With the new year always comes a lot of new inspiration and vision. Late winter is a great time to start planning the next steps in the improvement of the landscape. While you wait for the spring to come and the snow and ice to thaw, get inspired on some of the ways that masonry can improve your landscape: and then contact your contractor to get on the schedule. Consider adding these four masonry ideas to your backyard design this year in Brookville and Glen Cove, NY.
Upgraded Surfaces
The most important features of your backyard will always be the areas where people hang out the most. The patio, pool deck, and the walkways need to be of the highest quality masonry material in order to let your property reach its full potential.
Using natural stone will bring uniqueness and character to your outdoor living spaces. No two stones are ever alike: and one-of-a-kind properties deserve one-of-a-kind materials. Natural stone is a favorite for patios, walkways, and pool surrounds.
Using patio pavers will improve safety, beauty, and functionality throughout your outdoor living space. With so many variations in pavers, there are nearly endless design choices ranging from simple to extravagant and everything in between. Patio pavers that are rated for driveway use can also be used in every other hardscape for a unified look.
Fire Features
Adding a fire feature will help make the entire outdoor living space much more comfortable. The three main types of fire features are the fire pit, the chic fire table, and the grand outdoor fireplace. With different fuels, levels of heat and light intensity, character, and size, choosing the right fire feature involves considering what you like to do the most in your outdoor living space.
Fire features are typically located on the patio, but you could also consider having more than one fire feature: perhaps a grand outdoor fireplace near your outdoor kitchen/dining area, and a cozy fire pit tucked away in an otherwise neglected corner of the landscape. As well, a fire pit (which is a hybrid between a fire pit and a table) could be located within a shelter structure such as a pavilion for the ultimate in creature comforts in nearly any season.
Outdoor Kitchen
Part of enjoying time in a backyard is making sure that energy is high, thirsts are quenched, and bellies are full. The outdoor kitchen will quickly become the anchor feature of your outdoor living space. The best part is that an outdoor kitchen is completely customizable with amenities that can make your backyard just about as comfortable as the indoors.
The masonry walls of your outdoor kitchen are a wonderful design opportunity. The kitchen can be a dramatic stand-alone focal point that commands attention if you use contrasting materials. Or, by choosing similar materials, your outdoor kitchen can integrate beautifully into the rest of the patio.
With the addition of your favorite cooking appliances, you and your loved ones can enjoy incredible feasts under the open sky. Add a peninsula some bar seating for a more interactive experience and consider combining your outdoor fireplace with a wood-fired pizza oven to make outdoor living that much more enticing for everyone.
Retaining Wall
There are few landscape features that can add more functionality than a retaining wall. This masonry structure helps to secure the landscape, adds flat living space and vertical interest, provides housing for light fixtures, defines spaces, and a low wall can even serve as casual seating.