Our New Asphalt Driveway Process and Cost

Finally! After 6 years of parking on the grass, tracking in dirt and grit, waiting until the day we could add a garage and construct an actual driveway, it’s finally here! Once the garage addition was complete, the first order of business was getting the driveway in order. Because of the length, we chose asphalt. Asphalt is less expensive than concrete but it requires a little more maintenance and doesn’t last quite as long. That said, it was the right choice for us. I actually like the way the black asphalt ties in with our house. Our main concern was how hot it would get underfoot but the majority of the driveway is shaded. So far, the heat hasn’t been an issue. Things may be different in the middle of summer. Anyway, here are the details and cost breakdown of our new asphalt driveway.

New Asphalt Driveway Process

Culvert Replacement

The first thing we had to do was replace the culvert. The old culvert was a narrow PVC pipe and had incurred some damage over the years. We had it replaced with a metal culvert and had them do concrete end caps so it looks nice and clean.… Read more

A Big Farmhouse Garage + Breezeway Addition Update

I introduced our big farmhouse garage addition project last December (!) and SO much has happened since then. They officially broke ground in March, so we’re about 5 months in and nearing the finish line!

Farmhouse Garage +Breezeway Addition

First, let me remind you about our goal. Since our house has never ever included a garage, that was our obvious first priority. We wanted a three-car oversized garage with plenty of space for Mike’s tools, our cars, tractor, golf cart etc. We decided to connect the garage to the house via a 22′ breezeway addition, which would tie into our side door off of the kitchen and become additional heated square footage. This area is going to become a mudroom, office and wine/bar room.

The break-up of the breezeway into 3 rooms was a modification we made after we had the plans sealed so you won’t see it here but I will include it later on. The process has been fun and interesting to watch. The breezeway is built on a stem wall and the garage is on a traditional slab.… Read more

Choosing Garage Doors for Our Addition

We are in the pre-construction phase of our garage addition project and we made our first big material selection decision a couple weeks ago, the garage doors. Lead times are crazy so we needed to get the garage doors ordered so they don’t hold us up later. Our permit has been issued and we are waiting for work to start any day!

Choosing Garage Doors

In the drafting phase of our project, we knew we wanted to upgrade our garage doors to a carriage-style look. Our contractor recommended Clopay Coachman doors. Clopay makes a variety of style doors. Their Coachman line is made to look like old-fashioned wooden swing-out carriage house doors. There are several design options to choose from.

I immediately gravitated toward series 1. I didn’t want the cross design you see in series 2. I love the idea of vertical boards on the garage doors to complement the board and batten on the exterior of our home. The breezeway will also be board and batten so it will repeat that look, making it all look like it goes together.… Read more

The Introduction of our Farmhouse Garage Addition Project!!

You guysssss! I am so excited to share that after 5 years of living in our home, we are finally adding a garage! That’s right, we don’t have a garage here. Heck, we don’t even have a paved driveway. Since we bought the house we have longed for both of those things! Last year we were gearing up to add a pool, but we shifted gears and decided it would be wiser to do the garage first since it would not only add more value to our home but improve the way we live in our home. Around that time, we purchased an acre of land next to our property, making the garage addition more realistic. Several months ago we started the preliminary search for a contractor. We found one we liked and began working with their architect to draft plans. We had to revise them significantly a few times due to the rising cost of building materials but we finally approved a set of plans and signed the contract.

The Farmhouse Garage Addition Project Plans

Not only are we adding a much-needed garage space, but it will be connected to our home so we will be gaining some additional heated square footage as well.… Read more

Porch Makeover Part 1: Farmhouse Porch with Brick Steps

We finished this project a while ago but I realized I never blogged it! The porch ceiling project is wrapping up so I thought I’d break up the posts. Today I’m going to share all about our farmhouse porch with brick steps including the staining process.

FYI, there is a highlight folder dedicated to the “porch makeover” project on my Instagram profile with videos detailing the project from the start.

Farmhouse Porch Deck Staining Saga

The first thing we did as part of our porch makeover was staining the deck. The porch deck boards are installed in a cool herringbone-like pattern, a detail we really love. But the boards were never sealed so the porch was looking a little drab and may of the boards needed to be replaced due to age and weathering.

The first thing we did was pressure was the porch and replaced worn boards. If your deck is in bad shape you may also want to opt for a deck cleaner. After the boards dried completely, we taped off the siding of the house and began the staining process using a roller.… Read more

Back Patio Gravel Extension

We recently decided to extend the livable space off of our back patio. One day we plan to add a pool, but until then we wanted a little more elbow room for grilling, outdoor dining and entertaining. Our back patio gravel extension was a quick, easy and inexpensive weekend project that made a big impact.

