Want to make your landscape worthy of a second look? Here are 4 masonry features to make our landscape pop this spring in Somers and Croton, NY. Some are classics, some are unexpected. Depending on how big of a project you want to undertake, you could use one or many of these features to make your backyard “the” place to hang out all summer… and beyond.
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1. Fire Features
A roaring fire has the ability to draw people together to share laughter and conversation. While most people add fire pits to their backyards, you can make a real statement with two other types of fire features: an outdoor fireplace and a spacious fire table that takes outdoor dining to the next level.
Fire pits are somewhat limited in terms of design, because they are low to the ground. However, fire tables are taller (they can be fire pit height, but also dining table and bar height). A bar height fire table is a great addition for a space meant for entertaining.
The ultimate in design flexibility comes from fireplaces. While many modern fireplaces are constructed of fireproof concrete blocks and clad in a natural stone or manufactured stone veneer, you can also go ultramodern and give them a unique look: poured concrete, brushed concrete, or large-format pavers.
Best of all, you can completely customize your outdoor fireplace. How about a see-through fireplace that simultaneously warms two separate parts of the patio? Or, a built-in wood-fired pizza oven?
Of all masonry features, fire is the one thing that will keep people outdoors after the weather turns chilly. This makes it a great investment you can enjoy nearly any time of year.
2. Hybrid Cooking Spaces
Can’t decide between a simple grill station and a full-bling outdoor kitchen? Opt for a middle option: a grill station with a peninsula bar. The bar can do double duty as a prep surface for cooking, and a dining space where guests can gather and be part of the action.
Cladding the cooking station in the same veneer as other vertical features such as retaining walls, pillars, or fire features will help integrate it into the patio.
If your patio already features a fire pit, you could add a pizza oven to your outdoor cooking space; and turn it into the hub of outdoor enjoyment.
3. Permeable Surfaces
What’s more annoying than going out onto the patio only to find water pooling in low-lying areas, or running off the surface onto the landscaping? Not much! Permeable pavers solve this problem by allowing rain and snowmelt to filter into a special substrate below. You’ll enjoy a drier patio; and if you want it to pop, there are plenty of choices in terms of style! Today, permeable pavers are available in a wide range of styles to suit your design aesthetic; but what’s really eye-catching is how dry your patio, walkway, or driveway will be while other paved spaces are still too wet to use!
4. A Retaining Wall
Whether your property needs a structural retaining wall or just a wall to define a space, you can add elegance and a timeless feel with real presence.
Positioning an outdoor fireplace within the wall can transform the patio into a wonderful outdoor living room complete with “walls”; and adding string lights gives the illusion of a ceiling - what can be cozier?
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