Author: Edwyn Kumar

The Blue Bell Project: From a Muddy Slope to a Flat Backyard Oasis

Posted on by Edwyn Kumar

Every great landscape transformation has a story, and the Blue Bell project is one we won’t forget anytime soon at Coastal Design Landscaping.

When you look at a beautifully finished backyard, it’s easy to forget what it took to get there. The Blue Bell project was one of our most rewarding builds, but it certainly didn’t start out easy. From battling city permits to dealing with extreme weather, this project tested our crew—and ultimately showcased exactly what we do best.

The Initial Challenges: Trusting the Process

The Blue Bell site was challenging right out of the gate. Before we could even break ground, we spent a significant amount of time navigating city regulations and permits just to get the fencing approved.

Once we finally got the green light, the excavation phase began—and it was wild. Due to the time of year, the weather was not on our side. The site quickly turned into a massive pile of mud. It’s always a vulnerable moment for homeowners when their yard is completely torn up. I distinctly remember our client, Fiorella, looking at the yard in shock, saying, “What a mess you made!”

It’s completely natural to feel intimidated when your property looks like a construction zone, but as we always tell our clients: it has to get messy before it gets beautiful.

A Complete Topographical Transformation

The main goal of the Blue Bell project was to maximize usable space. To do this, we had to execute some major topographical changes. The original yard was entirely sloped, which made it difficult for the homeowners to truly enjoy their outdoor space.

Our first major task was addressing an existing pool (or pond) area. We completely filled it in and covered it, which served as the foundation for a massive change. Through extensive grading and excavation, we leveled off the entire sloped yard, creating a brand-new, perfectly flat lawn. Suddenly, a yard that was once difficult to navigate became a spacious, functional, and inviting green space.

The Finishing Touches: Gardens and Fire Pits

Once the hard work of leveling the yard was complete, the true vision came to life. We surrounded the new flat lawn with beautiful, lush gardens that softened the edges of the property and brought vibrant life to the space.

The crowning jewel of the Blue Bell project, however, is the custom fire pit area. Our designer, Doran, conceptualized a stunning little round patio specifically for a fire pit. It creates the perfect intimate gathering space for the family to enjoy crisp evenings outdoors.

The Final Result

In the end, Fiorella’s initial shock at the muddy excavation site turned into absolute thrill over her new backyard oasis. The Blue Bell project was a tough one in the beginning, but overcoming those hurdles made the final reveal that much sweeter. It turned out beautifully, and it goes down in the Coastal Design Landscaping books as a truly great project.

Are you ready to transform your challenging yard into a beautiful, functional outdoor living space? Even if your yard is sloped or features an old pool you no longer want, we can help. Contact Coastal Design Landscaping today to schedule your consultation!

Five Landscaping Disasters That Can Cost You A Resell

Posted on by Edwyn Kumar

In the Lower Mainland and Greater Vancouver area real estate is often one of our most valuable assets. Specifically in the Tri-Cities, consisting of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody, we have pristine natural beauty. The water, mountains and forests that surround the Tri-Cities is breathtaking and a major reason why people move here.

While many of us spend decades in a single family home, the average number of years people stay in one home is about eight. Economic and interest rate issues aside, the housing market is normally competitive where we live. That means resale value can make a difference in the scale of 100’s of thousands of dollars.

 

The market value of the majority of homes in the Tri-Cities is always on the rise, and a house with curb appeal, move-in ready qualities can change your resale value by an amount much greater than the comparative homes within a neighborhood.

Here are Five Landscaping Disasters that can cost you when you go to resell your home. 

  1. No Landscaping

If there hasn’t been any home improvement, and your house has the same original landscape design as when you moved in, then potential buyers are only looking at square footage and not how the home’s outdoor space makes them feel. A house that lacks any landscape updates may also lack the curb appeal it could have had. Original developer plans tend to have the bare minimum approach: grass, a simple pathway, and a few trees or shrubs. 

Taking the time to landscape your yard and outdoor space will not only allow you to enjoy your home while you live there, but also increase the value of your resale by tens of thousands of dollars.

