The anticipation for our Florida house reveal is reaching fever pitch, and we’re just as excited as you are! To properly showcase the incredible exterior progress of our new Sunshine State home, we’re delaying that massive update until we can be there in person. This will allow us to capture a wealth of stunning, detailed photos that will truly bring the transformation to life and make that post an exceptionally thrilling read. So, mark your calendars: next week, the Florida exterior reveal is officially coming your way! Yes, by this time next week, we’ll be fully settled in and ready to share every exciting detail.
But don’t fast forward just yet, because the journey we’re unveiling today is anything but a consolation prize. In fact, it might just be the most dramatic exterior metamorphosis we’ve ever undertaken. This post chronicles the profound evolution of our Richmond house’s outdoor spaces, a story as captivating and transformative as the interior before-and-afters we showcased a few weeks ago. Prepare yourselves, because this isn’t merely an update; it’s a testament to vision, hard work, and the sheer power of transformation. We believe our Richmond house’s exterior journey could easily be categorized under “The Most Extensive Update We’ve Ever Accomplished. Period.” Let’s delve right into this incredible story.
It’s funny how memory works. We honestly forgot that we had meticulously documented the very first state of this house’s exterior with a comprehensive “before” video tour. It was only after a wave of enthusiastic requests from many of you, eager for a final exterior video tour mirroring the dramatic inside reveal, that we embarked on an archaeological dig through our archives. Lo and behold, we unearthed the original exterior tour, a true blast from the past dating all the way back to 2013! While we knew, intellectually, that we had invested years of effort into transforming the outside, neither of us was truly prepared for the emotional impact of seeing just how far we’ve come. The stark contrast was genuinely breathtaking, serving as a powerful reminder of our initial vision and the incredible dedication that turned it into reality.
Witnessing that initial state made us realize the true joy in sharing an “after” video of the outside with all of you. But here’s a pro tip: to maximize your enjoyment and fully appreciate the monumental changes, we highly recommend immersing yourself in the “before” tour first. Seriously, with the initial state fresh in your memory, the subsequent “after” video becomes an immeasurably more satisfying and inspiring viewing experience. It allows you to track every improvement, every thoughtful detail, and truly grasp the scope of this ambitious transformation. So, please take a moment to enjoy the “before” tour below, and then prepare to be amazed by the “after.”
Note: For alternative viewing, you can also access this “before” video directly on YouTube.
Now that the challenging initial state of the property is vivid in your mind, prepare to be transported to the transformed reality. Here is the highly anticipated “after” tour, freshly filmed just about a week ago. You might notice the absence of our signature exterior planters and beloved outdoor furniture – a minor detail explained by the fact that they had already been carefully packed up and dispatched to Florida in our POD, awaiting our arrival. Despite these temporary omissions, the video still captures the breathtaking scope of our exterior renovations, showcasing years of dedicated effort culminating in a stunning and functional outdoor oasis. Get ready to see the Richmond house exterior in its final, glorious form.
Note: If you prefer, this “after” video is also available for viewing on YouTube.
For those eager to dive deeper into the specifics of any particular project or change that caught your eye, we’ve meticulously compiled and linked a wealth of our older posts at the very bottom of this article. This resource offers detailed insights into the “how-to” and “why” behind each transformation. But before you scroll down to explore those archives, we wanted to ensure everyone gets a visual treat, even those unable to watch the videos at this exact moment. Therefore, we’ve included a selection of compelling before-and-after photos, offering static snapshots of this incredible journey.
From Overgrown to Outdoor Oasis: Our Backyard’s Grand Transformation
You’ve already witnessed the remarkable evolution of the front exterior through the images above, so now let’s shift our focus to the backyard. This expansive space presented an entirely different set of challenges and opportunities when we first acquired the property. Below is a raw glimpse of what it looked like on day one – a canvas ripe for a complete overhaul, brimming with untapped potential.
The backyard’s journey began with some urgent and critical interventions. Safety and insurance concerns necessitated the immediate removal of several trees, a decision underscored by an inspector’s memorable description of one particular tree “tickling our house’s foundation” as it grew directly through the deck. The discovery of completely hollow interiors in some of these towering giants further confirmed the wisdom of their removal, immediately opening up the space and mitigating potential hazards. Over the years, our vision for the backyard materialized through a series of significant transformations. This included the inspired decision to convert the enclosed, often unused sunroom into a bright and inviting open porch, dramatically enhancing our outdoor living experience. We also tackled the unsightly and deteriorating original deck, removing it to make way for more functional and aesthetically pleasing alternatives. More recently, we channeled our DIY spirit into constructing the charming vine trellis, which has flourished remarkably since these photos were taken – already reaching impressive heights in several sections! Sherry is planning to share an update on its current magnificent growth via an Instagram story later today, so definitely keep an eye on our feed for that captivating visual progress.
