Agtuca Family Retreat: A Cohesive Blend of Stone, Turf, and Light

When James and Shaylin Agtuca partnered with Sunrise Landscape Services, their vision was to create a functional and beautiful backyard retreat that combined durable hardscape patio areas, a family friendly lawn area, and private gathering spaces with warm evening ambiance. Our team delivered a single phase design and build that tied everything together—from drainage and pathways to seating walls, turf, and lighting—for a complete transformation that will serve their family for years to come.

Behind the Scenes

This project was completed with a total investment of $35,000 and involved five primary areas of focus: comprehensive hardscape installation, artificial turf, privacy fencing with a custom wrought iron gate, bistro lighting with irrigation adjustments, and a premium low-voltage landscape lighting system. Every detail, from the French drain beneath the patio to the custom welded gabion seating walls was designed to blend beauty with long-term performance.

Comprehensive Hardscape Installation

• Decomposed Granite Areas: A clean DG surface was installed in front of and behind the side gate, extending along the home’s property line. This provided a practical, low-maintenance groundcover.
• Holland Stone Patio: A 25' x 15' patio was built using charcoal Holland Stone pavers in a herringbone pattern, framed with a Saddle-wood soldier course. The area included a 50' French drain for runoff management beneath a compacted limestone base and polymeric sand in the joints.
• Gabion Seating Walls: Two welded-wire gabion walls filled with 3–5" limestone rock were constructed: one 15' length along the patio edge and one 19' length extending toward the back fence. Both were topped with stained wooden decking for comfort and completed with a decorative pillar at the concrete patio corner.
• Decomposed Granite Zone: A decomposed granite walkway now wraps behind the home and AC unit, connecting the patio to a new low maintenance space. This area is bordered by hardwood mulch around the beautiful trees to soften the transition.

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Artificial Turf Installation

• Custom Layout: Approximately 1,150 sq ft (50' x 23') of professional-grade turf was installed, extending from the central seating wall toward the back fence and framed by gabion walls and patio edges.
• Base & Drainage: A 2.5" compacted base was prepared with proper grading to ensure long-term stability and water flow.
• Premium Finish: 82 oz turf with a custom low-profile edge restraint delivered a seamless “infinity edge” look.
• Pet-Safe Infill: A pet guard infill was applied to enhance durability and minimize odor, making the lawn both family- and pet-friendly.

Privacy Fencing & Wrought Iron Gate

• Front Privacy Fence: A horizontal slat fence was built in two staggered sections (6' wide and 4' wide) to screen the rear yard from street view while keeping a functional walkway.
• AC Unit Enclosure: An L-shaped slat fence measuring 5' x 5' x 4' high was installed around the AC unit for clean concealment with maintenance access.
• Custom Gate: A wrought iron gate was fabricated and welded on site to match the property’s existing fence line, ensuring visual continuity across all boundaries.

Bistro Lighting, Irrigation Adjustments & Site Extras

• String Lighting: Approximately 100 linear feet of bistro string lights were mounted on three poles and connected to the home’s existing circuit for easy, single-switch control.
• Irrigation Work: Obsolete heads and lines were capped or removed, and active heads were repositioned to prevent overspray into new areas.
• Final Cleanup: Neighboring tree branches were trimmed and original builder tree stakes removed, leaving the property polished and ready to enjoy.

Premium Landscape Lighting System

• Automated Power Source: A photocell-equipped transformer was installed near the AC unit, programmed to turn lights on at dusk and off at dawn.
• Fixture Layout (15 Total):
  • 2 uplights highlighting the large live oak.
  • 3 downlights in the oak canopy for a natural moonlit effect.
  • 2 uplights accenting young red oaks for future growth.
  • 8 wall-wash lights evenly illuminating the back fence line.
• Warranty: All fixtures included a lifetime warranty for performance and durability.

Precision and Integration

This retreat was designed as one cohesive system. Drainage solutions beneath the patio protect the hardscape, while gabion walls create natural transitions between turf and stone. Turf edges, fencing, and lighting were all custom-fit to existing conditions, ensuring a polished look for smooth daily use. The result is a backyard that balances modern design with timeless materials, ready for both family relaxation and entertaining.

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