backyard in Hampton, there was nothing in the space. Before the transformation, the homeowners were never really out here. The yard was basically just the place where they came to walk their dogs, and that was it! There was nowhere to sit, nothing to do, and there since there wasn't a fence in place the dogs couldn’t even run around. Well, they decided it was time for a change!
When we got the call about working on this job, we found out that this homeowner already had a pond installed not once, but TWICE in his backyard. We would be the third contractor to try and get this pond moved and situated, and we wanted to make sure that we would be the last!
Today we’re going to talk about how to pick a good contractor for your next outdoor home project and what possible red flags you should look for before hiring someone to fill that role.
To make sure we didn’t miss anything, we sat down with our supplier, Jacob, from Yorktown Materials. Jacob works closely with contractors and homeowners alike, so he has a unique view of the industry and had a lot of great information to share! Our goal is to educate others about what to look out for and what questions you should ask before hiring a contractor for your outdoor space. After all, you’re about to invest your hard earned money into a space that YOU have to live in, so you need to choose the right person to get the job done! 11/3/2022 Contemporary Smokeless Fire PitThis is one of our shortest project recaps so far - but that doesn't take away from how cool this project is! We set about matching the homeowner's modern, contemporary style with a new backyard addition, and the results didn't disappoint.
Starting out with a Techo-Bloc 16x16 square, we added a black fire pit at the very center for an edgy look. A few additions came here and there, with a smokeless insert as well as - of course! - some lighting to accent the space. This backyard may be simple, but as you can see it's anything but boring! Enjoy the finished work in our video and final photos of this cool space in Hampton below. 9/22/2022 Lots of Pool in a Little SpaceWe've finished this pool update in Hampton, and added on a lot of character in the meantime! This house's smaller backyard already had a pool installed, but started showing some major wear and tear. With concrete and drainage issues, plus the homeowner's desire to add a little pizzazz, we were called in to provide some upgrades and fix what was broken...and add a little fun on top of that with a mini putting green!
So what were the major changes? 5/26/2022 Major Pool Upgrade in Hampton This house in Hampton already featured a pool, but the homeowner's style changed right around the time they started realizing there were major drainage issues with the original design. Instead of what was already there, they wanted a clean look with lots of curves and a few big upgrades that would make their outdoor space even more enjoyable.
We started the project by taking out a fence and some concrete as we mapped out a new design. While there was originally a weir installed - no, not weird! It's a waterfall mouthpiece - we ripped that out as well with a vision for a brand new water feature and another pretty epic upgrade. This is a beautiful home right at the edge of the water in Hampton, so close to Poquoson you can see it from the shore. The homeowners needed to fix some issues with their original concrete pool and liner, but in the meantime they decided to upgrade some of the more unsightly elements. It takes a lot of sweat equity to maintain the curves of the original design, and we knew our team was up to the task. Rather than keep the original concrete material, we installed pavers over top to add style to this beautiful outdoor living element. This video walk-through gives a quick but thorough overview of how we upgraded a backyard pool to make it even better than it was before. These homeowners are sure to love their party-and-fun space for years to come, now with a brand new look and feel! It wasn’t that long ago COVID happened. It was a bit rough. Travel was almost completely nixed. Consequently 2020 was coined The Year of the Home. Boy was it! As we entered 2021, the trend continued. We were asked many times to use the vacation budget to create a place where experiences, conversations, and life could happen steps from the living room. We happily accepted the challenge. We are honored to change the landscape around Hampton Roads, consequently changing the way our clients live outdoors. Watch the video below to see some of our favorites, then click here for a brief review of our top 10 projects and take the opportunity to vote for YOUR favorite! How do you like your marshmallows? When you have your own fire pit, you can experiment every night if you want! This home in Hampton, Virginia, started out with a lot, and it was our job to refine, simplify, and upgrade the space. We added native plants and clean landscaping, and not too long after the homeowners decided to add a fire pit to their backyard. The entire patio is made to maximize seating space and use shade-loving plants (think azaleas, virburnum, forsythia, hydrangeas, etc.) to beautify the overall project. Watch the video to see our process and get ideas for your backyard fire pit! 12/23/2020 Top 10 Projects of 2020
Who knew what 2020 would bring?! It ended up being The Year of Home. I mused that since no one would be traveling to Paris or Venice this year, maybe people would put their vacation budget into their home, landscape, and outdoor spaces. While I may have meant that as a joke, it wasn't far from the truth, as few of our clients have told us.
Despite the challenges of finding supplies, manufacturers being shut down, wood prices skyrocketing, and material shortages, we had a lot of fun this year. We live to create. We enjoy the end result. We love seeing our clients live in their new space. We take pride knowing we had something to do with the memories they'll create enjoying the great outdoors. Here are the Easton Outdoors top 10 projects for 2020! I've been known to experiment with different cocktails. I enjoy assembling a crisp mojito, a cucumber spritzer, or even the classic gin and tonic with a squeeze of lime. So refreshing! I love to grab these creations, sit outside with my wife, enjoy our water feature, and let the kids play. It makes me wish spring and summer would last all year! Through my constant search for new concoctions, I stumbled across a new recipe. A Berliner Weisse Mojito. I know - now you think I am crazy. You're saying; "Beer and a mojito?!" You have to trust me on this one. It is beyond fantastic! Plus, I did not use just any beer - I used Das Yummy, a Berliner Weisse style ale excellently crafted by my friends over at Oozlefinch.
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About Easton OutdoorsWe started out as the neighborhood lawn boys – a group of high school friends trying to make some pocket change. It soon became more. We realized how much we enjoyed landscaping. Over the years, we've transformed hundreds of properties, beautified countless landscapes, and made many homeowners proud. This has become our passion! Categories
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