notes with Landscaper

Day/Knight Notes on Front Yard Maintenance/Trimming

1. Liquid Ambers—shaped and pruned reducing height by 1/3.
2. Gardenias (by entrance)—remove ivy and jasmine, clean up sand and concrete left after installation of pavers
3. Podicarpus (by dining room/entrance)—trim, clean dead/old growth; remove knobs, approximately same height except for sucker growth at top.
4. Nandinas (by library windows)—leave nandinas (trim), except for two small plants near the drive
5. Planter Area near dining room windows—Leave calla lilies, xylosma (trim/prune to open up hedge, remove knobs—while still maintaining structure of the hedge), remove miscellaneous ground covers/plants in planter. Clean up sand/concrete from pavers.
6. Miscellaneous plywood sheets (two in front and two moved to back when demo was in process), metal pole and basketball hoop—remove.
7. Hillside beds on the right as you face the house—clean up ground vegetation, prune shrubs and trees removing dead and diseased branches. Remember to maintain a sense of privacy screen in this area while providing for a more visually attractive area. Deepen the size of this bed.
8. Front planters by street—remove roses. Prune Pink Hawthorne/remove knobs. Bulbs on left (let’s remove and I will plant in the vegetable garden area)
9. Podicarpus by garage—reduce height to somewhere in between the top of window and the bottom of the grey trim accent.
10. Xylosma (in front of garage) prune and open up as done in front of dining room area.
11. Xylosma (along drive)—prune and open up as done by dining room area. Create larger walkway area by garage.
12. Agapanthus (along drive)—clean up, remove pups
13. Increase bed size around agapanthus with bender board
14. Hillside beds on the left as you face the house—remove volunteer plants, clean up ivy growing over shrubs.
15. Walkway on left side leading back to the gate—remove grass in this area and replace with mulch. Discuss how bender board is placed to keep sense of walkway to back.
16. Catch basin from drainage system will be taken back a little, collects and drops to the street surrounded by stone. (Discuss about idea of loose stone. Maybe something more permanent in nature?)

Additional REMARKS on Landscape Proposal:
Hold on Plantings near windows/house until after completion of new window installation and stucco work.
Will review lighting to determine number of lights needed.

Discuss irrigation placement and type near the library windows, entrance, and bed by dining room

Lighting for the Garden

This is the lighting which we selected for our backyard. The color will be black instead of the green finish.

Fountains from Roger's Garden in Corona Del Mar

I am looking for a fountain for my back patio. Here are a few examples I found at the very special garden shop, Roger's Gardens. If you are in the Orange County, California area and are a gardener, you would enjoy a visit to this wonderful nursery. There are plants galore and everything beautiful you need to beautify your home.

Fountin websites
Trevi
Al's Garden Art
Henri Studio

Thompson Building Supply

Thompson Building Supply
Inventory includes stone for garden use.

Spa Plaster

I spoke with Alan Smith Pool today. I think the plaster I will use will be from Gemstone and is called Tahoe Blue.

Spa Tile Selected

Spa Tile Selected

Spa With Brown Tile

Spa Tile and Coping

Here is a sample of the tile Wayne has suggested for the spa. The coping will be a natural stone.

Chat with the Landscaper

Well, while we were away for Thanksgiving, the landscape work continued. I spoke with Wayne today about several things.

First, some of the pavers have a little too much of the surface "tumbled" and look more like they are broken than weathered. Wayne says we can have those removed and replaced with less weathered pavers.

Next we talked about the coping for the spa. Wayne showed me the cap stone for the pavers we are using and we decided it would be too rough to use in the spa. He is going to get me some samples of alternatives.

I asked Wayne to get me the samples of tile for the spa and the barbecue. I requested a little lead time so I could actually make a decision without the pressure of needing the answer right away. He said he would accomodate.

Finally, he said the rain screed in the bedroom area was within the allowance of the local code.

Samuel Heath

The minute I saw the word "stockist" on the web site, I knew I was looking at a web site from a company located in England. I am very excited about

Samuel Heath

because they sell some great hardware which will complete my windows once installed. I am thinking specifically about Casement Stays with locking pins. This will allow me to have the casement windows open slightly but with the ability to "lock" the window to a limited opening.

