Small Space Big Impact in Concord, MA

Back again at one of our favorite properties in Concord, to tackle the shady north side of the house.  This portion of the yard is a transition space from the driveway to the backyard and it has always struggled to grow grass.  Our plan was to use large slabs of Rockport granite as stepping stones to bring you through the newly installed cedar fence with hand split granite posts.  

We went out all out in this space and created custom stone bollard lighting using our favorite Fx Luminaire fixtures.  As always, we finished off our stone work with a complimentary planting using a mix of native shrubs and woodland perennials. This space will grow in to the point that mulching will really not be necessary.  We are extremely happy with the way this space turned out!

Sit back and relax in Dunstable, MA

We are back in Dunstable to show you phase two of this farmhouse renovation. The backyard has a nice private nook off the kitchen that was begging for a patio. We chose to create a picture framed mosaic for this space. This project was unique as we built this entire patio offsite as we specd in our plans, and we were able to install it in just a few days with no loud saws running!

Farmhouse Renovation in Dunstable, MA

We were called in to transform the front yard of this beautiful farmhouse in Dunstable, MA. Our goal was to create a grand entrance yet not to formal. Our clients have a love for gardening and we wanted to give them a space that would allow for multiple options to navigate throughout the front yard. For the main walkway we used large slabs of Mason granite. Our steps were cut from the same quarry blocks along with the custom hand cut cobblestones used on the secondary entrance. There is quite a bit of grade change as this yard tapers off down to the street. We created multiple sets of stairs to tier the front yard, creating level walking paths throughout. We came back in the spring to add perennial material and install a small patio in the backyard. We will share that with you in our next blog post. Overall, we love the way this space turned out!

New Construction Revamp in Concord, MA

On our most recent project we were hired to bring some new energy to this downtown Concord property. For the most part, we had ourselves a blank slate, as there were only a few foundation shrubs in the front to start with. To begin, we installed one of our signature large format, locally sourced, granite front entry ways. We carried this same stone to all of the egress points around the house giving a nice stone landing off the deck and again from the garage side entrance. Our client had some major water issues to be addressed, as their sump pump ran all hours of the day dumping hundreds of gallons of water into their front yard.

To solve this water issue, we created a rain garden which will capture all of the runoff from the sump pump as well as the majority of the front roofline. The rain garden is essentially a large dry well in the front yard that has the ability to hold water, should the water table and rainfall become overwhelming. We utilized a large 3’x10’ slab of granite to create a walking bridge over the garden which leads you into the backyard.

To complement the stonework and rain garden, we planted the full perimeter of the property along with the majority of the foundation. The theme of this yard is mass plantings. We planted a row of European hornbeams down the property line which will act as nice compact, yet tall privacy screen from the neighbors. The backyard was lined with little lime hydrangea which will flower and look beautiful from early summer right into the late fall. These trees and shrubs were complemented with a mix of native and non native perennials adding not only seasonal color but also varying textures throughout. We will be revisiting this property early in the fall to finish it off with a fresh new lawn, the most successful time of year to grow grass, and look forward to sharing more photos as things grow in and mature.

Backyard Oasis in Westford, MA

We love when great clients trust our vision for their new outdoor spaces, and this family was no exception.  They had seen our portfolio and recognized what makes us different from the typical landscape contractor, giving us free reign to design their new space. After some time in the design studio, we got to work creating a new fire pit and lounging patio area for their enjoyment. 

The patio required digging into the hillside, giving a “sunken” feel to the patio with raised plantings on one side. This created a more intimate space once finished. We utilized cushioned edge granite planks to give a new yet “antiquated” look to the area. We also incorporated one of our most unique fire pits to date! A single piece of granite, carved out to accommodate a smokeless fire pit insert with four air intakes along the bottom. This fire pit weighs in at over 2 tons!  We surrounded the area with a lush garden design that will fill in beautifully over the next couple of years. 

A great new space for wonderful clients, that’s what we do! Maybe your new outdoor space is next?

