​Creating a dream backyard is exciting, but it can be a challenge to visualize the end result and fully explain your vision to your landscape designer. In order to communicate your vision accurately—and to bring your vision to life as close to your budget and timeline as possible—you may want to take advantage of technology. Here are the benefits of 3D design for your Naperville, IL, landscaping.


What Is 3D Design?
A two-dimensional drawing (such as a floor plan) only gives you a partial picture of what’s possible and how your finished landscape will look. This matters quite a bit when you’re considering a multi-level living space. Using to-scale renderings of your house and landscape, a landscape designer can create a 3D model that shows how new plants and backyard features such as a pool, pond, fire pit, or outdoor kitchen will appear in relation to everything else. It’s ideal to see how each individual element appears in context, how design elements come together, and how any tweaks you make will affect the final outcome.

Related:  4 Aesthetic Themes That Suit a Brick Patio in Naperville, IL

The Benefits of 3D Design
The benefits of using 3D design help to create more excitement and relief during the planning process. It’s incredibly fun to see your vision come to life! It’s also helpful to see for yourself whether your ideas are feasible, and it’s also helpful to avoid any misunderstandings. An interpretation of your vision may not translate in the design—the 3D design process can bring clarity if the designer thought you meant one thing when you actually meant something else.

Also, 3D design makes decision-making easier. When you can see your finished project from multiple perspectives—from the “street view” as well as a bird’s-eye view—you can make instant decisions about the placement of specific elements, the size of your outdoor rooms, and their relationships to each other. For example, you may notice that your dream outdoor fireplace is too massive for the space and that it completely obliterates the view, or that short pillars just don’t seem right at your entryway and should be elongated. These are design details that a 2D rendering cannot adequately convey. Your landscape designer can present various design options, which significantly simplifies your ability to make confident choices.

Related: 7 Landscape Design Ideas for Your Paver Driveway in Hinsdale, IL

Another plus: 3D design also delivers greater accuracy, especially when it comes to vertical elements such as retaining walls, a pergola, waterfall, or stairs. There is no question, once a 3D rendering is approved, whether the pergola will be 8’ tall or 10’ tall, or whether the retaining wall will be low enough to serve as a seating wall. This accuracy is essential in finalizing cost estimates, purchasing the right quantities of materials, and avoiding the need to implement last-minute changes.

In short, nothing is overlooked when you use 3D design. Clear communication between you and the landscape designer will ensure that you get exactly what you want—and if it turns out you can’t get “exactly” what you want, you will clearly see the reasons why. And when you are able to tweak the design before construction starts, you can accelerate the timeline and enjoy your dream backyard sooner rather than later.

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Brick is one of the oldest building materials. People have been using bricks to build roads, courtyards, walls, and plazas for millennia. If you want to enhance the feel of your outdoor space, here is how you can bring a traditional look to your Wheaton, IL, backyard with a brick patio.

Why Use Brick?
A brick patio is beautiful, durable, beautiful, filled with character, and can complement virtually any design style. Indeed, a brick patio can work equally well in an ultramodern or traditional setting—no matter what the style you have in place, the look of brick will add stately charm to your home!

Related: 4 Aesthetic Themes That Suit a Brick Patio in Naperville, IL

A Traditional Appearance
Traditional doesn’t necessarily mean formal. Brick inherently adds a time-worn look to your outdoor space. The feel that you will achieve depends on the colors you use, the size of the material, and the laying patterns. Ultimately, the hardscape features that include the look of brick possess a sophisticated aesthetic.

Colors
If you don’t love “brick red” as a landscaping theme, you can opt for lighter buff-colored bricks, sophisticated light grays, chocolate brown, or charcoal. When choosing a color, consider matching the roof of your home. If your home already has brick siding, it may be difficult to match the color exactly, in which case match the roof, or make a bold statement by going with a contrasting color.
Adding contrasting borders or accents adds visual interest while still retaining a traditional feel. Since the choice of brick can make a project seem already somewhat busy due to each brick’s small size and the many joint lines that will be created, you can minimize a visually cluttered feel by choosing no more than three colors for your outdoor space: a primary field color, plus one or two accent colors that you can use on borders or as special shapes within the field.
However, don’t feel that you must add a contrasting border or accents. Brick is so interesting in itself, that simply altering the laying pattern (such as when transitioning from a walkway to a patio) creates variety and character.

