Landscaping: Backyard Hill Gray Windsor Retaining Wall Blocks

Completed Windsor Wall Project

We cleared the trees, added dirt, added two rows of Windsor Wall Blocks and added plants.

A huge branch fell and broke our fence

Before the Tree Fell


The hill in our backyard has always been awkward.  When we moved here, the previous owners had built a fence to cut off the hill and threw trash behind it.  Immediately, we took down the fence and cleaned up the trash.  Over the past 5 years, we have slowly cleared the hill area, hoping to landscape it someday.    We are using gray windsor retaining wall blocks and adding 12 yards of dirt. 







Deck Handrails with Wrought Iron Ballusters Project with TWP Rustic Stain

Side View of Completed Handrail Around Pergola

Completed Project TWP Rustic Stain with Wrought Iron Ballusters

Before

We need to add handrails!  Pergola Area Before Rails

Since we had such a warm winter, we were able to start the handrails for our pergola area.   We used pressure treated lumber and wrought iron ballusters from Lowes.   It took a weekend to build the posts and complete the handrails.  Next project, deciding if we are going to keep the TWP Rustic stain on our deck. 

Behr's Premium Plus Ultra Paint Red Velvet UL 100-6 Door Project

Behr Red Velvet UL 100-6 Shed Door After

Shed Doors Before

Backyard Entry Door After Behr's Red Velvet Paint

Backyard Exterior Door Before

Front Entry door After Behr's Red Velvet Paint

Front Entry Door Before

I decided my house needed some exterior color. We used Behr Premium Plus Ultra Red Velvet on my front door, shed doors and backyard entrance garage door. We had to prime the doors first. It took one coat of the prime coat, which we had to let dry for 6-8 hours. Then we applied two coats of the Behr Red Velvet which required 24 hours drying time between coats.

Planting Vegetables in Garden Boxes

Building Garden Boxes

Filled with Dirt

Cute Helper

Completed Garden Boxes

I finally started planting my vegetables this morning.  We used Seminis vegetable seeds and they grew very well in my greenhouses.   Only 2 more garden boxes to go.  We still need to add rock.  I hope we get done by the end of this weekend. 

We finally completed all five boxes.  We used topsoil mixed with compost.  We used temporary fencing to protect our garden.

Day 4: Building Garden Boxes

Unexpected delay over the weekend.  We found lightning had struck a huge limb and it was dangling over our fence.  Needless to say, the tree limb fell on our fence and busted a couple of sections.   We spent an entire day replacing the fence sections and digging new posts. 

Replaced section of fence.

Garden boxes flipped over.   Only 2 more to build.

On Monday, my husband built 3 garden boxes with pressure treated wood.  We still have 2 more boxes to build.  We are ordering top soil and rock in the next couple of days. 

Next project: Building Raised Garden Boxes

Our backyard has been a mess since we installed a pool last year and we need to do something with the leftover dirt.  So many decisions to be made on what materials to use.  This area gets full sunshine mid to late afternoon.  This weekend, we are beginning our garden project by cutting down trees and bushes. 

Matching Minwax Stain to Bruce Gunstock Oak

Before

Minwax Cherry 235 Stain

Overwhelmed?  We found Minwax Wood Finish Stain Cherry 235 matched our Bruce Gunstock Oak very well.  We bought 36" oak steps from Home Depot.  We stained them with 3 coats of stain and 3 coats of polyurethane.  With all the staining and sanding, it took us 4 weeks to complete this project part-time.  

Minwax Wood Finish Stain Cherry 235 matched our Bruce Waltham Gunstock Oak!  

Newell Oak Box Posts

Newell Oak Box Posts

We have finally cut our Newell Oak Box Posts.  It took us several days to make sure the steps were even.  I hope we can get to staining our steps this week.
www.lowes.com

Bruce Waltham Gunstock Solid Wood Floor Project

Completed Second Floor Hallway with Bruce Waltham Gunstock Solid Wood 3 1/4" Planks.  We added all new oak handrails, wrought iron ballusters and Newell posts.  We had to stain the unfinished oak with Minwax Cherry stain to match the Bruce Gunstock 3 1/4"  Waltham Planks.

Before

Our 10 year old son, Jack!

Before- We tore out the builder grade carpeting and handrails.

We have volunteered our 10 year old son, Jack, to help us complete our latest project.  We are replacing a builder grade carpet in our hallway with Bruce Waltham Gunstock oak.  We will probably add wainscott to our hallway, complete the steps in oak and replace the rails.   

Updating Sherwin Williams Blonde to Behr Premium Paint Dusty Olive

Sherwin Williams Blonde

Sherwin Williams Blonde next to Behr Premium Basketry

Behr Dusty Olive next to Behr Basketry.

Behr Dusty Olive

As you can see, the Sherwin Williams Blonde looked really yellow next to our New Behr Basketry.  We chose to match the paint to the rest of the room.  We are using Behr Premium Paint, Dusty Olive, in a flat finish.