Curtains and Bedposts

So we've spent a week now putting up all the curtains and one night putting the boys bed sets together and last night we put the area rugs down and a few chairs together. The house is looking more like a home every day.

I'm not taking pictures till the furniture is in but here's a shot of my favorite curtain rod and it's coordinating valance, we used them in the breakfast nook bay.

It's Done, I Can't Believe It, and Here's Proof.

Bringin' in the Big Guns

So I told you we had an appointment with the landscaper. We did but it was rather hurried since I had another, also very important appointment at the salon. Hey, we can't all be flowers right?

Adam our landscaper set up our next appointment, which was with the Landscape Artist. I'm not sure what I expected....someone gay and flamboyant? Some good ole' boy who wants to cover my yard with 43.5 azaleas like every other yard in the South? I don't know.




James and I meet Jim Bennet, an elderly gentleman who worked for Southern Living magazine, teaching, speaking and lecturing for over 20 yrs before retiring to become a Methodist minister.
Mr. Bennet has been around so he know his beans, or in this case his trees, shrubs, roses, hostas, annuals and perennials.

We walk and talk and the amount of knowledge that pours out of this quiet man in the summer suit and
straw hat is amazing! He loves our large lot with it's balance of shade and sun, he tells us which trees should still be taken out. Suggests other trees that will bring spring and summer color and/or fall color which is what we want.


He is writing down what we want too but lets us know when the plants won't work for our area and gives us a viable alternative. He is quietly awesome.

Mr. Bennet is going to draw a scale map of our land and house, design beds, arbors, family areas and place all the plants there in the drawings. All color coded with care instructions and a month by month maintenance schedule for the year. If we don't like anything he'll change it till we do.

I'm very excited, it sounds like our aesthetics will blend very well and it will look beautiful. I want lots of flowers but in a garden-y way. Not a "here's a square of pretty flowers" way. I'm so glad we have an "Artist" doing this.

Looking forward to working with you Mr. Jim Bennet.

Landscapers

So today we have an appointment with our landscaper. We're going to consult on trees and flowers and plants, bed shapes and mulches. I have this vision in my head and we're going to share the job of making it happen in order to keep costs low.

We have a sloped lawn so curving beds are going to look awesome. I know I want a Japanese maple and hydrangeas , hostas, roses, viburnum, coleus and various annuals. The shapes and placing are more vague but still there and the landscaper will advise on placement and soil amendment.

I've also been reading heaps of books and watching "Desperate Landscapes" on the DIY Channel in order to get design ideas and work tips. It's actually been really helpful.

I'll post pictures as we progress. Any tips from my fellow South easters on keeping your beds perfect? I know people use landscape fabric in order to control weeds and grass and we always have but Desperate Landscapes uses tons of mulch. What's your opinion?

And We're Not Done Yet

Hi. My name is Meredith and this is my blog about building a house and moving into a new neighborhood. I am 30 yrs old, a homemaster (as opposed to keeper) and have 3 children although on some days I find this strange to believe.

I am married to James, who has been married to me for 10 yrs this month. Also hard to believe, especially considering that we have been building a house since December of '09.

This blog is going to be about the journey of finishing said house and moving in, meeting neighbors in an established neighborhood, decorating, cooking and things that make my life interesting to me. I would be more than happy to make some friends along the way.