As promised, photos of the gravel in my front yard. A bonus for you is the new color of the foundation, Duva (=dove). I love it all. The gravel is a little bit hard to walk on because of the round shape so I may still get some round concrete stepping stones but we’ll see if we get used to without first.
And just a little reminder of what it used to look like before. Pink stone slabs, weeds and ugly plantings.
Here’s the before of right hand corner. I only kept the anemones and some asarums. The rest had to go.
And here’s that corner today. The anemones have been beautiful all summer long but I had to bend them down when washing the house and painting the foundation and they didn’t want to pop back up again so they look a bit sad here but I really look forward to seeing them stand tall and proud next season.
WHAT a difference! It looks fantastic!
Posted by: Judith | August 18, 2011 at 08:23 AM
Love the gravel and the whole front yard :) About those hugely expensive Kekkilä concrete stones, I made them by myself. Just pour concrete into round 5 liter buckets. (You could ask them in any school or day care kitchen)
Annukka
Posted by: Annukka | August 18, 2011 at 08:26 AM
I did consider making some but was unsure about big enough containers. I'll have a look in the recycling area at work. I think I've seen some of those big food buckets down there earlier. Thanks!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | August 18, 2011 at 08:31 AM
Looking fantastic - now you need to work on the neighbours to paint ot their yellow x
Posted by: Hxx | August 18, 2011 at 08:44 AM
Ser supersnyggt ut! Vi håller på att gör om vår framsida nu. Ny altan och nymålat hus. Nu är det "bara" resten kvar. Ser att du har en lika "ful" soptunna som vi har. Vi har ingen aning om vad vi ska göra med den. GÅrden är inte särskilt stor så den syns vart man än ställer den.
Posted by: mamamya | August 18, 2011 at 09:11 AM
Love the anemones and now with the distracting stuff gone they can be truly appreciated. Can't believe all of the projects that you have completed since you moved.
Posted by: Monica | August 18, 2011 at 09:17 AM
Åh ja, soptunnan. Sååå ful! Jag "piffade till" sidan som vätter mot huset och som jag ser när jag går ut och genom sovrumsfönstret genom att flytta den vita dekalen till baksidan i stället. Så slapp jag en vit lysande lapp mitt på och jag inbillar mig att tunnan nu smälter in i häcken bakom lite mer...
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | August 18, 2011 at 09:22 AM
Immediately I started humming an old Elvis-song: "True love travels on a gravel road..." :)
Posted by: Pixie | August 18, 2011 at 09:23 AM
What a lovely clean entrance to come home too!
Posted by: Petra from NL | August 18, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Jag är förundrad över allt du (och din son) har hunnit göra. Hos oss har ingenting "stort" blivit gjort alls, men däremot har vi sorterat, gett bort, slängt och sålt samt organiserat, så det ser i alla fall fräschare ut inomhus. :)
Posted by: Monnah | August 18, 2011 at 11:53 AM
What a huge transformation! Love the new look of the front garden - so calm and tidy and yet so lush. Must be wonderful to come home to this.
I'm a big fan of your blog - always lots of inspiration. Thanks for sharing:)
Posted by: high house then radio | August 18, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Such a lovely combination now. One always thinks that greenery is better - but in a case like this, replacing it with gravel - and making properly defined areas for green vs non-green, it's really pleasing and relaxing to the eye.
Posted by: MacLeod House | August 18, 2011 at 01:50 PM
This looks so much neater and nicer!
Yeah, your feet and ankles will thank you if you put in a few stepping stones.
Posted by: devil | August 18, 2011 at 01:58 PM
What a difference! Also, I've been debating as to whether or not I should get a hydrangea plant for a pot on the balcony. I think I just got my answer!
Posted by: homestilo | August 18, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Hej Benita! Your front yard looks wonderful with the gravel. I would like to do something similar, but I wonder what it's like in the winter with snow. Is it difficult to shovel snow and make a path to walk on?
Posted by: Anna K | August 18, 2011 at 02:40 PM
I'm not sure about this gravel yet but the sharper edged type I had at the old house was ok to shovel over. Some of the gravel shifted a little bit over winter but come spring I just evened it out by raking.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | August 18, 2011 at 02:44 PM
mission impossible walking in heels there, but the color is great. i like the flowers on the first photo , what the name of it?
