We love our new deck! And the new smooth stone walkway. And the re-use of the old limestone walkway into a circle of stones around our maple tree in the back yard.
We have lived in our house for 41 years and the old deck, out the kitchen door into the backyard, was really only a stoop. That’s what Merri Corrigall, owner of Green Space Design, called it; a stoop. That 6x8 foot old kitchen stoop was in desperate need of replacement. But my husband and I could not agree on the design of the new deck. He wanted a BIG deck. I was content with the stoop size thingy because I love to sit out on the grass under the big old maple and close to my flower garden. I figured I’d rarely sit on a deck. Boy was I wrong! For close to three years we argued back and forth over that deck. It was becoming a real irritable old married couple’s squabble.
Besides the issue of the deck replacement there was the issue of an old field limestone walkway from the kitchen door stoop to the driveway. That’s how the groceries get into the kitchen. This walkway was uneven and the downspouts poured across it, making it very icy in winter.
I decided we needed expert help, both from a design point and all the grunt work. We found Green Space Design, and Merri Corrigal and her team of sub-contractors did a superb job.
We now have a beautiful white cedar deck out that kitchen door. It holds our gas BBQ, my husband’s smoker and plenty of seating area. It’s so relaxing to have early morning coffee on the deck listening to the birds. It’s hard to imagine I lived without a deck for all these years! We have a smooth new limestone walkway. All the downspout water pipes are buried. No more ice in the winter. Merri convinced me that the old walkway stones would look great in a circle around the old maple tree. I’m an avid gardener and wasn’t sure about a stone circle. But Merri was right. The stones add an interesting new feature to our backyard, and they didn’t end up in land fill. Thanks Merri.
There is also an unplanned bonus. The 40 year old hedge, screening us from our neighbour to the north, was dying. While the little Kubota digger was in the yard preparing the foundation for the deck and walkway, it was really a no brainer to get the contractor to rip out that old hedge and dispose of it. Consequently we were also able to bury the down spout piping on that side of the house, including the sump pump exit. Merri helped me design the new border and choose the new shrubs which will grow into a 12 foot screen again. I chose to do my own planting. I do love to get dirt under my finger nails. See some pictures below.
I’d recommend Green Space Design in a heartbeat. Merri knows her stuff and she was easy and fun to work with. Oh, and customer service is great. Last winter one of the deck boards developed a big crack right on the stairs. (The deck was built in September.) That bad board was replaced in a jiffy this spring.
Gabriele