Checking Flickr today, we were excited to find new photos from long-time Cure member thefarmersdaughter (aka lorijo) tagged with "apartmenttherapychicago." This brick pathway leading up to her door is a DIY project that totalled just $70, including landscaping! The secret? Reusing bricks, rocks, and plantings...
From thefarmersdaughter: "[Before] there was a crappy rotten wooden walkway near the house, but the door led nowhere except to the lawn. [We] reused bricks from another part of the house. I am no bricklayer, but I did this! It still needs one more bag of sand in the pavers and another bag of mulch for the left side plantings, then it's done."
"All in all it will have cost 70 dollars for 2 red twig dog woods, 2 coral bells, 2 hens and chicks, 2 bags of sand, 2 bags of mulch, 5 bags of cement and 3 bags of red lava rock (for drainage near the house). The pavers, some plantings, the rocks, and the wood for the cement forms were reused from other projects or parts of the house. The grass we pulled up for this project is being used in another part of the house too! Re use!!!!"
We think this is such an inspiring project that proves you don't have to spend a lot of money to be green at home. Thanks to thefarmersdaughter for sharing it with us!
To share your space with AT:Chicago, tag your Flickr photos with "apartmenttherapychicago."
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I love seeing people re-use stuff and redistribute their plantings.
I hope you have tough, well packed clay soil or something so your pavers don't sink under traffic. The traditional installation of pavers includes digging out the path several inches deep and installing a thick layer of packed gravel and sand beneath them to keep them level for a long time... although a wear pattern does give it a little character
:)
Looks great!
view deirdre's profile
THIS is recycled done right!!! It looks beautiful.
I am suddenly reminded of that glass-bottle walkway from a couple of weeks ago, which was just so wrong, and junkyard-terrible-looking. This is the best possible contrast to that. Nice job!
view brenjay's profile
Way to go, Lorijo. I'm going to check who is still posting pictures right now.
view Francesca's profile
Wow, it looks great!
I've heard a rumor that there's a pile of bricks free for the taking in my city, but I've been reluctant to try this because of the work involved. You've inspired me to reconsider it.
But I'm an old hand at re-using plant materials. I have expanded the garden beds to the front and sides of my house using plants from the back yard. Now, if only furniture and carpeting would increase over time like plants do....
view Moryse Heron's profile