Sizes and Shapes
To achieve an old-world brick feel (think Amsterdam), opt for traditional brick shapes. These come in a variety of sizes, which is an important design consideration. Smaller bricks can help make a huge space feel more human-sized while larger bricks make a driveway or patio feel more substantial.

Related: ​3 Trending Landscaping Ideas for Your Wheaton, IL Backyard

Laying Patterns
On old European roads and plazas, bricks are typically laid in a running bond or herringbone pattern. But you aren’t restricted to these two standbys. A basket weave pattern also gives you the old-world and a visually more substantial feel. Bricks laid in linear patterns must be carefully positioned since outdoor living spaces rarely feature perfectly straight lines. You can avoid this challenge by laying the brick at a 45-degree angle to your home.
Circular or fan-shaped laying patterns are also commonly used in ancient European cities and while more difficult to lay (since bricks must be cut and precisely positioned) they could give your outdoor space a panache that linear laying patterns just can’t match.
A good border enhances the look of your brick patio, and it also prevents bricks from shifting. The simplest borders involve laying border bricks at a 90- or 45-degree angle to the field bricks, but bricks give you many options to create interesting and functional borders.

A paver driveway instantly adds sophistication to your home. With so many choices in materials, styles and colors, where do you start? Here are 7 ideas for your Hinsdale, IL paver driveway.

First… why should you choose pavers?
​Aside from appearance and superior curb appeal, paver driveways are:
Easier to repair than concrete or asphalt (replace individual pavers or sections without redoing the entire driveway)
More durable than poured concrete or asphalt  
Cooler on bare feet than asphalt
Eco-friendly: permeable pavers allow rain/snowmelt to seep through, preventing  runoff

Related: Why Choose Pavers over Asphalt for Your Naperville, IL, Driveway

Paver materials, shapes, sizes, and textures
Driveway design begins with choosing the right pavers to get the look you want. Choose from:
Traditional clay brick pavers develop a gorgeous timeworn patina over time. 
Concrete pavers offer a huge selection of styles, shapes, textures and colors to suit any decor.
Natural quarried stone: cobblestone or flagstone (including reclaimed) is durable and timeless.

Design elements for driveway pavers include:
Shapes. Driveway pavers typically come in two standard shapes: square, or rectangular, as well as irregular flagstone shapes. 
Sizes range from cobblestone to large, irregular flagstone. Thickness is most important: choose pavers around 3” thick to withstand vehicle traffic.
Textures: new pavers can be smooth, or textured and weathered. 
Color ties the driveway in with the home. Concrete pavers offer the greatest color variety.

Design Ideas
Make a great first impression with a paver driveway. 

Patterns
Herringbone: the most durable pattern for high traffic, pavers are set at a 45 degree angle to the garage. Not only does it look great, it also minimizes shifting. This is the brick pattern most recommended for permeable pavers due to their larger joints.
Running bond: the classic “brick” look complements the home’s brickwork. Pavers can be set either with the narrow edge or the broad edge toward the garage, and bordered with pavers set perpendicular to the field pavers.
Basketweave: a more relaxed look, this pattern looks more substantial due to the optical illusion of squares, and looks great with more contemporary homes. 
Ashlar: a more random, modern look that mixes different sizes of square and rectangular pavers.
Artistic layouts including circles and fan/fishtail shapes add lots of personality. 

Runners and Borders
Give a nod to tradition with a contrasting border or runners (narrow strips that run the length of the driveway, to mimic the look of centuries-old tire tracks).

Reclaimed brick and cobblestone
For unparalleled old-world charm, use reclaimed bricks or cobblestones as field pavers, accents, or borders.  

Grass driveways
A growing trend is to set pavers in two continuous rows with grass between, to mimic the look of ancient roads. This helps minimize a large driveway and allows for rainwater and snowmelt to seep into the ground easily. Careful installation will prevent shifting under load.