The backyard itself, beyond its immediate structures, has undergone an extensive and profound evolution. It has taken us the better part of these last several years, through dedicated effort and careful planning, to cultivate it into the lush, functional, and picturesque space we had always envisioned. Every blade of grass, every carefully placed shrub, and every hardscaping element represents a step closer to realizing that long-held dream.
Well, almost exactly as pictured, save for one planned upgrade we simply didn’t get around to before our move. We had always harbored intentions of elevating the existing pea gravel patio to a more permanent and refined stone surface. This particular project remained on our long-term to-do list, a testament to the continuous evolution that home design often entails. Nevertheless, the pea gravel served its purpose admirably, providing a charming and functional outdoor entertaining area for many years, even if it wasn’t our ultimate vision.
Our comprehensive backyard transformation spanned a multitude of projects, each contributing to the cohesive and vibrant space you see today. We meticulously addressed everything from having the yard properly graded to ensure optimal drainage and a level foundation for healthy growth, to the ambitious task of installing our very own irrigation system. This DIY endeavor was crucial in nurturing the lush, green grass we always desired. Furthermore, recognizing the power of ambient light, we took on the challenge of adding landscape lighting ourselves – a personal favorite of mine, as I’m a true enthusiast of well-designed illumination. The subtle glow not only extends the usability of our outdoor areas into the evening but also highlights the architectural features and plantings beautifully. In 2017, we brought in professional landscapers to add strategic plantings and design elements around the perimeter, harmonizing with our existing efforts. And, of course, no mention of the backyard would be complete without celebrating the addition of my beloved shed – a functional and charming structure that quickly became indispensable.
It’s truly incredible to reflect upon these initial photos and contrast them with the current state of our backyard. We vividly remember the raw potential we saw in this property, even amidst the overgrown foliage and dated features. That initial spark of imagination fueled every decision, every hour of labor, and every dollar invested into bringing our vision to life. The journey has been long, but the reward is undeniable.
It is only through the striking, undeniable contrast between these ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos and videos that we truly grasp the extent of what we’ve accomplished. This side-by-side comparison made us realize that we didn’t just renovate; we painstakingly sculpted this space until it perfectly mirrored the vision we held for it. And while we are immensely proud of this profound exterior transformation, there’s also an undeniable sense of relief as we embark on our next chapter. The prospect of no longer having to pour continuous time, energy, and financial resources into maintaining nearly an acre of grass is surprisingly liberating. Our move to Florida means transitioning to a much more manageable 0.10-acre plot – a dramatic shift that excites us. We anticipate that our smaller yard in Florida will not only be faster but also easier to transform, allowing us to apply all the invaluable lessons learned from our previous projects. We gained significant experience, and truly fell in love with the concept of a compact, yet perfectly curated outdoor space, during our time at the beach house. That successful experience with a smaller, highly functional backyard has undoubtedly shaped our approach to the new Florida property.
Dive Deeper: Project-Specific Resources for Your Own Transformations
For those of you inspired by our journey and keen to explore the intricate details of specific projects or changes, we’ve thoughtfully curated a list of posts below. These articles provide in-depth information, practical advice, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into how we tackled each renovation. Additionally, you can always explore our general “Outside” category archive for a comprehensive overview of all our exterior endeavors.
- The comprehensive process of converting an old sunroom into a functional and inviting back porch
- Our experience with tiling the back porch floor (a significant upgrade from its original carpeted sunroom state!)
- How we achieved a spacious feel by vaulting and planking our back porch ceiling
- A detailed guide on how we added impactful landscape lighting to the front of our home
- Everything you need to know about painting our brick house white (including a transparent breakdown of the costs involved!)
- My other soul mate, beyond Sherry: the story behind our beloved backyard shed
- Transforming the shed’s aesthetic with new lights, charming window boxes, and a fresh coat of paint
- Insights into our pea gravel patio, the magic of string lights, and other backyard updates
- A step-by-step guide to creating your own DIY vine trellis
- Further enhancements made since painting the brick house white, including adding an awning over the front door and a beautiful bluestone path
- And here’s generally our proven methods for cultivating lush, vibrant grass ourselves
And so, as we close this chapter on our Richmond home’s exterior, a new and exciting one beckons. As mentioned, next week, we are thrilled to be sharing all the fascinating details about the exterior transformation of our NEW house in sunny Florida. Our grand move is scheduled for later this week, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for smooth sailing and perfect conditions to capture and upload those fresh, breathtaking photos by Wednesday the 20th. Trust us, you are truly in for a spectacular treat with that upcoming reveal!