We are working on finishing up this project in Petaluma, a re-landscaping of a back yard and pool deck. The old layout was not very usable with a small lawn; the design incorporated a new dry laid bluestone patio, fencing and gate upgrades, new plantings, and a resurfacing of an older cracking concrete pool deck.
This project in Petaluma was in need of some help, with a large cracked asphalt driveway and a front yard that was being dominated by Juniper. We removed the old driveway and an RV parking area and installed a new stamped concrete parking surface and entry pathways. The junipers were removed and replaced with low maintenance groundcovers and grasses. Lastly, the old nondescript drainage at the front of the property was regraded with boulders, cobblestone and California native Juncus patens.
We installed this back yard garden in Petaluma last year, which won a CLCA North Coast Chapter award. The plantings have really started to grow in with the massings of plantings become more defined and apparent with time.
See photos of this project from 2011 after it was installed.
Project Video
The design for this project in Petaluma focuses around a completely new hardscape for the front and back yards including new driveway, entry walkway and rear patio. What had been lawns in the front and back yard, become low maintenance planting areas with more usable space.
We are just wrapping up work on this project in Kent Woodlands, a complete re-landscaping for a large new home. The project, designed by Bradanini and Associates incorporated new bluestone patios, extensive walkways, mediterranean and shade garden areas, a redone swimming pool and large synthetic turf putting green.
For this project in Petaluma we removed an existing rear patio and installed a new colored concrete patio, BBQ area, and modern floating square concrete slab entry path. The landscape will be installed in phase 2 of the project.
We are wrapping up this project in Kentfield that featured large plantings around the newly remodeled home, dry laid bluestone paths, and a synthetic putting green.
We are working on a large home renovation in Kent Woodlands, which includes a beautiful new garden installation to compliment the new home. Project elements include lawns with sub-surface irrigation, bluestone slab paths, and a large synthetic turf putting green.
This project in Petaluma’s Boulevard Heights neighborhood transformed a neglected formal garden and infused it with new life. We are just completed the second phase of the project, seeding a large meadow lawn and planting screening trees and shrubs for a new garage building. Last spring we installed new plantings, irrigation, and retrofitted existing garden pathways. A large 48″ box tree was installed to balance existing trees on the property and compliment a new driveway installation. In phase two 24″ box Arizona Cypress were installed to help screen the new garage building. Even though they have been in less than 6 months, the first phase plantings are maturing nicely. Plantings are installed with a weather adaptive Hunter Solar Sync Controller for optimal water savings on the large lot.
Here is a large McNear Paver and planter installation for a project in Petaluma. The old yard had a smaller concrete patio that we installed the pavers directly over, minimizing excavation and debris disposal.
We just finished a front yard garden in Penngrove, which removed an old lawn and reinvented it as a more usable, dynamic garden space. A organic path now meanders through the yard by a new seating area spilling pot fountain.
I knew that by removing our front lawn, I wanted to have low maintenance plantings that would be aesthetically pleasing while using much less water than the lawn required. O’Connell Landscape came up with a design that achieved both. I was pleased that they were flexible in utilizing some of the material we had in another part of our yard (gravel) to incorporate into the design, thus recycling and keeping costs down.
Communication about the project was exceptional.
-Joan Walsh, Penngrove
Here is a video slideshow of our 2009 CLCA Design-Build Award winning Napa project. You can see more of this project on the portfolio page.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCJ_n0OrlcE
This terracing project in Mill Valley is transforming a sloping back yard into a usable lawn space and play area. With some grading of the existing hillside and new wood retaining walls a good size area has been created that compliments a large patio space installed in the first phase of the project.
We are working on finishing up a new bluestone patio and stone veneered retaining wall for this project in Belvedere. There has been quite a transformation made to the front yard of this property that will provide new living and entertaining space.
One of the great things about working on residential landscape construction projects is it gives us the opportunity to work closely with homeowners to transform the yards and outdoor spaces. We just wrapped a hillside project installation in Mill Valley.
“The best contractor we have ever worked with! Always responsive and sensitive to budget issues. We would highly recommend O’Connell Landscape.”
-Kim Niquette, Mill Valley
This project in Novato was a multi-phase project that grew from an initial focus on one section of the yard, to a comprehensive new grouping of flagstone patios, steps, and plantings.