Match the roof
A current trend is to match the color of the roof, either as the main paver field color, or as a border, runner, or embellishment.

Double borders
Double borders add a sophisticated and substantial look to a paver driveway. 

Circles and other embellishments
Create a focal point and artistic flair with circles, fans/fishtails, or random free-form shapes. These embellishments can be done with field pavers for a more subtle look, or contrasting pavers for a bold look.

​When you think of landscape design, it is easy to focus on the big things like an outdoor kitchen or a swimming pool, but the softscape can make or break the appearance of the landscape. Don’t forget that softscapes are an essential part of your Hinsdale, IL, design when thinking about making changes to your backyard.

What Are Softscapes?
The softscape is all of the living parts of your yard such as trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, grass, mulch, and more. You want to have a mixture of textures, colors, and heights in the plants and other materials used in these parts of your landscape. 
In contrast, the hardscape entails all of the non-living parts of the landscape such as patios, retaining walls, and outdoor kitchens. While the materials used for these features are beautiful in their own right, their purpose is largely functional for achieving the types activities that you enjoy. Softscapes add to the beauty effect and bring in more nature to offset the more manufactured areas of your backyard. Both are necessary for a well-designed and balanced landscape. 

Related: 3 Beautiful Focal Point Ideas to Boost Your Hinsdale, IL, Landscape Design


Considerations for Softscapes 
Once new hardscape features have been built or installed, that is the time for the new softscape elements to be planted. It is not uncommon for a focal tree or flowering bushes with a wonderful aroma to steal the show. A showy flower bed or symmetrical row of shrubs in a particular shade of green causes the eye to travel around the entire landscape. 
Unlike hardscape elements, softscape features change with the seasons, from the pansies of late fall and winter, to the petunias and flowering bulbs of spring and summer. You want to ensure a variety of green colors in the plants and trees, along with the colors of the blossoms. 
Think about how gorgeous ivy can be climbing over a retaining wall or clematis with its yellow flowers looks trailing over the top of a pergola. The softscape is what gives a landscape its personality.

Related: Highlighting Trees and Plants with Outdoor Lighting in Hinsdale, IL


Softscape Elements
Trees are an essential feature of most well-planned yards. You want not only the height that trees provide but also the shade from the heat of the summer days. Trees can also be a dramatic focal point of a landscape bed, especially an unusual variety of specimen tree. 
Hedges are shrubs planted close together to function as a border or natural fence for your property. They can create a sense of privacy without hindering the breeze or being visually less than attractive the way some fences can. A hedge can also be a wind blocker to protect your property during storms.
Shrubs can be large or medium sized, depending on where they are placed and how they should function. Many shrubs stay green all year, which helps the landscape retain some color in the winter months.
Flowers have the most impact in a landscape, and bring color and liveliness to your yard. If you want to improve your Hinsdale, IL, curb appeal, colorful flower beds would add to the beauty of your yard and home.
If you are contemplating an upgrade to your landscape, don’t forget about the impact that carefully chosen and implemented softscape elements can bring to your landscape.

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Any patio that you consider for your Naperville, IL, landscape should complement the style of your home and seamlessly extend your living space. Brick can bring out the best in your home’s exterior and provide years of reliable, durable use. Here’s how to create a brick patio that’s goes well with the rest of where you spend your time.

Contemporary
For your modern home, you might initially want smooth, large stones to form the center of a patio—however, you’ll find the look of brick can achieve a similar aesthetic yet in a more classic way. Brick patios are not just crafted with the clay red color that is familiar and traditional, but brick materials come in all shades of gray and tan. Buff or even white brick pavers can keep the urban, monochromatic aesthetic that you love in your home’s appearance. If you are feeling edgy, you could choose a pink-hued brick that would make the patio a focal point of the landscape. 

Related: Integrate Sustainability Into Your Naperville, IL, Landscape Design


Rustic
If your home is more on the rustic side, you might think about a patio that utilizes brick pavers featuring more unique edges. Without the clean rectangular edge of a traditional brick, a more natural, weathered brick aesthetic can continue the woodsy, earthy appearance of your home and landscape. A more rustic brick paver can take on the look of weathered cobblestone.

