Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Trends in Landscaping: Bringing the Inside Outside

Trends in Landscaping: Bringing the Inside Outside

With the expanding trend of "staycationing" - spending a vacation at property - extra many people are seeking to spruce up their landscapes, producing their backyards just like their favored vacation destination. Gone are the days of picnic tables, plastic pools and folding chairs. Nowadays's luxury outdoor landscapes function totally-equipped kitchens, couches, bars, televisions, heaters and fire locations. These days it is all around extending the living space and bringing the comforts from inside outside. It is also around going green, which is why landscape contractors can anticipate to see a rise in the quantity of hardscape construction they do this year. Hardscape styles, which includes patios, decks and terraces, not only reduces the quantity of lawn space that calls for watering (a definite plus for green enthusiasts) yet it also caters to your customers' want for an outdoor living space that is each comfy and pleasurable - two totally-needed ingredients for a superior "staycation."

Seeking for fresh, innovative techniques to bring the inside outside? Here are some hardscape function tips to present to your customers:

Patios - Patios are drastically expanding in size to make way for larger outdoor living spaces. One of the largest trends perfect now is treating the backyard like you would a property and dividing it up into separate 'rooms' or living places. These particular living places may possibly be divided according to their certain use, for instance: a dining region, a lounging region and a bar region or they could possibly be divided according to a certain theme, for instance: a Japanese-inspired location with a pond, a woodland region with a rock retaining wall and an English-nation-inspired section with a gazebo.

And patios no longer have to get started correct at the back door! These living locations can also be created as "retreats" tucked away in several places all through the backyard, which is specifically appealing to customers who are seeking for patio styles that preserve privacy in thoughts. And as clients appear to spend extra and much more time outdoors, they may possibly also be interested in sheltered places. Arbors, hedges, trees, atriums, and pergolas all present several degrees of shelter and privacy. The style and feature selections for a patio are fully dependent on the client's (or the designer's) imagination!

We're also seeing patios created with a lot more permanent, natural-searching supplies, which includes natural stone and pavers. Although the concept of installing a patio ordinarily evokes pictures of hard concrete slabs, Nowadays's patio supplies come in an array of numerous colors, shapes and sizes. Natural stone patios may possibly be designed from slate, flagstone or fieldstone. Customers may possibly also pick from a number of types of brick or pea gravel. And for those who are nonetheless tied to concrete, there are numerous staining and stamping approaches that, Whilst utilised, strengthen the appear of regular concrete. In terms of shape, These days's patios tie in well with the organic, earthy appear of natural stone and pavers. Numerous customers will lean towards natural curving shapes rather of hard edges in their patio style and layout to compliment and highlight their garden beds, ponds and other softscape capabilities.

Outdoor kitchens - The outdoor kitchen trend has grow to be so standard that, in some instances, it really is even a great deal more detailed and elaborate than an indoor one! Backyard kitchens can involve: built-in barbecues, bars, pizza ovens, wine coolers, refrigerators and prep places for food and drinks. And just like an indoor kitchen renovation needs attention to style and create specifics, so too does the outdoor kitchen. Some of the components that must be taken into account Whilst establishing the location and style of an outdoor kitchen consist of:

Exactly where the indoor kitchen is situated - an outdoor kitchen adjacent to the indoor one is considerably a lot more handy for food prep and for speedy and very easy access to equipment and supplies.

The visual characteristics of the landscape - a lovely view, a water display (including a pond or a fountain) and the rise and setting of the sun are all capabilities that strengthen the expertise of backyard dining and entertaining. NOTE: Be certain to consider how the location of the outdoor kitchen will impact the views from inside!

The physical characteristics of the landscape - are there A large number of trees? Trees could possibly ought to be added or removed to boost the views and privacy of the dining space. How around slopes? You will really should consider how the terrain of the landscape will impact the appear of an outdoor kitchen. Will retaining walls should be added to support hillsides?

Heat and light - Although outdoors kitchens installed close to the property can be powered via a nearby or standard wall, kitchens installed away from the house need separate electrical and/or gas lines. If cold weather is a element, heaters (which includes propane and gas heaters) are selections, as nicely as fire pits and fireplaces.

Fire pits and fireplaces - There are several kinds and designs of fire attributes for the backyard landscape, all of which add a modern day flare and cozy ambiance to the landscape style. Aside from the fireplace, the following fire characteristics may possibly appeal to your clients:

Fire dome - fire domes are globe-shaped sculptures hand-cut from sculptural-grade steel. Both dome consists of several cut-out styles (a wide variety of figures, landscapes and patterns) that function to shape the flames as the fire flows via the dome. The result is a silhouette of flickering flames.

Fire pit table - fire pit tables come in several varied designs and sizes, such as each dining table heights and coffee table heights. They are applied as each a source of heat and as a nice ambiance for dinning and lounging. Fire pit tables can also be built as fire pits with a wide rim that serves as a table. These different functions also come with a lid to cover the fire pit and transform the device into a totally-functioning table.

Fire bowl - outdoor fire bowls are generally produced of precast concrete and, like the fire pit table, they come in a wide selection of sizes - some are little sufficient to display on a table, other people are large adequate to feature as a fire pit. Fire bowls can be powered by gas or wood and can be filled with any sort of fire-resistant decorative material, including lava rock or colored fiberglass.

Bonfire pit - bonfire pits are circular fire rings which persons can collect and sit about. Traditionally, fire pits are wood burning, but, gas or propane fire pits are also choices. Fire pits can be created of natural boulders and stone and can be filled with lava rock or fiberglass.

Fire hearth - a fire hearth is a cross in between a fire pit and a fire place and is commonly fueled by gas or propane. It's utilised additional for ambiance and heat and is very best suited to smaller groups of people today as fire can only be enjoyed from one side.

Christina Coughlin is a writer for the Landscape Management Network (LMN), a net-based budgeting and estimating computer software and profit toolbox for landscape contractors. Designed by landscape contractors for landscape contractors, LMN's suite of internet tools and systems provide landscape contractors anytime, anyplace access to tools that drive productivity and profit.

To discover additional around LMN go to the LMN web page: http://www.landscapemanagementnetwork.com and the LMN weblog: http://www.lmnblog.com

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