New Back Gate: Planning

This little hogwire and cedar gate is the very first thing that we built when we moved in the house 5 years ago - long before we got moving on the garden, path and patio behind it. We had a dog and needed to close in the space. This style of fence is very Central Texas.

I love love love this cute little gate, and I'm going to miss it when it's gone. BUT, I'm sure going to love the new one two.

It's now come time to replace the hogwire gate with something a bit more substantial, but more importantly (and the impetus for the forthcoming project), we need to shield the back of the house from the very very hot late afternoon Texas sun. Summer is coming on fast and that sun peels the paint off of the house and heats it up like an oven.

John has been diligently (with subtle input from me, I'm sure) designing our new entrance gate and pergola.

I can't wait, but of course have my fears. Will the pergola enclose the space too much or do what we want: create a cozy entrance that leads to the expansive garden? Will we enjoy the added privacy of the slatted gate or will it feel stuffy?

We're still debating what material to use as a screen on the pergola top (over the main slats). Our first thought was willow fencing, but that shit comes all the way from China. Not sustainable at all! So, we've been seriously pondering heading down to our local greenspace and helping out with a little invasive bamboo removal and then constructing our own screen. We'll see! China may win this one, depending...

Construction begins this weekend!