Posted by: maj | August 18, 2011 at 03:07 PM
They are anemones.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | August 18, 2011 at 03:14 PM
what if you rented one of those large roller tools that flattens the ground? it's typically used to prep for laying pavers when you need the ground to be good and flat. depending on the size of the cylinder, it could flatten them pretty good & you may not need pavers. just a thought!
Posted by: DeNacho | August 18, 2011 at 03:54 PM
gorgeous, i love it. i'm going to try to persuade the owners that they really need to let me do this! x
Posted by: elisa | August 18, 2011 at 04:07 PM
Fun to see that your anemones are at the same stage as mine in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I love them, BUT they would like to take over the entire flower bed! I wish I had had a way of containing (restraining?) them before I planted. Something to think about - before it's too late . . . .
Posted by: Karen O | August 18, 2011 at 04:36 PM
Oh, that is so lovely! I love all of the neutrals that you have used. It allows for everything else to be more noticeable and featured. I love the gravel and note that nobody will be sneaking up to your front door! Your front yeard has become a beautiful composition with your improvements. Thank you for posting and sharing.
Posted by: Peggy | August 18, 2011 at 06:52 PM
I don't think they would stay put because they are so soft and round :)
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | August 18, 2011 at 07:28 PM
I would love mine to spread out over the entire flower bed because they are beautiful all season long. Love the foliage as well as the blossoms.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | August 18, 2011 at 07:29 PM
I know, I love the sound of the gravel and I can instantly hear when someone is approaching :)
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | August 18, 2011 at 07:30 PM
What a great Transformation ! well done.
Posted by: Indira | August 18, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Love the clean look of the gravel. We did that same thing about 20 years ago on our patio- I think I had seen it described as a "french patio" somewhere. We ended up putting a few stepping stones here and there after a couple weeks. Yes, you could always hear anyone coming:). Anyway, love your blog!
Posted by: amanda | August 18, 2011 at 08:30 PM
Looks great! Love the grey colour!
Posted by: Rebecca @ beautiful square feet | August 18, 2011 at 08:51 PM
it's perfect, I love it. Especially the flowers and bikes in the first photo. So peaceful and tidy.
Posted by: blake @ salt teak & fog | August 18, 2011 at 09:05 PM
This looks wonderful! The grey is fantastic too!
Posted by: Shelly | August 18, 2011 at 09:24 PM
WOW what a difference! Så himla snyggt. Blir alldeles matt när jag läser din blogg och allt jobb du gör på huset. Här hemma går vi fram med myrsteg och det känns som om ingenting blir klart. Men så har vi ju en 4-åring här hemma, inte lika lätt att få tiden att räcka då :-) Bra jobbat!
Posted by: Anna | August 18, 2011 at 09:47 PM
Be careful with the round gravel. We added some sharper stones to mix in so we would not slip. I made stepping stones with pizza boxes and bender board, for an organic shape. Your yard is lovely. It looks very fresh and welcoming.
Posted by: Robin | August 19, 2011 at 02:06 AM
Sååå fint! Det blev ett mycket lugnare intryck när ni lade singeln istället för alla de där stenarna osv. Gud så duktiga ni är! Ni verkar få så mycket gjort!!
Kram Jenny
Posted by: Lilla huset på prärien | August 19, 2011 at 09:20 AM
Ah - then they will do well for you. Mine have to coexsist with other blooming plants and shrubs and they're not good at sharing space (but I didn't know that when I planted them.) Still, I love that they bloom in late summer and I love any flower as long as it's pink!
Posted by: Karen O | August 19, 2011 at 05:10 PM
Changed made are fantabulous. The grey color really looks smart.
Posted by: Property Search London | September 06, 2011 at 02:46 PM
Wow! I was thinking about slating over the front of our little house, as we had the same problem- uneven bricks, messy weeds etc. I posted on my blog about it and a lovely reader sent me the link to your blog, which has now convinced me to do it! It looks really nice, and so much neater than before.
Inspired!
Posted by: süsk | October 06, 2011 at 12:36 PM