Farmhouse
The modern, open farmhouse is so popular, and with good reason because of its traditional lines and open floor plan. It relies on wood, brick, and stone for its gorgeous, approachable look. Brick has been part of the farmhouse look for many years, and continues to complement the beauty of this home style. Because the current farmhouse relies on the addition of stone to the outside, a gray or tan brick patio could add contrasting texture while continuing the colors in the stone. 

Cottage or Bungalow
In a cottage or bungalow style home, small details make a crucial difference. Simplicity can be reflected in timeworn brick materials in multiple shades of red, tan and gray. This homestyle often makes heavy use of symmetry in the home structure and in the landscape, so continuing the symmetry in a brick patio would cause it to blend seamlessly with the other exterior elements. The same colors incorporated in a band around the edge of the patio keeps the even appearance. Or you could opt for a unique patio with what appears to be mirror images of brick patterns. 

Related: 3 Ways to Boost Your Downers Grove, IL, Landscape Design with Natural Stone


Laying Patterns
While the choice of brick is central to the overall aesthetic of your patio, laying patterns will transform the style. The running bond pattern consists of pavers laid end to end with the joint of the pavers on either side aligned with the center. This simple and traditional pattern is timeless and won’t ever go out of style. The herringbone pattern has so much visual interest with its zigzag appearance. Laid in a circular pattern, brick pavers can create a central focus for a patio that might be accented with contrasting paving stones. 
When considering all of the brick options and paying patterns for a patio, it is best to consult a landscape professional who has the expertise to recommend the choices that will bring the most functional, but eye-catching look, for your particular home. 
Integrate Sustainability Into Your Naperville, IL, Landscape Design

​When sustainability is a priority, it should be a top consideration in any changes you make to your landscape design. Being resourceful is made possible when plans are put in place before the digging and building begins. Use the following tips to accommodate for sustainability in your Naperville, IL, landscape design.

Stormwater Management

During the rainy months, stormwater can become a nuisance. It may not be something you keep in mind when you think about sustainability, but it should be. A rain garden is a basin that is dug into the ground that is especially designed to take on excess rainwater. The main scenario where this design becomes most efficient is near an roofs, driveways, patios, and other hardscape features that are fairly close together. 

Instead of letting the water run off into the street and down the storm drain, rain gardens provide a healthy access point into the soil. This creates a cleaner water table thanks to the filtration of the plants that are placed in this area. Stormwater tends to pick up pollutants on its way to the closest body of water. To prevent this from happening, rain gardens are designed to filter out these pollutants during soil absorption. This is all done while keeping a large array of your favorite plants healthy and happy.

Related:  Benefits of Using Natural Stone for Your Outdoor Fireplace in Batavia, IL

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Smart Watering

Wasting water is a risk homeowners take when they invest in a large lawn and want to keep it as pristine as possible. Traditional sprinkler systems can 
unfortunately lead to wasting large amounts of water. The main factor that such a sprinkler system does not take into account is how moist the ground is before the need to water it. You can find this moisture level by observing the amount of rain that falls, but who has time to pay attention to that? Landscape contractors who know your area and climate can keep track of it for you and help you think through the possibility of installing an irrigation system that would provide more efficient use of your water resource. 

Related:  4 Tips for Creating Beautiful and Functional Retaining Walls in St. Charles, IL

Soil Protection

Your soil is the key to keeping a healthy and sustainable landscape. The main problem people have is unhealthy topsoil that is not receiving enough nutrients. If you have a dry and unhealthy topsoil, you would have to use up more water to maintain it. To solve this issue, consult your landscaping professionals on a fertilizer plan to reintroduce much needed nutrients back into the topsoil. Make sure you ask about environmentally friendly fertilizers. This is because some fertilizers can pollute the water table when absorbed into the soil.

Consider using compost and mulch to build up the health of the soil while also improving your plants’ resistance to pest and diseases. You may want to avoid gravel or rocks for your weed control as they do not return organic matter back into the environment. A retaining wall could help with any erosion issues. You will also want to try to refrain from common walking paths along your lawn. If you find that’s unavoidable and one part of your lawn is getting constantly walked on, consider having a walkway installed to replace dying grass with beautiful stonework.

