Casa Rosa is a 1988 custom built pool home with 2 bedrooms 2 1/2 bathrooms on a 1/4 acre. This post is all about the remodel story of the back porch and backyard.
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Backyard at Purchase · June 2022
The back yard was solid weeds. The wood fence was one wind gust away from falling over. The screen enclosure was rusty. Half of the sprinklers did not work.
Screened Back Porch at Purchase
The original plans depict a screen porch of 13′ wide by 24′ 8″ long. Sometime between the plan drawings and the build, the porch was extended to the end of the house adding approximately 10′ to the length. This increased the final size of the porch to 13′ wide by 35′ long.
The screened porch had a faded river rock floor. The columns were thin rusted aluminum. The pool deck paint was chipped and faded. The fans with their dome lights were rusted and dated.
1980 called and they want their screened porch back. Can you name everything that needs to be updated? The whole porch screams update!
Stage One · July 2022
The first order of business was to chip away the river rock. This project was time consuming but not difficult. Just this small feat made the porch feel so much cleaner. Approximately 35 years of dirt collected in between rocks was removed in about three hours.
Stage Two · July 2023
The exterior of the house was painted Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. The fans were removed. The columns were wrapped and painted. Porch furniture was purchased at Home Goods. There was still so much more to tackle!
Stage Three · October 2023
Once the rackety wood fence was removed the immediate need for privacy appeared.
The new classic black aluminum spaced picket fence was gorgeous! However, what it offered in beauty, it lacked in privacy.
Two new 56″ three blade Minka-Aire fans in a coal finish were installed. The fans have a clean and contemporary aesthetic, were easy to install, push quite a bit of air, operate quietly, and provide a bright and dimmable light…a win!
New white aluminum gutters were installed to match the paint.
The back porch was beginning to look respectable!
Stage Four · November 2023
Time to plant the podocarpus hedge! We were so excited about this stage because the sooner they were planted, the sooner they would begin to grow. We researched the appropriate spacing between plantings and opted for 2′ because time was of the essence!
Stage Five · December 2023
It was finally time to paint the pool deck and porch floor. First the cracks were sealed. The pool deck was painted the same color as the gables, Shitake by Sherwin Williams. The porch floor was painted the same color as the house, Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore.
We struggled with a solution for immediate privacy while the podocarpus hedge had time to grow. In the end, the easiest and most economical solution was IKEA curtains! Read the detailed curtain post here.
We also wanted a unique way to hang orchids. A copper pipe serves as the apparatus for displaying an orchid collection. Read the post on the orchid rod here.
Stage Six · March 2024
After the sprinklers were reviewed and repaired it was time to order the mulch for the podo hedge and to border the pool deck. We chose limestone 89 for this project.
Read my detailed post on different types of mulch here.
As I mentioned earlier, the back yard was solid weeds. An order for St. Augustine was placed. I love the sight and smell of new sod!
Stage Seven · April 2024
It was time for the finishing touches. Nothing beats the sound of trickling water. We purchased a water fountain at Ballard Design. Also from Ballard Design is the door mat, the Oversized Highgate.
Wrap Up
It took nearly two years to complete the backyard remodel. I am thrilled with the outcome. All that is left to do is wait patiently for the podos to take shape.
Until next time…
· izzy
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