 

  1. Shoddy Work

Let’s assume there is some landscaping, but it was done in a rushed manner with substandard workmanship. Retaining walls that sag, paving stones that are unbalanced, or poor quality material that breaks down and needs replacement before its time. Bad landscaping can be almost as terrible, if not worse, as no landscaping. This can cost a lot in expenses over the years in repairs, warranty and maintenance problems.

This is why it is important that quality leads the way, installed by landscape and hardscape professionals who guarantee their work due to a deeply seated passion and pride in craftsmanship.  

 

  1. Permit Issues

A lot of landscape features can be done without permits. However many types of work require proper permits from the local city. If permits weren’t pulled and confirmed during a landscaping project, it can become a major issue when home inspection and resell comes into the picture. Having to re-assess, or tear down and remove landscape and hardscape features before a sale will hurt the bottom line and potentially scare away future buyers,
Ensure that whomever does your work has the right permits, understands the city code requirements and certifies their work. The peace of mind a new buyer has knowing that the landscaping on their new home is done right is priceless.

 

  1. Poor Drainage

We live in a very wet part of the world, and water will pool and create a lot of issues if drainage wasn’t factored into the equation during a landscaping project. Drainage issues can leave a patio looking like a swimming pool, wreck flower beds and destroy what was meant to be a serene and welcoming outdoor space.

Drainage is vital to a properly executed landscape project and can not be overlooked! There are a lot of technical aspects to how proper drainage not only protects the landscape project, but also ensures year round use of the home’s outdoor space.

 

  1. Poor Design

Last but not least, is the overall design and the details of the work. A lot of trends will come and go, and a poor design can result in not only poor functional space, but also impact future buyers if it looks dated or lacks harmony. We have all seen the Frankenstein mish-mash that can occur with design, such as mixing features that don’t work well together.
Having an eye for how hardscape features work with the natural surroundings, and how the choice of patterns, types of stone, colors and the plants and flowers that accent the whole project is an art based on experience and proven past work. Taking the extra time to ensure the design elements are timeless and really enhances the overall look and feel of the home can be the thing that turns a potential buyer into an actual one.

 

Landscaping is an investment that not only gives back to you with a greater enjoyment of your home while you live there, but can make the difference on how well your total real estate investment pays off in the end.

To learn more about what we do, and for a quote on your landscaping project, contact us at CoastalDesign.ca or directly at


Coastal Design Landscaping

Tel: 778.895.1411

Email: info@coastaldesign.ca

Harmony in Design

Posted on by Edwyn Kumar

One of the most challenging and rewarding parts of landscaping and hardscaping is creating harmony. Homes are a juxtaposition of nature and building. The house itself has a fixed look, and the yard likely has the basic design from the original build or a previous owner’s work. 


So how does the natural yard synergize with the home itself? A well thought out design is the ideal way to start. Having an idea of the style, vision and final look will start to define what needs to stay, what needs to go, and what features can be added.  


There are a lot of options here, and this is where the experienced eye can make a big difference.

Knowing what doesn’t need to be there is just as important, if not more so, than what goes in. Does natural stone work with an existing fence that has an industrial look? What about a modern house with a driveway that looks rustic? Does the design complement or contrast? Both can work, and it doesn’t have to be just one or the other. What it DOES need is harmony! 

The overall features, retaining walls, pavers, and stone should all work in some thematic way to ensure a pleasing and welcoming final landscape project. 

Escape at Home

Posted on by Edwyn Kumar
Landscaping services in Coquitlam - back patio landscaping

Traveling is a joy that is irreplaceable.

Do you ever have that moment where you are sitting at a resort or spa and feel the world just wash away into a calm feeling that ‘all is right with the world?’

When we return home, we can often feel a sense of longing and loss for that serene moment. One of our passions at Coastal Design Landscaping is to create outdoor environments that allow you to escape at home.
Whether it’s enjoying a glass of wine beside your fire pit as you lose yourself in the flames, or an enclosed patio surrounded with flowers and shrubs to drop into a favourite book, or a social gathering where you invite friends and family to join in the special moments of life – we care about all those things.