​An outdoor fireplace can transform your Batavia, IL, landscape by becoming the focal point of your backyard escape. Its warmth will encourage friends and family to gather, and the fire itself will set the mood for a romantic get-together. You can ensure a long-lasting and beautiful outcome for your outdoor fireplace project by opting for natural stone. This material choice will add to the elegant experience you are creating while also providing you with confidence that your investment will serve you for years to come. Its ability to absorb, store, and radiate heat makes natural stone the perfect pairing with a warm fire, night after night.  

Durable Outdoor Material

Since natural stone comes from the earth, it has the capacity to withstand some of the extreme weather in Illinois like rain, sleet, snow, ice, hail, and heat. It is often the preferred choice for a variety of landscape features specifically because it offers protection from the risk of bends, splinters, dents, or swelling that could strike features made of wood or metal.

Related: Choosing the Perfect Material for Your Outdoor Fireplace in Geneva, IL

Low Maintenance Building Material   

There is no painting, staining, or intensive upkeep required with natural stone. Since it does not suffer from terrible mold, splinters, and rot like some other building materials, it can easily be cleaned and will withstand pressure washing.  

Natural Stone Offers a Timeless Design

Many homeowners with both modern and traditional styles have used their outdoor fireplace as a centerpiece for their backyard. As landscape design trends change and the desire to add your outdoor space continues, your outdoor fireplace made of natural stone will continue to fit in with its surroundings. This is because this material complements many other construction materials and architectural styles. It has the ability to pull of an elegant yet natural feel in a backyard setting that is both relaxing and impressive.

Related: Style Your Outdoor Fireplace with a Beautiful Stacked Stone Look in Burr Ridge, IL


Wise Investment for Backyard Structures

Natural stone has been around since the beginning of time. Ancient buildings made from stone masonry have far prevailed many others, while continuing to maintain their beauty and in fact getting more beautiful with age. The uniqueness of each stone creates a rich authentic look, making your outdoor fireplace a feature that will add value to your property. Your fireplace will be a statement within your backyard that will create a sense of indoor comfort, while giving you the ability to enjoy the outdoors a little while longer when the seasons change.

A Beautiful View

Using natural stone for your outdoor fireplace will give your backyard a luxurious feel. The variety of colors and textures available gives you the flexibility to create the ambiance you desire, whether your priority is creating a fun place for entertaining guests or a relaxing area for intimate nights in your outdoor space. Your outdoor fireplace can be as modern and simplified as you like or be a more complex construction. Materials like limestone and soapstone can create a clean look, weathering elegantly over time, while bluestone and brownstone have earthy appearances that pair well with plants and a lush green lawn.

Eco-Friendly and Chemical Free

Natural stone is free from radicals and chemicals unlike pressure-treated wood and other stone substitutes. Especially when considering a fireplace, you want to choose building materials that will be safe and long lasting.
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​A fire pit can be as simple as you want it, or you could add versatility and luxury with the addition of attachments and accessories. Take your new Lisle, IL, fire pit to its full potential by considering these accessories.

Related:  Warm Up Your Evenings with an Outdoor Fireplace!

Discrete Storage

Once you get your fire going and are relaxing next to it, you won’t want to leave. This is where a small storage container would be perfect to make sure you have everything you need for a night by the fire. An essential item for any late night fire is a cozy blanket. With a nearby storage container, you won’t need to go back inside for it. Storage is especially perfect for a fire pit that is off the patio and far from your back door.

Storage attachments also offer a great place to keep your handy marshmallow roasting sticks for late night s’mores. Having a dedicated container makes for a tidy area by allowing you to keep all of your fire pit tools in one place. One thing to keep in mind when choosing a storage container is that it protects its contents from the elements and from getting too hot.

