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Some of our Work
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Our client had an unused special spot with 2 mature trees surrounded by overgrown shrubs. He wanted a private outdoor work-space with a small table to work on the laptop and enjoy the view of the lake. It also needed to serve as an entertaining nook for family and friends.
We chose New York Blue Flagstone and kept the joints tight to contrast with the natural setting. Each stone is cut on site to fit with the surrounding ones and then individually leveled. We could not risk harming the trees in order to build the patio! Special care was taken not to damage the shallow root systems. The roots were first padded over, and then a raised base material was carefully installed that let the water through and allowed the ground to breathe. One of the best features of this job is that it remains a “Secret Garden”. The low surrounding plantings hide it from view of the house, lakeside and most of the yard. A tasteful flagstone walkway leads through a bed of Pachysandra and connects it to the lawn.
The best part was hearing that the customer enjoys and regularly uses his patio as the open- air office as he imagined!
The Secret Garden
Our client had an unused special spot with 2 mature trees surrounded by overgrown shrubs. He wanted a private outdoor work-space with a small table to work on the laptop and enjoy the view of the lake. It also needed to serve as an entertaining nook for family and friends.
We chose New York Blue Flagstone and kept the joints tight to contrast with the natural setting. Each stone is cut on site to fit with the surrounding ones and then individually leveled. We could not risk harming the trees in order to build the patio! Special care was taken not to damage the shallow root systems. The roots were first padded over, and then a raised base material was carefully installed that let the water through and allowed the ground to breathe. One of the best features of this job is that it remains a “Secret Garden”. The low surrounding plantings hide it from view of the house, lakeside and most of the yard. A tasteful flagstone walkway leads through a bed of Pachysandra and connects it to the lawn.
The best part was hearing that the customer enjoys and regularly uses his patio as the open- air office as he imagined!
The Hidden Jewel
The original homestead (circa 1920s) is in the rolling hills of Southwestern Livingston County. It contains the 30′ x 60′ concrete foundation walls of the old family barn. It is nestled into the hillside with an 8-foot high back wall and sloping sides to a 4′ high front wall. The client is artistic with “master gardener” status. She had turned the inner foundation area into a labyrinth of boxwood hedges, specimen plantings and perennial flowerbeds.
Our challenge was to design & build a patio with the proper choice of materials to complement the old-world character of the walled garden. New York Blue Flagstone was used with contrasting white and black stones from Canada and Ohio. We used a smooth Limestone bench to add interest and blend with the foundation walls. Also, note the use of red brick to contain and accent the edge of the planting bed. On this job, we feathered the patio stones out into the lawn to create an informal walkway and invitation into the patio and courtyard garden.
The clients hosted a wedding on their property shortly after we finished the job. The Bride and Groom entered from the walled garden, through the two gates and onto the patio where the ceremony was held. Beautiful!
click on the pictures
The Hidden Jewel
The original homestead (circa 1920s) is in the rolling hills of Southwestern Livingston County. It contains the 30′ x 60′ concrete foundation walls of the old family barn. It is nestled into the hillside with an 8-foot high back wall and sloping sides to a 4′ high front wall. The client is artistic with “master gardener” status. She had turned the inner foundation area into a labyrinth of boxwood hedges, specimen plantings and perennial flowerbeds.
Our challenge was to design & build a patio with the proper choice of materials to complement the old-world character of the walled garden. New York Blue Flagstone was used with contrasting white and black stones from Canada and Ohio. We used a smooth Limestone bench to add interest and blend with the foundation walls. Also, note the use of red brick to contain and accent the edge of the planting bed. On this job, we feathered the patio stones out into the lawn to create an informal walkway and invitation into the patio and courtyard garden.
The clients hosted a wedding on their property shortly after we finished the job. The Bride and Groom entered from the walled garden, through the two gates and onto the patio where the ceremony was held. Beautiful!
click on the pictures
Waterfalls and Ponds
Clixby’s Plants & Patios, Inc. installed this demonstration pond and patio in 2007 at the “Pond Place” in Highland, MI.
We wanted the bricked patio surface to come right up to the water’s edge. It is a formal look in comparison to the natural feel of the fieldstone waterfall. We also used stacked flat stone beneath a second split rock waterfall.