FINAL PHOTOS

BEFORE PHOTOS

FIRE PIT CONSTRUCTION

Backyard Waterfall In Groton, MA

We were called back to our Groton hillside project to continue on with phase two of plantings. Again our clients gave us an open canvas and creative freedom to make something unique of the space. Our clients children love to climb and jump from rock to rock throughout the hillside. Our first thoughts were to create a dry river bed as an informal path for the kids to get to the top of the hill.

After further discussion, we decided this really was the perfect spot for a pondless waterfall. We sourced a great selection of large moss rock to make the water feature appear as natural as possible. There were two main goals with this waterfall, make it safe for kids to climb, and strong enough to withstand the abuse of kids playing in it. Both were accomplished. We surrounded the waterfall with a mix of native plants and a few more showy ornamentals to make it really pop. We continued the landscape lighting from the patio area adding up-lighting on the birch tree and spruce along with fully controllable lighting in the waterfall itself. Overall we couldn’t be happier with the end result as this is quite possibly one of the most peaceful patio settings we have installed to date.

Chelmsford, MA Woodland Backyard

Where do we start with this project….. We were called in to completely renovate this funky Chelmsford backyard. This was no small task as woodlands reclamation is not easy. We jokingly named this project the ‘can of worms’ as every scoop we took with the excavator bucket unveiled a hidden treasure. So once we finished digging for treasures, we were finally able to put our Roots & Rocks spin on this backyard. The goal was to create a multi-tiered patio space that would allow for a formal dining area and a less formal fire pit area for the kids to hang out with friends. For the formal patio space we used a mix of granite planks in varying widths of 18” and 24”. From here we blended to a less formal irregular granite paver transition between spaces. In the lower patio area we carried the same granite, in the form of cut top boulder benches. Rounding this project out, we planted a mix of native and woodland plants and left the clients with a nice flat lawn space that would perfectly fit their winter hockey rink.

We are extremely happy with how this project turned out and can’t wait to get back there this summer to see all of the plants growing in.

2 MONTH LATER

Hillside Fire pit retreat in Groton, MA

This was a fun project for us. Our clients gave us the creative freedom to tear into their hillside and create one of our signature ‘Roots & Rocks spaces’. On this project we used our locally sourced Ashby granite as large format irregular flagging, with live edge boulder steps, cut top sitting boulders, and large weathered boulders as our retainers. We introduced a number of native plants to the hillside along with some showy perennials to dress things up with seasonal color. To finish this one off, we core drilled custom lighting in the stone accents to provide a subtle ‘isle lighting’ glow on the patio surround without washing out the main light source, the fire pit. Our firepit was built using reclaimed granite and our clients will be finishing it off with a custom fabricated wrought iron screen to keep the ash under control. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this patio, and our clients are excited to put it use!

The Opus pt. 2

Where do we begin?... We were blessed with a call by former clients to return to one of our favorite properties to create another ‘Roots & Rocks’ signature space in their backyard. This opportunity was way more than just another patio space to us… It was a call to finish creating the forever home for an amazing family delt some very difficult cards. While we won’t get into details, we were brought in to design a relaxing zen garden where they could gather and spend precious time creating lasting memories. We are happy to say, that we were able to make this happen in the narrow timeline allotted.

While we could write a novel on the details that went into this project, a click over to our before and after video will walk you through our process and design intentions. We hope you enjoy watching this one as much as we enjoyed creating it!

Caterpillar walkway in Concord, MA

We were back in Concord, MA last week to install one of our signature ‘caterpillar’ walkways. This home went under a major renovation last year and we installed a custom granite staircase into the new breezeway. We came back to finish the entry with a our large format Ashby stone. Our customer was extremely happy with this free flowing walkway which pairs perfectly with their beautiful farm house.

Farmhouse Landscape Renovation in Lincoln, MA

Happy to revisit our Lincoln, MA project almost a year after completion and see how things are growing in. We took what was a simple failing ‘contractor’ landscape and elevated the property with our signature large format granite paving and live edge boulder stairs. This project incorporated locally sourced materials to create a timeless look on this beautiful secluded property. Watch our youtube video below to see the transformation.

