Spectacular Chimney Springs Porch Delivers Serenity!

Spectacular Serenity and Zen in the Backyard!

If you have to stay at home, why not make your back porch an oasis?

The global pandemic due to COVID-19 has forced most people to remain at home, and that means many people are taking this opportunity to start home beautifying projects, especially outdoors. It’s obvious people are making changes because home improvement sales have risen steadily during the past few months!

This particular East Cobb Chimney Springs homeowner is an Atlanta Curb Appeal returning customer. She was pleased with the home addition and kitchen renovation ACA did for her in the past, and so when the time came, she knew exactly whom to call.

For her latest project, she wanted ACA to create a tranquil new space using her back porch. At the time, she had a simple open porch with flagstone tile and no roof. ACA’s solution was to build onto the existing footprint to create a beautiful enclosure.

A new screened-in porch was a perfect option for a cost-effective way to add entertaining and relaxation space to this home. It is an additional place to host groups of people or a quiet place to just enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the mornings. The screens and roof protect the porch from falling leaves, pollen, and mosquitos. The project added additional space without the expense of insulation and a heating and cooling system.

The new exposed beams and wood ceiling give the space a modern pagoda Zen look. It features a skylight/cupola in the roof that lets in daylight and the up-lighting gives the space a great feel at night. The openness allows you to fully experience the fresh outdoor air while having some shelter. Nature has never felt closer, while keeping the bugs and heat away.

The homeowner was thrilled with the results! Her new back porch is her new serenity destination with its merging of hard and soft features. It’s like traveling to an outdoor retreat, but just steps from her kitchen.

If you think a backyard upgrade is in your near future, ACA can help you get started! Or if you are working at home, you might be itching for an upgrade to expand your workspace; a beautiful back porch addition like this one would be a great place to start. Plus, even when you go back to the office, it will still be great for entertaining and relaxing for years to come.

 

Be Blown Away by this Amazing Deck Transformation!

A client recently found us on a Facebook group of East Cobb moms. They were looking for a new addition to their home that would open up their entertainment space. The results are simply fantastic, and we have lots of photos to share! Originally, the exterior was just a painted open deck with plain wooden railings and a backyard that was not very functional for the family.

Atlanta Curb Appeal, of course, was able to take it to whole new level!

What made this new screened porch addition interesting is the grand entrance to it. Instead of typical sliding doors, adding a folding glass door wall made it feel like one great big room. They now have twelve feet of open space when the doors are fully open. The porch stays cool with industrial strength ceiling fans for the summer and a new fireplace to warm everyone up in the winter.

The fireplace is a custom gas log unit with a faux stone exterior. The amazing cedar mantelpiece works to blend in but also stand out from the overall design. The walls of the screened porch are a different shade and are also made from a beautiful cedar. Two coats of a gorgeous Sherwin Williams stain will keep it fresh for years to come. Extra electrical outlets were added to compensate for the television in the corner. It is now a fantastic space to enjoy a meal or play games as a family.

The client already enjoyed outdoor living and cooking, but a new, functional outdoor kitchen made it so much more accessible! Talk about convenience! No more trips from the grill in the middle of cooking. This modern outdoor kitchen includes a built-in stainless steel grill and a Big Green Egg stand. To keep the meat and drinks cold, a small refrigerator was installed under the wet bar. Now it’s time to party!

Moving from the wooden deck are a set of steps to the new backyard! The client had significant draining issues and was not able to grow a lawn back there, so it had to be completely redone. Atlanta Curb Appeal had some substantial hardscaping to do. To start with, a bobcat was brought in to level everything. Leveling allowed for drainage improvement and a new retaining wall installation. These two items redirected the path of the previously pooling water. French drains were also installed to pipe out the additional water flow and all the backyard downspouts. The most significant benefit to this new backyard is the increased safe space for the parents to watch the small children as they play and new fencing to keep the dog protected and contained.

The biggest surprise for the family was the timeframe that the project was completed in. They were pleasantly surprised that we were able to be flexible and make changes to the original schedule, yet still only finish one week longer than the original promised completion date.

Items Added to Schedule of Original Timeline 

-New cedar fence to enclose the backyard and make it safe and private

-Drainage problems sorted out and backyard graded

-Retaining wall built

-Additional concrete pad and wood burning fireplace.

