Backyard Makeover- Part Dos

We are back with our backyard makeover- part dos!  We have actually started on part tres (I have no idea why I have named these posts with spanish numbers, but I figured that I should continue with it?), but are finally getting around to sharing the hot tub relocation/patio/wall part of our makeover.
If you remember from makeover- part uno, we tore out the existing wood deck to get an idea of what we were working with in the backyard.  Once part uno was complete we confirmed that we were going to need a series of steps out of the existing sliding doors as well as some sort of patio.  The change in elevation was about 5 feet from the sliding glass doors to our rear property line so our idea of an elevated patio "held up" by a wall was, in fact, a necessity.
We also decided that moving the hot tub would open up the available patio space and allow us to get a view up through the trees to the sky/stars above (cue the romantic music!).
So, that is where part dos began!  We hired a few of Nate's men to begin on the stone steps outside of the sliding glass doors (by the way, Nate is a project manager at a high end design build landscape firm, so when I say "Nate's men" I am not talking about some weird fetish that my husband has...just to make that clear.) While they tackled the steps, Nate and I tackled prepping the new location for the hot tub.

PREPPING THE NEW SPA LOCATION

 Nate tamped the area where the new spa would be located in order to get a firm and solid base for the hot tub to sit on.  We used stone dust as the "foundation" and then used flagstone salvaged from our existing backyard as the base for the hot tub to sit on.

SETTING THE FLAGSTONE BASE

NEW HOT TUB LOCATION ON LEFT, OLD LOCATION ON RIGHT

It took a few guys and some ingenuity to move the hot tub from the old location to the new location but it actually went rather smoothly!

MOVING THE TUB

THE HOT TUB IN ITS NEW HOME!

The hot tub move got checked off of the list as one part of Part Dos.  Another project on the list was to build the steps coming out of the existing sliding glass doors leading from our den.  We opted to use Pennsylvania flat stacked stone just as we did for the front yard makeover as well as the fireplace in our den.
We wanted to do a nice landing as you stepped out of the doors and then have nice wide steps leading to the future patio (another item on the Part Dos list).  Let the work begin!  This process will be best explained through photos.  These masons are masters of the art and a written description would never do their art justice.

 

Two more items on the list were to use stone to make the hot tub feel "built in" as well as build the stone wall that would help "hold up" the patio due to the 5' change in elevation.

Nate and I were busy digging the trench for the foundation of the wall while the masons continued work on the hot tub stone as well as the steps.  Sadly, there were few photographs taken during this phase.  And the next few phases of building the wall, leveling the patio area with stone dust, tamping, and laying the pavers were also not caught on camera.  Shame on us!
BUT, we do have a few shots of the completed work.  The pavers that we used are Hanover pavers in a random pattern.  The color is tan/charcoal.

BEING RAISED WITH TOPSOIL AND PREPPED FOR SOD.

We also added some red/orange cushions that we found at Lowes and an outdoor rug from World Market.  The Hammock was also hung between two trees just off of the patio.

VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE STEPS LEADING FROM DEN.

Nate also stained the outside of the hot tub with Ebony stain to help it blend in a little more.  We couldn't do stone the entire way around the hot tub because we needed to be able to access the electrical panels and pumps inside.

HOT TUB STAINED DARK

We also added stepping stone pathways (that was a pain in the arse which is why there are no photos taken during the process) that lead from the front yard to the patio as well as the shed.

 And the masons also added boulder steppers that lead to the fire pit area (more on that later!)

Nate and I also did A LOT of planting but details on that will need to wait until a further post!

I hope to share more detailed photographs of what the backyard as a whole is looking like, but this rain isn't allowing many photograph opportunities!  We are also working hard on Part Tres and will hopefully be finishing that up in the next couple of weeks!  I will share when that is complete.
So, as we end every post...the befores and afters!

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

Better pics to share later...as soon as Mother Nature cooperates!!