If you haven’t been using your backyard as much as you like, it could probably benefit from some sprucing up—to make it more functional and a pleasure to view. For flat landscapes, adding vertical dimension through the use of masonry in the Canton and Troy, MI, areas, could be a great solution for making your backyard not only more attractive but more usable.
Related: How Masonry Can Accentuate a Classic Outdoor Fireplace in Macomb, MI
An Outdoor Fireplace
A simple patio combined with a flat lawn may not be very inspiring and may not be achieving your backyard’s potential as a relaxing retreat. Adding an outdoor fireplace will add vertical dimension as well as visual weight to your outdoor space. This can help to balance other large elements in the landscape such as dense evergreen trees.
Ideally, the fireplace should also be in proportion to the home. If your home is a single-story ranch style, a very large, tall fireplace will probably look out of place; likewise, if you live in a three-storied house or on a sloped site, a short and petite fireplace will likely look dwarfed.
Read More: How to Make a Sloped Backyard Usable
When it comes to choosing the facade of your outdoor fireplace, there are two options: one is to use the same or similar materials as you use on the patio, outdoor kitchen, and any retaining walls. This effect creates a cohesive space where everything looks like it belongs together. The other option is to use completely different materials with the intent of creating a stunning focal point. For example, a stark minimalist fireplace faced with bluestone slabs could be a wonderful complement to a sandstone patio.
On a smaller scale, a fire pit would add vertical interest, especially if it were surrounded by seat walls with a comfortable backrest. This arrangement turns the fire pit into a cozy conversation nook that can be used year-round.
A fire pit area can be positioned pretty much anywhere in your backyard. Some people like to have all of their outdoor living amenities clustered around the patio while others like to have very distinct and separate zones for each activity. Our hardscape design experts can assist you with creating the perfect outdoor living plan that meets your needs.
A Cooking Area
Cooking and sharing meals outdoors is one of the main reasons people are drawn to use their outdoor spaces. It doesn’t matter if you’re a gourmet cook or simply enjoy grilling burgers on a weekly basis—having an attractive and functional cooking area is a must. The choice of veneer dictates whether the cooking station will be integrated into the patio space or have its own character entirely.
For convenience, you probably want your cooking area to be close to the back door. For safety and the best visual effect, you wouldn’t want it too close to the house. It should have its own presence and add to the vertical interest of the overall landscape—this can occur by positioning it a few feet or yards from the home, depending on the size and shape of your patio.
A simple grill station and a full outdoor kitchen can be sheltered from the hot sun with a wood pergola set on top of stone pillars for a classy, finished look.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are mostly utilitarian landscape features that are sometimes overlooked as important design features. However, they can become stunning focal points. Retaining walls can be used to define spaces, serve as overflow seating, and house landscape lighting fixtures for a clean, uncluttered landscape.
Related: 5 Outdoor Lighting Ideas Tailored to Winter Landscapes in Macomb and Rochester Hills, MI, Areas
