Enhancing your backyard to fit your lifestyle is one of the ways to get the most out of your backyard—and your investment in outdoor living. Adding a sense of permanence with masonry features will make your backyard a perfect reflection of how you like to live your life. A few key masonry elements could make a world of difference. Here are four masonry ideas for your backyard design in Macomb and Troy, MI.
The Patio
The materials used in high-traffic areas like the patio need to be as durable as possible without sacrificing beauty. The huge variety of patio pavers available today will help create a strong and functional backyard that fits with the aesthetics of your home and landscape.
Natural stone and concrete pavers are available in a huge variety of colors, sizes, shapes, and textures. Your landscaping company is a great resource that can help you choose the right materials for your space.
Here are a few modern trends to consider: First, talk to your landscaping company about permeable pavers, which help surface water seep into the ground to keep your patio drier and reduce slipping hazards.
Another trend is toward large format pavers (or natural stone) which helps to reduce visual clutter and makes your outdoor living space feel spacious and elegant, no matter if your patio is tiny or grand. Large pavers also let you see the individual characteristics of the material.
Fire Features
Keeping your activities outside throughout the seasons will help you enjoy your home even more. Fire features such as fire pits, fire tables, and outdoor fireplaces draw people outside in all weather. A fire pit is one of the simplest features that can be placed anywhere in the landscape—either as part of the patio or in its own destination spot. Fire tables blur the line between a dining experience and a fireside experience, with a central flame that acts as a centerpiece for festive shared meals. And of course, an outdoor fireplace creates a wonderful outdoor living room feel.
Masonry fire features can grace your backyard for generations. You don’t even need to choose just one: You could have a large fire pit as a memorable destination within the landscaping, a majestic fireplace in your lounge area, and a fire table near your outdoor kitchen. You could even combine your outdoor fireplace with a wood-fired pizza oven for the ultimate in backyard living.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls serve many different functions including controlling erosion and expanding usable space in sloped landscape. Retaining walls can be built from natural stone, concrete wall blocks, or concrete blocks clad in a stone veneer.
A retaining wall can also make wonderful housing for light fixtures, reducing clutter in the landscape while providing both ambient and functional light. Seating and decorative niches can be built into a wall—for example, an amphitheater-style fire area could be incorporated into a retaining wall, as a cozy yet elegant space for creating memories with family and friends.
Related: Landscaping Companies Suggest These Ideas for a Retaining Wall in Rochester Hills, MI Area
Raised Plant Beds
Gardening is rewarding, but it can be hard on your body. Raised masonry planter beds are an elegant solution that can be placed anywhere you like: along a walkway, along the perimeter of a patio, or along the driveway. Masonry planters can be a place to plant ornamental grasses or shrubs to add privacy to a patio; or alongside an outdoor kitchen, as a spot for growing culinary herbs. Best of all, a masonry planter makes your plants visible, celebrated, and conveniently accessible.