Points to discuss about the landscape remodel

Landscaping November 18, 2007
1) Fire Pit

a) Following set back required by HOA
b) Proposed design of the fire pit/extra warmth/glass versus lava

2) Drains

a) Current number versus number in the plan
b) Missing drain in the spa area

3) Discuss proposed configuration for the patio cover
4) SPA

a) Drip lines for pots in the spa area
b) What is the proposed coping for the spa?
c) What is the proposed tile for the spa/counter?
d) Self Filling Mechanism with estimated cost
e) Has water line for spa been created?

5) Selection of pavers
6) Discuss possibility of using stone for paving the “walkway” area in the plan
7) Selection of fountains

a) Spa Area
b) Perimeter Area

8) Walkway Pavers to the fire pit
9) Discuss the angular paving area outside of the family room door.
10) Discuss lighting on the building—location and style
11) Chris Bedroom

a) Discuss grading in Christopher’s bedroom area to be in compliance with code if we use out swing or sliding doors.
b) Drip lines for pot by Chris’s patio area

12) Ask about roses along the side walkway

Reconfiguring the Family Room Windows and Doors

I have been working on a plan to center the family room windows and doors. I was having problems with the patio cover because the support posts are not in the correct location if the doors are centered. Today I worked in photoshop to come up with a plan which would accomodate the change.

Blueprints and Plans Discovered in Planning Department

I ventured to the planning department at city hall yesterday. I discovered that over the summer, some of the blueprints for my house were copied to a computer program. We were able to print some of the plans. Unfortunately, they did not print to scale but became distorted. It is interesting to see some of the original plans. Some of the details were changed in the final execution.

Lasertron Grill Door Panels in Stainless Steel

I discovered a company which makes stainless steel door panels which can be used in outside applications such as grill areas. Their name is Lasertron, Inc. Their phone is 954-846-8600.

Brillant Woodworking in San Juan Capistrano

Gabriel McKeagney, a fifth generation craftsman working in San Juan Capistrano, CA, is the founder of Tempo Carpentry & Design, Inc. His distinctive projects are artistic and functional.

Master Bath Versions From Eric G.

Version 1

Close in existing door, move to the diagonal wall.
The wall of the shower is moved 12-14 inches making the shower wider. All angles in the room are 45 degrees: entry door, shower door, clipped corners on the vanities. Edge of the tub is curved. Toilet closet is smaller to move shower wall. Entry can have a single glass Frenchdoor or two small glass French doors which split in the middle. This version allows bed to be placed on the wall where the door used to be and the tv/entertainment unit opposite.

Version 2

This version creates a larger entry into the masterbath to give a better focal point when you enter the master bedroom. Both vanities are moved to the same side. Shower is much larger. This view would utilize the same floor plan as the master bedroom currently uses.

Version 3

Close in existing door, move to the diagonal wall.
This version flips the shower and the toilet closet, which would require cost of relocating the plumbing for toilet and shower. The tub sits in the existing alcove with a curved edge. Entry can have a single glass Frenchdoor or two small glass French doors which split in the middle. This version allows bed to be placed on the wall where the door used to be and the tv/entertainment unit opposite.

Links for Lighting Sources

I found a great web site which has tons of links for lighting sources:

Lighting Innovation

October 16, 2007 Orco Pavers

Wall to replace existing telephone pole wall.


These are the pavers my landscape designer is suggesting.


These colors would be blended. Selected to incorporate the gray tile roof and the new house color.
Example of pavers which are not antiqued.

September 24, 2007 Pool Demo Continues

The pool demo continues. These guys are working hard.

September 23, 2007 Flooring Finishes Defined

I am researaching hardwood flooring options today. Thank goodness of the internet and of course Google!

I found a great custom wood flooring web site, T. Morton & Company. Apparently you can request samples of their product. In looking at the options of "appointments," you can select none, distressed, sculpted, wirebrushed, or French Bleed. Not knowing what these different terms mean, I went in search of definitions.

None--Well, this "appointment" I know.


Distressed--also called wire brushed. This type of character marking is done by machine such as a wire brush. Less expensive technique than those done by hand.


Sculpted--also called hand scraped. Gives the look of older reclaimed wood. This technique is done by hand with wood scraping tools. This technique is more expensive than character markings achieved by machine.


French Bleed--Black stain is used to highlight irregular/distressed edges (side and end joints) of the design.