30 Year Anniversary
Serving the Naperville Community
Serving the Naperville Community
 When the weather is beautiful, you don’t want to spend time indoors. Instead, make the most of your time outdoors on your patio at your home in the Naperville or Hinsdale, IL, area. The memories made outdoors with your family and friends will be some of your favorites. Here are some of the ways you can make more memories outdoors on your patio.
Related: Is Your Wheaton, IL Landscape Design Missing a Cozy Touch? A Fire Pit Could Be the Answer Movie Night Outdoors Set up a projector and a screen and watch a movie outdoors with your family. With an outdoor living area that’s located beneath a pavilion where it’s protected from the elements, you’ll have the opportunity to have a TV installed where you can watch movies in ultimate comfort. Just don’t forget to bring the snacks outside. Cooking & Dining Opportunities If you have a grill, there are countless opportunities for grilling up some delicious foods. You can prep your food in your outdoor kitchen and cook it all in one place. When your yummy steaks are grilled to perfection, or your chicken wings are crisp and ready to eat, you can take a seat in your outdoor dining area and enjoy your meal with family and friends while being able to feel the cool breeze at the same time. If your idea of the perfect patio includes an outdoor pizza oven, this can make for some fun family cooking time. Just give everyone an individual crust and they can add their toppings. Grab an ice-cold beverage from your outdoor refrigerator and enjoy. Host a Bonfire-Style Party Fire pits provide the wonderful opportunity to host bonfire-style parties. These can be especially fun on a crisp autumn evening, where you can roast hotdogs over the fire, sip on hot cocoa or apple cider, and make s’mores. Fire creates a natural, gathering place, which makes for good conversation that flows easily. Your backyard patio will quickly become a popular gathering spot. Family Game Night Outdoors All you need is an outdoor dining table and comfortable patio chairs or an outdoor coffee table to enjoy a family game night outdoors. You can play a competitive game of Monopoly or a low-key game of Uno. There are also various yard games that can make for lots of fun, such as a giant game of checkers or Jenga. Children love family game nights, so this will be a popular event that you can hold once per week or once per month. Romantic Evenings Cuddle up with that special someone beneath the twinkling stars while you are seated next to a warm outdoor fireplace. Grab a blanket, two glasses of wine, and spend quality time together in your beautiful outdoor space. If you want additional entertainment, consider grabbing a game that provides interesting questions to help you get to know each other better. Even if you have been a couple for a long time, there are likely things that you will learn about each other. You could also enjoy watching an outdoor movie night, cooking together in your outdoor kitchen, or simply relaxing by your fire pit. Related: Renovating Your Patio? Here are 6 Reasons to Include a Fire Pit in Naperville, IL
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 One of the most exciting and useful features for any landscape has to be the fire pit. This simple, yet magnetic fire feature can be the missing puzzle piece to backyards that seem to be missing something. A fire pit is such a versatile landscape feature. It can fit in many different applications and works with every design style. While you plan the next steps of your landscape renovation, here are six reasons a fire pit belongs in practically any backyard in Hinsdale and Naperville, IL.
Related: Is Your Wheaton, IL Landscape Design Missing a Cozy Touch? A Fire Pit Could Be the Answer Warmth Everyone who spends time in your backyard knows how perfect weather can be quite fleeting. A fire pit can solve many of the issues caused by winds or cooler temperatures. Wherever you and your loved ones like to gather in your backyard, a fire pit can anchor that spot and provide everyone with plenty of warmth as the temperature starts to dip. Light Fire also always produces plenty of usable light in an outdoor setting. Depending on the fuel used, the ambient light can either be a varying consistency or a steady stream of flickering light. Wood tends to burn quite intensely, giving off plenty of ambient light but it must be tended constantly. Natural gas burns steadily but not as brightly, giving off a more bluish glow. The ambient light of a fire pit can be a pleasing sight that draws people to the area. Gathering Everyone loves to spend time around the fire pit with their loved ones. Whenever you have people in your backyard, they will automatically be drawn to the fire. This provides the perfect opportunity for providing seating in a circle around the pit. Depending on your seating arrangement, you can comfortably fit quite a few people around even the smallest fire pits. This will end up being one of the anchor points in your entire outdoor living space. Beauty As the flames light the area, the eye will be drawn to the fire pit and whatever sits around it. This could be your outdoor kitchen, a secluded nook, a fantastic view, a poolside patio, or a pergola. Even though the focus is on the fire after dark, every nearby feature is bathed in flickering light - and everything seems to look more beautiful and romantic when