Your clients may have been spending more time than usual in their backyards due to the pandemic, and may have become more aware of what’s working in their outdoor living spaces, and what’s not working. A few masonry additions or changes can make all the difference in creating an outdoor space they will truly enjoy. Here’s how masons transform outdoor living spaces in Somers and Yorktown, NY, areas.
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Ideally, the indoor and outdoor living experience are closely related in terms of style and atmosphere. You don’t want your clients to enjoy an elegant home and then step outside onto a boring poured concrete patio with a DIY fire pit that makes the space look more like summer camp than a retreat.
Of course, outdoor spaces are more casual by their very nature, but keep compatibility in mind when helping your clients choose materials and amenities.
Patio Pavers
One of the most dramatic changes that can be made to an outdoor living space is to use natural paving stones such as bluestone, or concrete pavers that mimic the look of natural stone. High-end concrete pavers are priced competitively with natural stone. While the surface won’t have the character-filled appeal of natural stone, there are many more options when it comes to colors, textures, finishes, sizes, and shapes.
A modern trend toward oversized plank-like shapes and large square pavers gives outdoor spaces a clean look. By contrast, smaller pavers - while they create a busier space - also add character and the opportunity to create custom spaces using more random laying patterns than you can achieve with single-size large-format pavers.
Vertical Elements
Cooking and dining are often the central elements of any outdoor space. Masonry can completely transform an ordinary grill station into a functional work of art whether it’s a simple grill station, a grill station/pizza oven, or a grill station with a bar. Attaching a bar to the grill station could be the change that transforms your clients’ patio into the perfect entertaining space!
Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and fire tables create more opportunities for homeowners to gather with friends and family. A fire feature can be simple or ornate, large or small, modern or traditional, custom or kit. Ultimately, the mere presence of fire can create a focal point that encourages more of what outdoor living is all about: making great memories together.
Pergolas and Pavilions
Shelter from the elements can be the thing that’s missing from your clients’ patios. A pergola or pavilion set atop masonry pillars will give the patio a stylish look that’s much more sophisticated than sun umbrellas or shade sails. Integrate low voltage landscape lighting into the pillars for subtle yet functional illumination.
Water Features
A masonry water feature could become the focal point of the entire backyard. Combining water and fire takes things to a whole new level of “wow.” The mesmerizing movement of the flames along with the soothing sounds of water combine to create drama and ambience that no other elements can match.
Seat Walls
A small patio can be made more practical and usable with the addition of a seat wall around its perimeter. Low walls can “embrace” a patio without obstructing the views, add overflow seating without adding clutter, and they can serve as a place to feature seasonal decorations.
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