New Walkway Creates a Welcoming Entrance
How the addition of a sunroom created a need for a new path
- Location: Hawkinsville, GA
- Property size: 6 acres, .5 designed
- Budget: 18k
A well-established reputation in the Hawkinsville area lead the owners of this property to hire T. Lake Environmental Design to create an elegant, yet simple, design that welcomes people into their home. "Several years ago a sunroom was added to their home, which in turn became the main entrance. With all of the pedestrian traffic there was an immediate need for proper circulation and access to the side door," says Patrick Wells, a member of the T. Lake team.
T. Lake Environmental Design
Macon, GA
The new walkway provides access for visitors from the driveway and existing car port. It was created using broom-finished concrete and a border of brick pavers. This gives the owners a higher end look without the expense of doing the entire path in pavers. Existing St Augustine turf abuts one side of the path, while white impatiens in a bed of pine straw mulch add seasonal color to the other.
According to Wells, curving the walkway around the building was more appropriate for the natural pedestrian flow and it helps create a grander entrance. The owners' grandson now uses the path as his own personal track, happily running from end to end and back. To the right of the new path and landing is a small covered patio.
To the left of the landing is a set of steps that lead to a BBQ pit and a cook house. "These were built years ago as a place to cook huge meals for their extended family," says Wells. The steps make for a smooth transition into the upper level of the yard.
In order to level out the entrance and improve drainage, small retaining walls were built near the home. The same walls are also used between the walkway and covered patio. The walls were built with Belgard Bel Air Wall. This is a cost effective product that does not require a skilled mason for installation. The blocks lock together without the use of mortar and create a look similar to stone.
Also part of this project was the design and construction of an arbor. Located at the front drive, it was intended specifically for a Cherokee rose that had been growing up a telephone pole. Wells predicts that by next spring the rose will have grown large enough to make a nice focal point from the road.
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Contributing Author: Sarah Hutchinson, contributing writer for Landscaping Network |
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