The home gets a bit better every year, as old fixtures give way to modern comforts, like hot water. Outside, the mill pond glistens, the choking vegetation removed, the mill races restored, even though there’s no mill. But… maybe it could be even better…
This concept blocks access to the pond from the street, or at least discourages it. Outdoor spaces now feature a gathering area with views to the pond and a dining area, about where it is now.
The weather in the Vosges is often rainy, making everything emerald green, but also making outdoor dining something to cherish when the weather is fine. So a gathering area with built-in seating lets everyone go out for a glass of edelzwicker or crémant d’Alsace and a bite of pâté lorrain without having to set up a formal table. If the rain arrives, it’s back to the cozy house.
The dining area gets nicer surfacing – floating treated wood pavers – and a solid safety rail to keep anyone from plunging 3 meters to the ground, or worse.
New plantings all around, a level lawn and a deck over the pond add to the fun. The pond deck also has built-in seating, making it a relaxing place to hang out, perhaps with a nice Gilg Vendange tardive Gewürztraminer, à crisp Riesling or even some rouge d’Ottrott.