Lakefront property provides inspiring canvas
SHERWOOD, Wis. (May 26, 2005) - The house already had a fine location on the shores of Lake Winnebago. Now it has a yard worthy of its breathtaking view. Dan Springhetti was no stranger to lakefront landscaping in the area on the lake's north side but was pleasantly surprised at the open-mindedness of his customer. Together, they saw the scope of this project grow from the installation of a pool to include several terraces comprised of 9,000 pieces of County Block concrete masonry units, and walkways and a driveway that consisted of 15,000 square feet of clay pavers. It all accents the largest area of frontage - 615 feet - with which Springhetti had worked in that area.
"It's always nice to work with an owner who wants to do it right," Springhetti said. "He wanted a retaining wall around the pool. But the lakeside (yard) was a mess. We cleaned it up, and I suggested a retaining wall to expand his usable space."
One of Springhetti's biggest challenges came in trying to convince project engineers of the need for an underground concrete retaining wall in order to keep the hillside from collapsing the inground pool. For that, he ended up burying a wall that was 10 feet high, 2 feet thick and 45 feet wide. He had to do it all within the constraints of the 75-foot setback. But from there, Springhetti was free to mix form into his functionality.
"I'm a little partial to tumbled," the landscaper said of his choice of pavers. "Whether it's concrete or clay. It's kind of a timeless piece. I'm always trying to look at the longer term."
The color scheme of the house, built in the 1970s according to Springhetti, resembles that of a Dalmation. Comprised primarily of white brick and with a black roof and trim, it contains scattered groupings of darker brick that are visible from a distance. "We used the Desert Vista (color of County Block) because that type of color was used in the house," Springhetti said. "And I wanted to pull that color out. I always try to be a little more conservative with the colors I choose so, 10 years from now, it won't look out of place."
Springhetti's paver patio invites guests to sit back on iron deck chairs and let the breeze carry their gaze out across Lake Winnebago, to a sunset that will live as a postcard of the mind. Elsewhere on the patio, a wrought-iron railing encapsulates visitors who choose to fix their gaze at one another around a circular table or take a dip into the adjacent pool. Meanwhile, retaining walls below maximize the horizontal space between the house and the lake.
One of Springhetti's favorite aspects of the project is the paver driveway and the way it encircles a natural-stone water outcropping in front of the house. And it all came together so seamlessly, it's little wonder from what mental well Springhetti drew his inspiration. "Anytime I'm on a lake I get inspired," he said. "How can you not?"
County Materials, founded in 1946, operates 29 locations serving Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. The family-owned, American-based company is an industry leader in the manufacture and distribution of concrete block, brick, ready-mix, hollowcore, pipe, pavers, retaining walls and Aggregate finish products for residential, commercial and municipal construction and landscaping.