washed in fire light. The masonry structure of the fire pit can also be a thing of beauty. A far cry from a rustic fire ring, modern fire pits are sophisticated structures that complement surrounding masonry or stand alone as a dramatic focal point. Cooking When you think of a campfire, you’re probably thinking about s’mores, hot dogs, or other foods that you can cook over open flames. It’s one of the favorite activities of many people and it can surely bring back some wonderful memories. However, not every fire pit has cooking capabilities. The lava rock or glass fire pit stone found in natural gas fire pits can be extremely difficult to clean when food drippings are baked on by the heat. Wood fire pits can be used for cooking and depending on the wood (fruitwood is recommended for cooking), will impart a delicious flavor to the food and you won’t need to do any cleaning besides extracting ash. Value A well made and high quality fire pit is a permanent masonry structure that becomes an important fixture in any backyard. It will certainly be an attractive component of the entire property and can even be considered a selling point for the home (note that gas fire pits tend to be more desirable for resale than wood fire pits). Related: Why a Fire Pit Becomes the Prime Destination of the Backyard Patio in Hinsdale, IL  For your visitors, the driveway is their first impression of your home. If your driveway is taking away from the aesthetic of your home, a few changes to an ordinary asphalt driveway can make dramatic improvements to your front yard and greatly improve your home’s curb appeal. Not only that, but your own experience coming home will improve as well. Here’s how to create a grander entrance with a new driveway in Naperville and Wheaton, IL.
Related: 4 Ways a Paver Driveway Can Greatly Enhance Your Landscape Design in Hinsdale, IL Choose Pavers A paver driveway is inherently more elegant than any other surface. You can choose from classic brick to natural stone-inspired pavers including those that mimic limestone, sandstone, or granite. Or, if your home is modern and you want an eye-catching driveway, there are driveway-rated paver options with unique characteristics such as brushed finishes or oversized plank-style shapes. Add an eco-friendly touch with permeable pavers which feature somewhat larger spaces between pavers to allow surface water to seep into the ground. Combined with a snowmelt system, a permeable paver driveway will be dry - and beautiful - year-round. Add Creative Accents When you’re designing the driveway, the main paver field is the focus but the edges of your paved surface present wonderful opportunities for creativity. Add paver borders to your driveway, an apron at its entrance, or even inlays that proudly display your family’s initials or a custom design. These pavers can have a different color, shape, size, and texture from the main driveway surface. Embrace Curves In both traditional and contemporary landscapes, the use of curves in long driveways can add an elegant feel to the space. The driveway is intended to be a bridge between the outside world and your home. It looks more interesting if it follows the natural curves of the landscape instead of shooting in a straight line to the garage. If your driveway is short, consider more undulating landscaping: instead of a row of hedges along the driveway, for example, a series of small “islands” of flowers; a rock garden; or even curved raised masonry plant beds will add interest as well as an exclusive well-designed look. Use Strategic Plantings To help the front yard feel even more expansive, create a tree-lined alley. This, along with sparse landscaping, creates an incredible sense of elegance. The fewer details you have along the length of your driveway, the more the driveway will emphasize the home. Add a Stone Entry Gate and Wall Nothing makes a driveway feel grand quite like a gate at its entrance. Depending on your home’s aesthetic, your gate can take design cues from stone and steel gates of an English estate or the wood and steel arches of a Texas ranch. A gate will give your visitors the impression of luxury and security when they first enter, letting them feel a sense of awe at the beauty and grandeur of your front yard landscape and home. A low wall that follows the driveway is a beautiful accent that can also serve an important purpose: lighting the way, since landscape lights can be embedded into the masonry. Elegant Lighting Strategies Elegant lighting can be achieved using walkway lights along the length of the driveway and subtle lighting integrated into the landscaping to create a sense of dimension. Just be sure to avoid the motion-activated flood light which will blind your visitors and cast a harsh glare. Related: 6 Modern Paver Options to Consider for a Naperville, IL, Driveway 5 Landscape Features in Hinsdale and Naperville, IL That Can Benefit From Outdoor Lighting5/13/2022  Every important feature in your landscape has one thing in common: it needs to be illuminated at night. Between safety reasons, creating a welcoming feel, and letting your friends and family appreciate the beauty of your landscape, there are many reasons to carefully design a landscape lighting strategy for your property. Every landscape feature may have different needs, so let’s cover the basics. Here are five landscape features in Hinsdale and Naperville, IL that can benefit from outdoor lighting.