For more on the covered portion of our back patio, check out our backyard patio reveal here.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of my links, I may receive a small commission for the referral. This post includes a review of gifted product(s). All opinions are my own and always will be.

Back Patio Gravel Extension

First, we started by grading the area off of the patio using the box blade attachment on the tractor.

Once the area was relatively level, we boxed in the extension area using pressure treated 4x4s as a border. Then we laid weed blocking landscape fabric and had a load of limestone gravel delivered. We used 5 yards of gravel which cost $320 including delivery.… Read more

Backyard Patio Design REVEAL!!! One Room Challenge Week 6

I’m so excited! It’s the final week of the One Room Challenge and time to REVEAL our rustic modern backyard patio design! This challenge was more difficult than last years guest room makeover. We were down to the wire this time around and the landscaping really took a lot out of us! But, alas, it was so worth it. We’ve been enjoying the patio more than ever and have already put the space to good use.

If you’d like to see the weekly progress updates, check them out here: week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4 and week 5.

Here it is! Our rustic modern backyard patio design! All the sources are at the end of the post.

The pallet board ceiling really makes an impact in the space! It adds warmth, texture and a dose of rustic which I offset with the modern, clean-lined furniture.

I am so glad I decided to paint the exterior of all those doors! The sage green is so calming and pops nicely off the white brick. Speaking of, I did a blog post on the amazing product that made painting these doors super easy.… Read more

The Details About Our DIY Rock Landscaping

For our One Room Challenge patio makeover, we started landscaping along the house. If you recall from our 2018 project list, landscaping was something we planned to get to this year. We assumed we’d hire out but when the One Room Challenge forced us to get a move on the nasty weed beds beside the patio, we DIYed it and it wasn’t so bad…well, besides shoveling all those heavy rocks out of the truck. That was bad. Nonetheless, we successfully started our DIY rock landscaping so I today I’m sharing all the details.

First things first, I am not a fan of mulch and we prefer rocks. While I love flowers, I prefer a simplistic landscaping look that doesn’t include a lot of flowers. Here are a couple inspiration images to give you an idea.

Via / Via

Here is where we started! The “flower beds” had been washed out and overrun with weeds.

The first task in our DIY rock landscaping journey was to get rid of all those weeds.

Next, we had to add some topsoil and mulch.… Read more

One Room Challenge Patio Week 5…SO MUCH PROGRESS!

Our One Room Challenge patio has come so far since last week! If you follow me on Instagram, then you know we’ve been super busy and that the space is actually done and we photographed it yesterday! I’ll have to wait for the reveal images until next week but for now, here’s what we’ve accomplished since the last update.

First of all, we finally cleared all of hubby’s tools out and pressure washed the cement floor. I was hoping the pressure washing would remove the stains but that wasn’t the case so we ended up having to paint the floor, which was an extra step we didn’t plan for. one room challenge patio makeover

one room challenge patio floor painting

First, we sealed the floor and then painted it with concrete paint. Like I mentioned before, we have plans to eventually add a pool off of the patio so we’ll cover the patio floor in whatever pavers we install around the pool so that it’s a seamless transition. For now, I decided to keep the concrete floor clean and simple. one room challenge patio floor

Painting the floor made a huge difference and even though it was an extra step we didn’t anticipate, it was totally necessary and worth it.… Read more

One Room Challenge Week 4: Patio Ceiling Paneling Complete!

It’s week 4 of the One Room Challenge! Only 2 more weeks until the big reveal…which basically means less than one week to work on the space before we photograph it on Wednesday! EEEEEEK!!

Patio Ceiling Paneling

I’m happy to report that our progress report is better this week than it was last week.

We (by we I mean hubby) finished the patio ceiling paneling and it really changed the feel of the space! I was debating painting it, but I am going to leave it raw. I like the character it gives the space, it really warms it up and provides a nice contrast to the white brick.

patio ceiling paneling

I love the rustic vibe the patio ceiling paneling provides, which I will couple with modern, streamline elements. Speaking of modern elements, the hanging chair is up and the remainder of the patio furniture will be here this week.

Over the weekend I decided to do something fun in the space that I haven’t discussed yet and that is paint the exterior of the doors that go out to the space.… Read more

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New Asphalt Driveway Process

Culvert Replacement

Farmhouse Garage +Breezeway Addition

Choosing Garage Doors

The Farmhouse Garage Addition Project Plans

Farmhouse Porch Deck Staining Saga

Back Patio Gravel Extension

Patio Ceiling Paneling