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New York Flagstone Patios on an Abandoned Cabin Near Lake Michigan

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Here's what we were working with - an abandoned cabin on a stunning piece of property overlooking Lake Michigan, sitting on a yard that was basically unusable. The backyard had two tiers separated by a sketchy set of steps that made navigating the space a real hazard. Getting from one level to the other meant watching every single step. Not exactly the kind of outdoor space you want to relax in.

We started by bringing in the skid steer and grading out the entire backyard. The old raised section - basically a lump left over from when the property used to host weddings - got removed completely, along with those awkward connecting steps. Once everything was leveled out to a smooth, gradual slope, the yard actually became something you could walk across without thinking twice about it.

One of the things we're most proud of on this job is how we handled material costs. The property had boulders scattered all over it. Instead of hauling in border rock from somewhere else, we recycled those boulders right from the site and used them to frame the front patio. That decision alone saved the client a significant amount of money. Working with what the land gives you is something we genuinely believe in.

For the patio surfaces, we used New York flagstone on both the front entrance and the back overlooking the lake. The cabin itself has a wood and river rock exterior, so the irregular cuts and natural gray tones of the flagstone fit the whole look without trying too hard. Front patio is tucked into a ring of the recycled boulders right at the entrance. The back patio sits on that freshly graded yard with an unobstructed view of Lake Michigan stretching out beyond the tree line.

This is the kind of property that deserved outdoor spaces as good as its view. The goal was to give the clients real, functional areas to enjoy - not just a yard you walk past. Between the grade work and the two flagstone patio installs, the whole outdoor situation went from something you'd avoid to somewhere you'd actually want to spend time.

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