Related: 4 Places to Include Outdoor Lighting to Enhance Your Naperville, IL, Property All Walking Surfaces First and foremost, the walking surfaces of your landscape need to have plenty of adequate lighting in order for people to safely move around your property. These paved surfaces include the patio, the walkways, pool deck, and driveway. If your walking surfaces are currently illuminated from above using high-energy flood lights, there’s a more effective and attractive solution: walkway lighting. Use walkway lights near ground level around the edge of your walking surfaces. This strategy is much more efficient than overhead lighting because the light energy doesn’t have to be as bright since it only travels a short distance. Low-lying lights will also help reduce shadows and glare caused by bright overhead lighting. Around your patio and pool deck, you can also add string lights to give a festive feeling to the space. These simple light structures automatically put people in a party mode and they do a great job of bringing a space to life. With plenty of tasteful designs, string lights in combination with walkway lights create an attractive ambience that makes your outdoor spaces feel welcoming. A Fire Feature It may seem counter-intuitive, but a fire feature can greatly benefit from outdoor lighting. While each fire feature will produce lots of ambient light, they’re only sources of light when the fire is burning. Fireside lighting design should be focused on being subtle enough to not compete with the fire yet bright enough to take over when there isn’t a fire going. Adding lights at base of your fire feature will highlight the masonry beauty and let it take on a prominent presence in your nighttime landscape. These integrated lights will also safely illuminate walking surfaces. A Pavilion One of the best places to have any outdoor gathering, a pavilion is the place to be all summer long - and even well into the colder seasons with the addition of a fire feature and good lighting for those shorter days. Good outdoor lighting lets your pavilion take center stage. On the inside of your pavilion, use relatively bright lights that are pointed at the ceiling so that the light will bounce back towards the ground; your pavilion will become a glowing beacon, welcoming your guests to the fun in the backyard. A Water Feature Water features such as fountains or waterfalls can provide a wonderful atmosphere with the sounds and visuals of moving water. Add spotlights to your water features, such as within the fountain or behind the waterfall to create a nighttime focal point and add ambient light to the patio. The beautiful light waves will dance on surrounding surfaces at the slightest ripple - creating a mesmerizing effect similar to that of firelight. Your Front Entry Last but definitely not least, your front entry should be well-lit to create a warm welcome. Walkway lights, sidelights, and a few small, strategically placed spotlights within the landscaping will create a lovely approach to your home. Related: Creative Outdoor Lighting Solutions for an Active Patio in Hinsdale, IL  Keeping a landscape looking vibrant and healthy through the years requires constant attention and labor. Not only do many landscape maintenance tasks require quite a lot of hard work, they also require specialized knowledge. Before you get started on this year’s landscaping maintenance, take a quick look at landscaping maintenance and what we offer in Wheaton and Hinsdale, IL.
Related: Investing In A New Landscape Design This Spring? Here Are 6 Planting Options in Hinsdale and Wheaton, IL A Trimmed and Healthy Lawn Mowing is definitely one of the most common landscaping maintenance tasks that keeps your lawn looking great. Keeping a lawn is an integral part of American culture and it’s hard to imagine a home without one. However, many lawns are mowed improperly. Mowing to the wrong height is one of the most common mistakes: mowing too short and the soil loses moisture too quickly; and mowing too long can cause excess moisture. Our landscaping professionals will mow your lawn to the correct height to maintain optimal grass health. Another common mistake is using dull mower blades. Dull mower blades will rip and tear at the grass, causing cellular damage. This is what causes ugly brown tips - and worse, tearing at the grass invites disease. Our landscape maintenance professionals will keep their mower blades sharp, ensuring a clean slice through the leaves that the plant can quickly and easily repair. Edging is another task often neglected in the interest of time savings. Not all edges have to have a military-style buzz cut to look neatly trimmed, but it’s a task you want to stay on top of to help prevent grass from creeping into plant beds or over your walkways and driveway. Whether you prefer a neatly trimmed look or a softer look, our landscaping professionals will edge your lawn to perfection. Beautifully Shaped Trees and Shrubs Regular pruning helps ensure tree and shrub health. Pruning is the strategic trimming and sculpting that removes overgrown, unhealthy, diseased, or dead, limbs. Whether a tree is obscuring a beautiful view or growing too close to the house; or shrubs are invading your driveway or choking the view from your living room window, some pruning will need to happen. Aside from being dangerous work, tree trimming requires expert knowledge. Our tree care experts how much to remove at one time to prevent shocking the tree while giving it the most attractive look. Even hedge trimming must be done thoughtfully to prevent damage. A Weed Situation That’s Under Control Weeds can quickly take over a landscape if given the chance - and it’s ongoing work to prevent weeds from germinating and to eliminate those that have sprouted. Neglecting weed control for even one season can mean exponentially more work the following year. Our landscaping professionals will apply pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weeds from germinating; and post-emergent herbicides to remove visible weeds before the plants go to seed. The application of herbicides must be done with extreme care to prevent accidentally damaging or killing desirable vegetation, and to ensure safety of the homeowners and their pets. A Fresh Look Many homeowners want to freshen up their front yard every year with seasonal color. Landscaping professionals can help you choose the best plants for the local climate, and design, plant annuals and perennials, and maintain gorgeous beds that are a joy to look at all season. Refreshing mulch is another seasonal task that will keep your plant beds looking tidy. And in the backyard, we can create a more back-to-nature feel by adding plantings directly adjacent to your patio. This more integrated natural look will create a serene setting for relaxing and entertaining. Related: Planning a Landscaping Redesign This Spring? Consider a New Fine Garden in Hinsdale, IL  Part of building a beautiful landscape is embracing what nature has to offer and curating the plant life they way you see fit. As you choose which plants to add to your landscape, make sure to choose plants that are native to Illinois as they will look amazing while requiring almost no maintenance. There are many native planting options which can enhance the beauty and health of your living landscape. Are you investing in a new landscape design this spring? Here are six planting options in Hinsdale and Wheaton, IL.