We used a Dusty Way Indian Sandstone to tie together the front entry, side landings and steps, and a large rear patio.
“We had such a good experience we increased the work 4 fold. Workers turned up every day and left the site clean and safe. I would recommend O’Connell for anyone wanting a top quality job with excellent project management” -Juliet, Novato
We are working on a project in Petaluma for a lawn renovation and back yard landscaping. The old lawn had broken sprinklers, hadn’t been maintained, and was too big for the back yard. We developed a design to reduce the lawn size, install more efficient spray heads, and incorporate a seating area and low maintenance, low water use plantings for half the lawn area.
Before
After Lawn Tear OutWe are working on a large flagstone patio installation on this project in Novato. Here in progress in the concrete being pumped over the rebar and baserock for the flagstone sub-slab. The flagstone will then be mortared and grouted over the patio.
We are just working on finishing up a couple of projects in San Rafael and Mill Valley that incorporate play friendly synthetic turf with play structures and basketball courts. The owners of both projects have small children and wanted to create a safe and low maintenance outdoor play space for their kids.
In Mill Valley we installed a synthetic lawn with a play structure surrounded by rubber mulch. The rubber mulch is one of the most absorbent materials for play structures, which worked well in the compact space of the play area and the play tower and slide and this project.
In San Rafael we installed a play grade synthetic turf with a premium mat backing for better fall absorption. The turf we used here was also denser and incorporated dead thatch yarn making it look much more realistic. We incorporated the lawn with a concrete patio and basketball court. The basketball court featured an adjustable hoop with tempered glass backboard that we installed.
We are in process of regrading and tearing out an existing front yard to prepare it for plantings and new landscape pathways. Using the Bobcat, we will shave soil from the top of the hillside and fill it at the base of the hill to reduce the slope of area and make it more suitable for planting.
Here is an updated photo of an outdoor kitchen project we have been working on in Napa. We have just installed this Viking gas grill with warming drawer. Viking makes great outdoor components, and their cabinets are a refined way to create outdoor storage spaces.
Leading to and from and the patio space are these beautiful cedar gates made by Wil Matthews over at Woodcraft Marin. His garden woodwork is some of the finest that we have seen.
Here is a progress image from a large tile patio we are in process of installing for this Napa backyard renovation. The material itself is a unique product from Tile & Stone Concepts in San Rafael, which is custom cast concrete from molds and then colored. The advantage to this custom product is that it can be manipulated in a variety of sizes and applications and color can be custom tuned to the project color palette.
Here’s an image from a recently completed project in Mill Valley. We were performing an uplight adjustment on this kinetic stainless steel sculpture, the focal point of the front yard.
We are wrapping up on this landscape project that complimented a recent remodeling project on this modern Mill Valley residence. The owner found a great stainless steel sculpture that moves with the wind to accent the project and front yard space.
Here is a current project in Napa for an outdoor fireplace and kitchen that is in construction. The design for this project really opened up a small backyard and brought the detailing and richness that was present inside the house to the landscape for a great outdoor living space.
Here is some current work on concrete paths and retaining wills for a project in Mill Valley. We are working on the garden for this recently remodeled modern home.
Retaining curb wall and concrete rebar before concrete has been poured
Walkway and retaining curb wall poured. The color of new concrete starts out dark and rich and fades as it cures.
Here are some follow-up images and featured portfolio for a challenging Tiburon project we worked on earlier this year.
Download the Portfolio
We are working on a project in San Rafael for a commercial concrete installation of walkways and patios and installing a new retaining wall and parking area. The concrete area will include space for patios and enclosure for bicycle storage.
Retaining Wall Rebar and Foundation Prepared for Parking Area Wall
Spring is a busy time around here, sometimes it is easy to get wrapped up in spring work. Here are some of the projects we have been working on so far this spring:
Here is an update to project we completed in the fall, we planted a second round of spring plantings for a full, lush garden. The garden in Tiburon featured a roof garden with great views to San Francisco
Here is another update to a project we have been working on. This pool courtyard in San Rafael was completely redone, with a new concrete dining area, shade arbor and see-through gas fireplace.
We are getting close to finishing up this pool courtyard project in San Rafael. Pictured below are an accent water feature, a large wood trellis with masonry pillars and a dual sided gas fireplace. The space is almost ready for outdoor use as we come into spring.