-New 12×10 dry storage under the deck with an electrical charging station

-Cedar ceiling and wall inside of screened porch instead of beadboard and old yellow stucco

-Concrete walkway from the front yard to backyard

-Relocated the HVAC condensing units to create easily-hidden storage space for trash bins

The children love their new space and the family as a whole are thrilled that they can get the full benefit of their new dry backyard. The kids can play on the lawn or in their new sandbox or even ride toys on the concrete pad all while Mom and Dad sit on their beautiful porch to keep an eye on them.

Stunning Pergola Adds Character to Marietta Square Pool

The birds are chirping; the sun is rising, and in this Marietta Square neighborhood, breakfast is being served outside. A handsome pergola by the pool towers over the table as a family starts a new day. A few months ago, this structure was a simple idea on paper; today it’s a reality thanks to Atlanta Curb Appeal.

Homeowners sometimes ask, “Do pergolas have a purpose; are they purely ornamental or do they actually provide some shade?” The answer depends on how close and tight the top structure is. The closer the roof boards are, the more shade you will get. The board spacing is determined during the initial client meeting since pricing is a factor – the tighter the gap between boards, the more material is needed.

Commonly, people want to install a pergola in their backyard to add a decorative architectural element. The intent of this project was to complement the client’s swimming pool patio.

Wood selection is another important determinant for a pergola design. For this particular project, cedar was recommended. Cedar wood has exceptional qualities for outdoor projects. For example, it’s easy to work with, and although light in weight, it is strong and durable. Staining can be performed immediately, unlike pressure-treated pine, which requires a waiting period. It is resistant to pests, smells great, and has a long life. Cedar is also resistant to rotting and can handle a moist environment, which is important when you are next to the pool. It is more expensive than other wood types but worth every dime when thinking long term.

After the build, the client chose not to stain the wood. Cedar ages beautifully in its natural state. First, it slowly turns to a graceful gray. Some elect to seal at this point; however, if allowed to mature, the color evolves to its final magnificent dark brown.

Pergola designs are typically standard in structure, simple columns and a slatted roof. Atlanta Curb Appeal, however, enjoys adding artistic elements and has never received a design too challenging. This client’s project was unusual because of its proximity to the pool; the arched shape of the roof allowed for a single side of main supports due to the pool’s cement foundation.

When asked how the client responded to the finished project, Atlanta Curb Appeal shared: “They absolutely loved it and said we delivered exactly what they wanted.”

If you’ve been dreaming of the perfect pergola for your back yard, get a free consultation from Atlanta Curb Appeal today. Want to read another makeover story?

See our full gallery on our website.

Our Gorgeous Backyard Video Will Inspire Your Spring!

Our Gorgeous Backyard Video Will Inspire Your Spring!

Recently Atlanta Curb Appeal completed a breathtaking backyard makeover in East Cobb, GA (read the full post here). It was a massive undertaking: hot tub, deck, pergola, gates, fencing, retaining wall and stone steps. Watch the video to see the spectacular results!

 

These next few weeks are the perfect time to get a free estimate for a new deck. We have already had calls requesting quotes for outdoor expansions. Sometimes clients already have an idea of what they are looking for after doing searches for “decks” or “pergolas” on Houzz or Pinterest. We are able to guide them in the right direction to a deck or pergola that is not only functional but also beautiful.

Have you had thoughts about how your backyard might get transformed? Let’s review a few of the projects we have done this year to get you inspired!

New Pergola with Custom Cut Stone Wall

Pergola with New Deck East Cobb Ga

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Front Yard Makeover with Pergola

Stained Pergola Buckhead

 

 

This Buckhead front yard makeover we completed last year, yet it’s so pretty when we added the staining. We had to show it off again!

 

 

 

 

Deck Extension, Widened Stairs and Covered Porch

Partial Covered Deck Installation

 

 

With a covered deck you can still be outside without the sun in your face. They added a ceiling fan and the warm summer nights are now enjoyable in this expanded space.

 

 

Outdoor Kitchen Set Up with Custom Green Egg Station

 

In this particular home, the custom countertop and Green Egg cabinet was perfect for this outdoor chef.

 

 

 

We hope that these pictures have got you thinking of the amazing possibilities Atlanta Curb Appeal has to offer. Call us for a free quote or check out our online Gallery.

Atlanta Curb Appeal, 770-778-1172