Related: Planning a Landscaping Redesign This Spring? Consider a New Fine Garden in Hinsdale, IL The Black Cherry Tree You might be thinking about the delicious properties of the fruit. Sure, the delicious black cherry fruit is enough of an attraction in itself, but the tree can also make an impressive presence in your landscape. It’s a strong tree that loves full sun exposure. Throughout the growing season, it will provide a wide variance in color. From white flowers in the early spring to wide green leaves and the dark fruit in summer, then finally a bright reddish orange in the fall, the black cherry tree is never short of stunning. Remember that people aren’t the only creatures that love this tree as pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds will come flocking. The Butterfly Weed Flower As the name suggests, this flower is very attractive to butterflies. This is especially true for the coveted monarch butterfly, for which it is the only host plant for the species. However, this flower is most definitely not a weed. It grows a few feet high and builds bright clusters of orange and yellow flowers. It’s a hardy plant that loves full sun and does well in even the driest soil in your landscape. The Culver’s Root Flower Probably one of the most unique and interesting flowers you can add to your garden, the gorgeous Culver’s Root perennial can draw tons of interest. This flower loves shadier areas as well as moist soil as it grows tall and deepens its roots. The spiky and fascinating white flower clusters bloom in summer and provide a great deal of texture. The Elderberry Bush Another famous berry comes from this shrub and it’ll love the environment of your landscape. The berries themselves are well known for tasting delicious, boosting immunity, and creating a well-known liqueur, but that’s not all the plant has to offer. The broad leaves catch a lot of light throughout the growing season. The domed white flowers give off a lemony scent and create an amazing texture for your garden. It loves full sun and moist soil, so it’ll grow well almost anywhere in your landscape. The Foxglove Beardtongue Flower Just about as stunning as an orchid, this flower will draw interest anywhere in your garden. Their beautiful bell shape and delicate white color bloom during the summer. As the weather cools, the leaves will add a beautiful red tinge to its dark green. It loves full sun and normal soil. The details of the bloom are what make this flower so attractive and useful for a flower garden. The Garden Phlox Flower For adding another smattering of beautiful color to your flower garden, the Garden Phlox builds some purplish pink flowers in a symmetrical five-petal pattern. It’s a delicate plant, but it will add plenty of wonderful interest to your garden. Related: Looking to Revamp Your Hinsdale IL Patio? Consider These Landscape Design Trends  The addition of a fire feature to your landscape is a great decision that enhances outdoor living and adds value to your home. When it comes down to fire pit vs. outdoor fireplace, we can help you make the best decision for your Hinsdale and Naperville, IL backyard.
