If it’s time to give your front yard a facelift, have you considered the timeless appeal of masonry? Here are our tips on how to transform your front yard with masonry in Brookville, Long Island, NY.
Many homeowners want to modernize their front yards, getting rid of dated concrete walkways and boring stoops, and bring a touch of elegance to even the simplest home.
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Consider Curves
If your current walkway is straight, culminating in a right-angle turn to the front door, you can give your home a completely fresh and appealing look using curves. Curves are much more interesting than straight lines, especially if you use natural stone or concrete pavers as your walkway surface. Curves - and masonry walkways - offer a more luxurious approach to the front door. The curves echo natural forms in the landscape, and encourage a more relaxed walk since optically, curves are ‘slower’ than a straight line.
Curves can make a home feel more elegant. The craftsmanship becomes more prominent in a curved walkway). At the same time, free-flowing curves can also relax the formality of a highly structured front yard.
Achieve a Balance
A balanced front entry feels right, whether you or your visitors can put your finger on why. A walkway that hugs the home needs to be balanced on the lawn side by somewhat significant plantings such as shrubs and trees. Otherwise, it can feel overly exposed on one side (the lawn), and hemmed in by the other (the home). Extending the foundation plantings on both sides of the walkway also help create visual balance.
A low seat wall located along the outer edge of the walkway creates a warm “embrace” that gently guides the visitor to the front door. It also offers a place to rest if your walkway is long and your visitors are mobility-impaired.
Balance the entry itself with masonry such as a masonry-and-teak bench offers a spot to gather at the front door. If you want to show off a statue or a fountain, masonry pillars give you plenty of creative options.
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The Right Materials
There are many choices when it comes to walkway materials. Clay brick, natural stone, and concrete pavers are top choices for stylish walkways, and all three types of materials can be adapted to any design style.
Brick (which is also available in a concrete version) can warm up a stark minimalist modern home. Bluestone beautifully complements a rustic farmhouse or elegant brick-faced estate. And flagstone makes for a stylish yet casual entry for a suburban home that blends various architectural styles.
Simplicity, and Embellishment
A modern design aesthetic typically favors simplicity: large-format pavers, neutral colors, and minimal embellishment. Simple walkways beautifully complement busy facades such as brick, by providing a visually soothing effect. However, in some instances adding a contrasting border to a walkway can be just the right touch to dress up an otherwise ordinary entryway or a home that needs a more personal touch at the front door.
If you install a low wall along the walkway, you could choose plank-style wall units for a fresh modern look, or stacked flagstone (either natural, or a manufactured stone veneer) to give your home a rustic appeal.
To Match, Or Not To Match?
Some front yard designs use the same pavers on the driveway and on the walkway, and use contrasting borders to define each space. This is a wonderfully cohesive and elegant look. However, you can also give each surface its own personality by using different materials and tying them together using a common material. For example, a cobblestone driveway and a flagstone walkway could be tied together using brick accents and borders.
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