Architectural Elements in the Landscape
While we are spending more time at home these days, many of us are realizing our living spaces, both indoors and out, need some enhancements. Architectural elements, such as pavilions, pergolas, arbors, stone walls or columns, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, and water features can create quite an impact in your outdoor living space while adding value to your property. These timeless features add character, define a space, and act as beautiful focal points, allowing you to get more enjoyment from your outdoor spaces.
Whether you like a modern, traditional, or transitional style, there’s an architectural element that will give you that “Wow” factor. Highlighting these outdoor features and pathways that lead to them, with low-voltage LED lighting adds another layer of ambiance in the evening when you can sit back, relax and enjoy. We have created two professional grade lighting lines, Tru-scapes and Constellation Pro, for all your outdoor lighting needs.
Pavilions are the perfect complement to any patio, pool, or backyard as they work well to define a space such as an outdoor kitchen, living room, dining or bar area. The roof provides a shady area during the heat of the summer and allows you to use the outdoor room even when it’s raining. A cozy fireplace can be incorporated too! Lighting the pavilion extends your outdoor living into the evening, as well. Options include low-voltage LED lights mounted overhead or on pavilion columns, or ceiling fans with integrated dimmable lights. Like to entertain? Why not add a flat-screen TV too?
Pavilions can house all of the creature comforts you’re used to inside your home with the added benefit of being out in the fresh air! Our pavilions are hand-crafted and made from premium grade pressure-treated wood or western red cedar, which can be painted or stained, or clad in low-maintenance vinyl. Many styles and sizes are available so you can get the perfect one to complement your outdoor living space.
Pergolas offer a more open feeling by providing filtered shade through the structure, yet still defining a separate “room”. Climbing vines can add a bit more shade overhead and lend a softer feel to this architectural showpiece. A pergola overhead not only lends visual appeal to a space, but also creates a cozy sitting or dining area on the patio or next to the pool. Like pavilions, our pergolas are hand-crafted and made from premium grade pressure-treated wood or western red cedar, which can be painted or stained, or clad in low-maintenance vinyl. The choice in many styles and sizes will allow you to find just the right one.
An arbor can define the entrance to a garden, a patio, or simply to your backyard. It can be used as a stand-alone feature or along with a matching fence. A variety of sophisticated styles is available, with arches, straight lines, or lattice. Low-maintenance vinyl or eastern white cedar can provide just the right look you’re after.
Stone walls or columns are used to announce the entrance to your property, add privacy, define outdoor rooms, provide extra seating, retain hillsides, and more. Low-voltage, LED lighting can be incorporated into walls, columns and end piers to illuminate your driveway entrance, walkways, and the beautiful stone face of the masonry.
Natural stone offers a timeless look, while man-made options capture the latest styles. Natural stone options include fieldstone, flagstone, sandstone, boulders, even real stone veneer. Man-made wall block is available in many colors and styles to complement any setting.
An outdoor kitchen is a convenient and luxurious amenity that many homeowners are incorporating into their backyard entertainment areas. Perfect for cooking and dining al fresco, an outdoor kitchen can house just about everything your indoor kitchen does, including high-end fixtures and appliances. From built-in grills and wine chillers, to smokers and rotisserie, and refrigerators to sinks and storage cabinets, you’ll have everything you need to whip up meals for a host of family and friends.
Your kitchen can include raised bar areas, islands, and overhead structures such as pergolas or pavilions. Imagine having your own pizza oven in your outdoor kitchen! We even design and install swim-up bars in poolside kitchens!
As for the structure of the kitchen itself, many choices of materials are available, from natural stone to man-made materials in the latest styles.
Low-voltage, LED lighting is also important to include in your outdoor kitchen, in such key areas as above the grill and food preparation areas, under countertops, and in storage cabinets. An electrician will ensure the functionality and safety by installing all the outlets, wiring and circuits you’ll need. Check out our lighting lines, Tru-scapes and Constellation Pro, for all your outdoor lighting needs.
Fireplaces and firepits add a wonderful warm ambiance to any backyard or patio, especially during chilly evenings. These features serve as a fun gathering space during outdoor parties, where you can roast marshmallows, and warm up after an evening swim. A free-standing fireplace with a chimney can even provide some privacy when positioned just right, while also defining a relaxing outdoor living room and serving as a focal point.
Whether you enjoy the sound of a crackling wood-burning fire or the convenience of natural gas or propane, we can install a standard or custom masonry fireplace or firepit to complete your outdoor environment! Today’s options include traditional to contemporary styles and elegant natural stone or the latest in man-made block masonry.
Water features can add soothing sounds or an exhilarating experience to any outdoor living space. Swimming pools, spas, waterfalls, pondless water features, fountains, even a simple bubbling pot adds dramatic appeal to backyards and patios.
Spending a lot of time at home and need an entertaining space for the kids this summer? A custom in-ground pool could be the answer. Plus, swimming is great form of exercise, and just imagine it in the privacy of your own backyard. We design and build pools that range from sleek modern pool designs to natural, free-form styles. Add architectural character to your pool with a seamlessly integrated spa with a built-in waterfall that flows into your pool. Or add drama with a strategically placed boulder waterfall that can even include a water slide, plantings and lighting.
Pondless waterfalls provide a low-maintenance option for creating a calm environment with the sounds of trickling water that simply re-circulates. Plants and rocks create a natural looking water source that will likely attract hummingbirds, songbirds, butterflies, and perhaps even frogs.
Fountains serve as great focal points, whether as an ornate free-standing sculptural element or a simple bubbling pot. These space-saving water features are available in cool modern styles and traditional looks, and are typically the lowest maintenance option of outdoor water features.
As you can see, the myriad of outdoor structures and design elements available today can provide a customized look to any home. Why not make your outdoor living space more functional and pleasant so you’ll enjoy spending more time there?