2021 The Year of the Yard!

Great article written by Forbes Magazine stating 2021 will be the “Year of the Yard”

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While every year we focus on outdoor living, during the pandemic it has become even more evident how important it is to get outside. Here at Roots & Rocks, we strive to bring nature to your backyard. There are endless options for hardscape materials, while some like concrete, we prefer to work with locally sourced stone to bring a timeless look to your property. Whether your looking to create an intimate fire pit area or fully redesign your property, let’s work together to create a space your family can enjoy for years to come!

We are currently booking project for mid summer 2021

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Granite Plank Patio In Acton MA

Our latest client loved our portfolio and asked us to create something unique to replace their rotten deck. We took some design cues from the architecture of the house, extensive hardwoods throughout and long linear windows, and decided to utilize large granite planks to accentuate these cues. After researching many materials our clients realized our granite was superior to all the paver options proposed by others. They chose to use our tan granite due to unique swirls and movement in the grain of the stone. We are super excited to show this one off, as it came out awesome!

Natural Stone Makeover in Acton MA

Where do we begin with this project….. This property was due for a complete makeover. Our clients gave us a fairly open pallet on this project. We shared some photos of past natural stone work and they loved it. Typically we are the last contractors on the job and get the joy of polishing off the project for the homeowners. This was no different as they had recently finished renovating the interior and painting the exterior of the house. Before we began, we suggested removing a few trees as it was a heavily wooded lot filled with white pines. We were tackling three major areas of the property, the front entrance, rear entrance, and the secret garden patio.

On this project we sourced local stone from Barre, MA which has a unique grain and blue hue similar to “imported” blue mist granite. All of our patio material was live edge cut boulders at 2” for the paving surface and 7” for the treads. We started in the back corner of the property creating the secret garden and fire pit area. This patio area was hidden by a mature row of PJM rhododendron which gave ample privacy from the road. We utilized reclaimed granite curbing for the fire pit.

The next phase of this project was the rear entrance. This area proved to be difficult as we had a few challenges in place. Directly off the deck stairs was the cap for the septic tank. To keep access fairly easy, we cut one of the flagstone pavers to be removed when the tank needs service. We then moved to the front yard where we would need to do some serious boulder and drainage work to accommodate the grade of the front lawn.

Instead of a stark stair-set to the front walkway, we chose to break the entrance down into two landing areas. These provided a nice break in the grade and also a smooth transition spot as the walkway curled towards the house. For the front walkway we installed a “caterpillar’ style walkway where the stones remained live on the outside edges and have perfectly matched cut seems from stone to stone. This creates a smooth walking surface that is easy to clear in the winter.

To finish off the project, we installed a full foundation planting as well as complementary plantings throughout the yard. A full irrigation system and lawn were also installed. Our clients couldn’t be happier and they seem to be making great family memories making s’mores by the fire!

Before & Afters

Final Shots

Newton Memorial Garden

Our clients lost their beloved pet and wanted to create a memorial garden and sitting area to reflect on all of the great memories the’ve had together. Days before we were about to start this project, the state went into quarantine and we were not able to work due to Covid-19. Fortunately for us, we were able to create this garden offsite at our shop and pre fabricate all of the elements. We went into Newton to install this garden the first day we were allowed back to work. Our clients could not be happier with the results.




What does it take to create one of the best hardscapes in North America?

After the dust has settled, we’ve had a chance to sit down and look at the thousands of photos we took while creating our newest award-winning outdoor living space. While we typically only put our finished projects on display, there was so much detail into this one, we felt the need to show it off.

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Hardscape North America 2019

We are extremely proud to announce the newest, and by far the biggest, addition to our growing trophy case! We took home top honors in the Residential category at Hardscape North America 2019!!! .

This is our industry’s biggest trade show, and the award was judged by many leaders in our field based on the criteria of: Design, Quality, Compatibility, Construction, and Overall Excellence. .

This was an amazing project for wonderful clients that was a large chunk of last years’ build season and it feels great to be recognized for all the hard work! We already have some really cool projects lining up for next season and you better believe we will be going for the repeat in 2020!!!

https://www.hardscapena.com/press/new-releases/195-2019-hardscape-north-america-awards-recognize-outstanding-residential-and-commercial-projects

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