When looking at the backyard of the Dobbs Residence in Jarrettsville, Maryland, you would think you were suddenly whisked away to a quaint Irish hamlet surrounded by Hazel and Birch trees with a spectacular view of rolling hills in the distance.
The reason for this is the Dobbs decided they wanted to express their Irish heritage by renovating a vintage schoolhouse from 1880 into a home, along with an authentic reproduction of an Irish pub. Once the renovations of the buildings were done, the homeowners wanted an outdoor living space to bring it all together, so they contracted Rock Solid Landscaping of Bel Air, MD to make the transformation from grassy hill with a small deck to the amazing entertainment area it has become.
Craig Naperstek, Managing Member at Rock Solid, told us that the customer wanted a 1000 square foot patio that would flow with the existing buildings, with a "winding streets of Ireland" feel. Rock Solid used an array of features and EP Henry products to make it all happen. Some of these include:
- Outdoor Fireplace in Cast Veneer Stone, Mesa Verde Drystack
- An elevated patio in Coventry Stone I pavers in Harvest Blend, with a Dakota Blend Border.
- Coventry 3" and 6" Combo Wall for a more natural look - Devonstone caps on the columns were also added to enhance the realistic setting.
- A sheer waterfall that flows into river stone basin and circulates behind the wall
Another unique feature was the draining system built in the middle of the patio, which is slightly tapered to the center, to keep the elevation the same all the way around. The three man crew from Rock Solid did an amazing job, completing the project in just five weeks. "The award we received from ICPI has opened doors for many other opportunities and we continue to get compliments on the project all the time," Naperstek said.
Plants and bushes indigenous to the Irish countryside were planted to complete the timeless setting. "The owners went all out," Naperstek said and added that the owner even requested a type of bush, only because it was called Shamrock. We at HC.com have to agree, since they eliminated the need to drive anywhere for a pint of Guiness!