A skimmer was installed at one end of the pond with the pump well hidden beneath the brick patio. The plumbing runs underground and up to the waterfalls. The Pond Place has since changed hands but you are still welcome to check out the demonstration gardens.
We install pondless waterfalls, too. Enjoy the look and sound of falling water without the space and maintenance requirements of a full pond.
Contact us to see if this solution is for you.
Waterfalls and Ponds
Clixby’s Plants & Patios, Inc. installed this demonstration pond and patio in 2007 at the “Pond Place” in Highland, MI.
We wanted the bricked patio surface to come right up to the water’s edge. It is a formal look in comparison to the natural feel of the fieldstone waterfall. We also used stacked flat stone beneath a second split rock waterfall.
A skimmer was installed at one end of the pond with the pump well hidden beneath the brick patio. The plumbing runs underground and up to the waterfalls. The Pond Place has since changed hands but you are still welcome to check out the demonstration gardens.
We install pondless waterfalls, too. Enjoy the look and sound of falling water without the space and maintenance requirements of a full pond.
Contact us to see if this solution is for you.
Hardscapes
The owners of this home could not access their back yard from the upper level deck since it had no steps.
Plants & Patios, Inc. installed a stairway off the upper deck and onto the lower level brick patio. It gave the family a great access to the yard and connected the two levels of their home. It now has a nice flow with more entertainment possibilities.
An unsightly area was cleaned up and turned into a shady retreat extending the bricks to include the area below the deck. We landscaped with shade loving plants, hung a bench swing, and it quickly became a favorite place to be.
click on the pictures
Hardscapes
The owners of this home could not access their back yard from the upper level deck since it had no steps.
Plants & Patios, Inc. installed a stairway off the upper deck and onto the lower level brick patio. It gave the family a great access to the yard and connected the two levels of their home. It now has a nice flow with more entertainment possibilities.
An unsightly area was cleaned up and turned into a shady retreat extending the bricks to include the area below the deck. We landscaped with shade loving plants, hung a bench swing, and it quickly became a favorite place to be.
click on the pictures
The Boulder Wall
When the client first brought me out to look at his property, I understood why he had gotten prices from other contractors that were “all over the map”. I saw what he wanted, but needed some time to figure out how to build it.
The couple had built the house of their dreams near the edge of a bluff. At the bottom was a grouping of Scotch Pine Trees. There was very little “elbow room” to build a 12-foot high wall. They wanted to use building materials that were natural and native to the area. It was a system that had extremely limited space for machinery and material handling. They also wanted a Unilock brick patio beneath the deck.
The job intrigued me and I slept on in for a couple of days. It turned out I was the only contractor that actually measured and sketched it out. We chose larger than expected boulders and the right machine with a long reach. We worked from on top of the bluff rather than the bottom.
The client loved our work and chose to do the plantings himself.
The Boulder Wall
When the client first brought me out to look at his property, I understood why he had gotten prices from other contractors that were “all over the map”. I saw what he wanted, but needed some time to figure out how to build it.
The couple had built the house of their dreams near the edge of a bluff. At the bottom was a grouping of Scotch Pine Trees. There was very little “elbow room” to build a 12-foot high wall. They wanted to use building materials that were natural and native to the area. It was a system that had extremely limited space for machinery and material handling. They also wanted a Unilock brick patio beneath the deck.
The job intrigued me and I slept on in for a couple of days. It turned out I was the only contractor that actually measured and sketched it out. We chose larger than expected boulders and the right machine with a long reach. We worked from on top of the bluff rather than the bottom.
The client loved our work and chose to do the plantings himself.
Landscape Renovation
With this project, we replaced the old sidewalk with a curved brick walkway that led away from the house, around a magnificent Japanese Red Maple Tree and approached the raised porch from the front. A balanced entrance now accentuates the front doors. We used a curved boxwood hedge on the outside of the curve to create a courtyard that draws visitors up to the front of the porch. The concrete porch was bricked over to blend with the new sidewalk. Plantings of Hosta “Patriot”, Choral Bell “Midnight Rose”, and a spreading ground cover of Lamium “Orchid Frost” were used in the enlarged space between the house and walkway. Hydrangea “Endless Summer” and PJM Rhododendron are used for height near the house.