Related:  4 Warm and Welcoming Outdoor Fireplace Designs

Grill Pad

If you like grilling things over a fire, then this is the perfect fire pit accessory for you: A grill pad can be securely attached to the side of your fire pit protruding upward about 20 inches. It is equipped with a hand crank that controls the height of the grill pad so that you can control the temperature at which you cook. If you need to cook something a little slower like chicken, raise it higher. The other benefit to this feature is the ability to safely move the grill piece with the crank rather than trying to maneuver handling a hot piece of metal with a flimsy tool or pot holder.

Ash Guards

Ash guards are a great accessory especially for those who have a fire pit close to the home. Ash guards are made of a highly fire-resistant metal shaped into a tight screen. This screen is usually formed into a shallow dome that you place over your fire pit, essentially blocking any large ash particles from making it out of the fire. Not only does it save you the headache of ash scattered across your patio, but it also makes your fire pit and its surroundings safer. Along with keeping the ash contained, it blocks any unwanted embers from leaving the fire. Ash guards come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Smokeless Fire Pit Insert

Smokeless inserts are a must for anyone who frequently uses their fire pit. It effectively minimizes smoke through a secondary combustion process. The insert has two metal walls that have a gap in between them. When there is a fire inside the pit, it heats up the air in between the two walls, channeling the smoke toward the top of the insert. From there, the air exits through holes pointed toward the top of the fire. This pushes the smoke back into the fire, thus burning and eliminating it. If you are currently designing a fire area in your landscape, a smokeless fire pit attachment can be as luxurious as a fireplace with a chimney. Both will effectively keep the smoke out of your and your guests’ faces.

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Natural stone is a favorite material of landscapers and designers alike because of its versatility and beauty. If you want to incorporate natural stone into your Downers Grove, IL, outdoor living space but aren’t sure how, we’ve got some ideas that can help. Here are three ways to use natural stone to enhance your landscape design.

The Surface of Your Patio

The patio is the main entertaining space for enjoying the outdoors at home, and having a solid and stylish patio foundation is the key to enjoying this favored space. The flooring of your patio is important and can set the tone for the rest of your landscape design. Natural stone is a great choice because of its longevity and aesthetic appeal. Limestone and Sandstone, two commonly used natural stones, are both timeless choices. The deep gray Limestone in Black River provides a fresh look for any design, and contrasts well with potted plants and flowers. Sandstone in Autumn Harvest combines rustic textures with sandy beige colors that are a complement to any yard. No matter the size of your patio, natural stone’s large format will maximize the feeling of space. Unlike wood or poured concrete, the surface of natural stone can withstand inclement weather like snow without cracking or breaking down.

Related: Why Choose Pavers over Asphalt for Your Naperville, IL, Driveway


New Walkways to Better Enjoy Your Plantings

Walkways add definition and character to the home, guiding you through the property to the backyard, into the house, and around the grounds. Walkways constructed of quality pavers will greatly complement an already beautiful landscape. Specially placed planters alongside them can turn time spent walking through your yard an always enjoyable experience. You may prefer natural stone pavers for this purpose as a stunning contrast to your flowers and plants. Use the cool gray Limestone in Winter Mist to make a stepping stone pathway. To add whimsy, you could have tufts of grass left intact in between each stone. For larger walkways, add accent pavers on the border of your natural stone walkway. Then choose an area of your walkway to add in an arbor, defining your walkways and adding space for climbing foliage.

Pool Deck for Easy Stepping

Pool decks require the right type of surface to deal with the constant water exposure they receive. Whether indoor or out, natural stone can ease the transition as barefoot swimmers make their way out of the pool and don’t want to land on a surface that is too hot to the touch. Sandstone in Stone Cliff Grey is hard and durable but still feels soft underfoot. It’s immune to warping induced by temperature changes. The lines and shapes occurring naturally in the sandstone provide interest and contrast well with accent pavers like Mattoni. The color absorbs the right amount of light to prevent harsh glares and keep cool. The large format makes it perfect for bigger projects like pool decks, enhancing the space and accommodating for heavy foot traffic. The style of Sandstone in Indian Coast goes beautifully with the water and creates a natural looking oasis.
When it comes to projects demanding both stylish appeal and practicality, Limestone and Sandstone pavers are winners.