At Coastal Design, landscaping is more than just installation and form. It’s about the outdoors giving you a sense of belonging and connection to nature and those around you.

#coastaldesignlandscaping #outdoorliving #patiodesign #landscaping #hardscaping #lifestyle #luxuryhome 
#homesweethome

Abbey Lane Private Patio

Posted on by Edwyn Kumar

The first stage was demo’ with removing existing concrete and timber walls. The new design had no need for previous work or features, and we removed all of the old landscaping to start from scratch.

We used landscape design drawings and installed the retaining walls. Then we hit a trouble spot, and I love when this happens!!

We realized from the drawings that one of the corners was too close to the house so we curved the retaining wall to open up the space. The clients loved it! While this added complexity to the job, it didn’t add any cost and the creative solution ended up with better flow into and through the yard.

The visual aesthetic became a unique and great surprise from the initial ideas. Sometimes encountering an obstacle can lead to an outcome and result that is better than we imagine.

We used 12×24 “NEW STONE” slabs with a charcoal double sailor border. This required a lot of custom cutting to make the slabs line up perfectly, and our team was up for the task. The end result was tight and ended up with no gaps or flares in the fit and finish.

The wooden screen for privacy was a client “must” and the final result really made for a courtyard that allows for family and friends to gather in an intimate space.

We added lighting to the project, which was a part of the original quote. The clients really liked the effect, so we added another layer of lighting to expand and create a sense of depth to their yard, which looks amazing from inside the house looking out. Their treeline at the edge of the green belt changed from being a dark distant idea, bringing the elements of nature to a picturesque display.

The final touch was helping the clients to bring together the fire table, allowing all season use of their new private courtyard.

– Ajool Adi, Owner Coastal Design Landscaping

The Bamboo Jungle

Posted on by Edwyn Kumar

We dug in with a big excavator and had to delve two and a half feet deep (a total of twelve dump trucks!) to remove all the bamboo roots!!

The topsoil was nearly 200 cubic yards to refill and bring it back up to grade. We also removed the original stone retaining wall, which in its previous form choked the front entrance to the house. 

Our design was to create a brighter space and open up the front door area. This has the added benefit of more security as well as increased curb appeal. 

A new retaining to frame a front porch and patio with new stairs to the side yard were installed. The entire driveway was done in blacktop leading to the patio itself which was made of Indian Summer Pavers in a pin-wheel pattern.

This somewhat modest design had new turf, irrigation, plants and lighting as well. Sometimes certain designs don’t need to be overly complex, and these clients really valued an open and clean style. 

– Ajool Adi, Owner Coastal Design Landscaping

Keets

Posted on by Edwyn Kumar

We came in and blasted through the entire front yard and driveway on this project. The entire original space had to be excavated completely: all the vegetation, lawn, retaining walls, sidewalks & stairs had to go. 

Then we called in a drainage and plumbing company to redo the perimeter drain, as well as replace the water main to allow for new lines and prevent any future issues as the new features were installed by our team. This preliminary work is important on extensive projects like this.

The retaining walls were a combination of different size blocks, which makes for a tricky installation but really adds a lot of beauty and character to the final aesthetic.

The clients wanted to use natural elements into the design. We used five and six foot long basalt stone stair treads to lead through the yard, connecting to paving stone pathways from the front door to the street. This combination of really refined paving stones and the natural stone softens the hard lines which adds for a strong presence and positive final impact. 

The curved front door landing and pathways added a lot of customized cutting but created a cool, natural flow. The garden was bordered in by retaining walls, which is a lovely way to add elevation. The original slope of the lawn was transformed into a multi-layered approach with four different tiers.

Planting was a fun experience. We met the clients at the nursery. We pulled out plants, laid out demo gardens and really enjoyed the whole experience. The nursery can be an overwhelming place for clients, so our zest and laughter while ensuring the right selection of sun worthy and shade healthy plants were all going to fit the final vision. The plants were delivered to the site after the clients made the final approval, and we planted the entire garden with much welcomed ice cream breaks throughout the day!

The only issue or clients have now is the high traffic of neighbours stopping and admiring their new front space!!

– Ajool Adi, Owner Coastal Design Landscaping