click on the pictures
Landscape Renovation
With this project, we replaced the old sidewalk with a curved brick walkway that led away from the house, around a magnificent Japanese Red Maple Tree and approached the raised porch from the front. A balanced entrance now accentuates the front doors. We used a curved boxwood hedge on the outside of the curve to create a courtyard that draws visitors up to the front of the porch. The concrete porch was bricked over to blend with the new sidewalk. Plantings of Hosta “Patriot”, Choral Bell “Midnight Rose”, and a spreading ground cover of Lamium “Orchid Frost” were used in the enlarged space between the house and walkway. Hydrangea “Endless Summer” and PJM Rhododendron are used for height near the house.
click on the pictures
Lakefront Cottage
Our customer wanted to replace the old deck boards with new and a different type of railing to enhance the view of the lake.
We worked with the basic shape of the 2-level deck. The non-conforming understructure needed leveling and additional perimeter boards installed to support the tension of the new cable railing. Treated wood deck boards were used with cedar railing, caps, and supports. We replaced two sections (10 vertical feet) of connecting stairways along with new posts and a stainless-steel railing system. The horizontal cables required precision holes through the posts in order to achieve parallel and equal spacing of the stainless-steel cabling.
She wanted the style and spacing of the angled stairway railings to match the level deck railing. To do this, the holes for the cables had to be drilled at the same angle as the stairway stringers. Both sides of the lower step railings had to match up. It lined up evenly and it turned out better than we had envisioned!
The end result is a beautiful, unobstructed view of the lake from inside the house and from on top of the deck.
Simple Elegance. Stainless Steel Cable Railing.
NOTE: This type of horizontal railing has been approved for use in Michigan. We are pleased to be one of only a few contractors to offer this type of Stainless Steel Railing system.
Lakefront Cottage
Our customer wanted to replace the old deck boards with new and a different type of railing to enhance the view of the lake.
We worked with the basic shape of the 2-level deck. The non-conforming understructure needed leveling and additional perimeter boards installed to support the tension of the new cable railing. Treated wood deck boards were used with cedar railing, caps, and supports. We replaced two sections (10 vertical feet) of connecting stairways along with new posts and a stainless-steel railing system. The horizontal cables required precision holes through the posts in order to achieve parallel and equal spacing of the stainless-steel cabling.
She wanted the style and spacing of the angled stairway railings to match the level deck railing. To do this, the holes for the cables had to be drilled at the same angle as the stairway stringers. Both sides of the lower step railings had to match up. It lined up evenly and it turned out better than we had envisioned!
The end result is a beautiful, unobstructed view of the lake from inside the house and from on top of the deck.
Simple Elegance. Stainless Steel Cable Railing.
NOTE: This type of horizontal railing has been approved for use in Michigan. We are pleased to be one of only a few contractors to offer this type of Stainless Steel Railing system.
New House Construction
The lakeside landscaping needed to go in first, since it required heavy materials and equipment to be brought down around the side of the house. We installed a tumbled brick patio and then worked our way up the side with paver steps.
Clixby’s Plants and Patios can plan for and build in future stages. In this case, the client chose to complete separate areas of the project over a number of years and left the inner driveway circle for yet another season.
click on the pictures
New House Construction
The lakeside landscaping needed to go in first, since it required heavy materials and equipment to be brought down around the side of the house. We installed a tumbled brick patio and then worked our way up the side with paver steps.
Clixby’s Plants and Patios can plan for and build in future stages. In this case, the client chose to complete separate areas of the project over a number of years and left the inner driveway circle for yet another season.
White Lake Canal
The client did a major renovation to a house on White Lake. She wanted an upper level deck with a paver patio below. What appeared as a hillside, was actually a steep drop-off when we arrived. Several hundred yards of fill dirt were brought in to raise the area for the patio and the loosely laid boulder retainer. The stone steps were installed at the same time with the boulders. Plantings and sod now soften the look, and here we show the structural bones of a job as it is being built.
White Lake Canal
The client did a major renovation to a house on White Lake. She wanted an upper level deck with a paver patio below. What appeared as a hillside, was actually a steep drop-off when we arrived. Several hundred yards of fill dirt were brought in to raise the area for the patio and the loosely laid boulder retainer. The stone steps were installed at the same time with the boulders. Plantings and sod now soften the look, and here we show the structural bones of a job as it is being built.