Humans have gathered around the fire for millennia and we’re still enamored with fire, whether it’s a wood or natural gas fire. Related: If a Landscape Design Is One of Your Resolutions, Here's Why You'll Want to Include a Fire Pit in Naperville, IL Fire Pit A fire pit is rudimentary, but not primitive. It’s not a fire ring made of random stones. Masonry fire pit kits are available. You can also build a custom masonry fire pit, or use a premade modern steel or concrete bowl-style fire pit. Heat and light radiates outwards from a fire pit, allowing everyone to share equally in the experience. Fire pits can be wood- or natural gas-fueled. If you burn wood, a fire pit can mean constantly shifting positions to keep the smoke out of the eyes. You’ll also need to store wood, remove ash from the fire pit, and clean up wood debris on the patio. A gas fire pit won’t have the authentic wood-fire crackle and aroma, but it’s cleaner, more consistent, and safer. You can cook over a wood fire pit: whatever a charcoal grill can do, a fire pit can do, with the addition of a grate and the right wood. We recommend not cooking on gas fire pits because decorative lava rock and fire pit glass are difficult to clean. Outdoor Fireplace The outdoor fireplace turns a patio into a cozy space with a distinct living room feel. Since an outdoor fireplace has a chimney to disperse smoke, you’ll never have smoke getting in people’s eyes. An outdoor fireplace is customizable. Fireplace kits are available, or you could go custom and incorporate a wood-fired pizza oven, a water feature, lighting, and decorative inlays and accents. An outdoor fireplace creates a warmer space since it can be positioned to act as a wind block. The design of most outdoor fireplaces limits the number of people who can sit in front of the fire. An outdoor fireplace is a large structure that may be visually overwhelming depending on the patio design. If a fireplace feels too big, consider moving it to a corner so it’s not so prominent. Wood or Gas? Both fire pits and outdoor fireplaces can produce a large amount of heat when fueled by wood. Even a gas-fueled fire feature generates enough heat to make friends and family comfortable. A wood fire needs to be tended constantly. Some people love tending the flames, and won’t be happy with a gas fire. On the other hand, gas is cleaner, doesn’t produce acrid smoke, and you never have splinters and ash to dirty the space. A wood fire pit must be located in an open space away from combustible materials. An outdoor fireplace can be located almost anywhere since it contains the flames and prevents flying embers. Gas-fueled fire features can be housed on a porch, under a pergola or pavilion, or even under trees. Seating Permanent masonry seating around a fire pit helps contain the heat, allows more people to sit together, and prevents patio clutter. Seating at an outdoor fireplace usually involves cushioned living room furniture, since fewer people will be close to the fire box. Related: Is Your Wheaton, IL Landscape Design Missing a Cozy Touch? A Fire Pit Could Be the Answer  The classic look of brick may seem limited in terms of artistic expression, but remember that people have been experimenting and perfecting bricklaying techniques for thousands of years and creativity abounds. Bricks come in various colors and sizes, but it’s how the patterns interact with the surrounding landscape that can really make things exciting. Consider these three brick paver patterns for your Naperville and Hinsdale, IL patio.
Related: Bring Your Wheaton, IL, Brick Patio to Life With a Creative Outdoor Lighting Plan Walkways: Running Bond One of the most common brick patterns is the running bond. This is the classic pattern for vertical structures. It is strong, simple, and timeless. Each brick is laid end to end, then the next row is staggered to create a system that equalizes pressure across each piece. Running bond is perfect for creating long sight lines and it’s the ideal pattern for straight or curved walkways. Complement the pattern with a strong border made of cobblestones or bricks laid in a soldier bond or stacked bond (the long sides resting against each other like soldiers in a row). Patios: Basketweave The double basketweave is another favorite of bricklayers for a simple reason: it’s eye-catching. The low-key line work depends on some simple geometry. This pattern uses bricks that are twice as long as they are wide. When laid next to another brick, this creates a perfect square with a line of separation running straight through the middle. The squares next to this one are turned 90 degrees, making a larger pattern that resembles the woven texture of a basket. The double basketweave pattern causes people to slow down and look at the texture, which makes it perfect for patios. A small patio will feel more charming; and a large patio will also feel more intimate as the intricate pattern keeps the eye engaged in the space. A stacked bond border will make the patio secure and add interest. Driveways: Herringbone The driveway is often the most neglected of masonry spaces in a landscape (it is often thought of as purely practical and not much design consideration is given to it). However, it usually takes up a large surface area and it’s a great opportunity for creative expression. Here especially, bricks need to support much more weight and take more pressure from vehicles, especially if the driveway is on a slope. The herringbone is a great option to use for your driveway. The herringbone pattern creates a visually stunning texture and because of the orientation of the bricks (with the “arrow” ends pointing uphill), it will help the entire paved surface to stand stronger against the increased pressures and potential gradual sliding downhill. Also, the diagonal lines help funnel surface water downstream to prevent puddles or ice. Finish the look with a sturdy stacked bond border. Other Patterns and Colors You don’t need to stick to rectangular patterns in your space to create a wonderful paved surface. Complex, yet satisfying and intricate brick patterns include the stunning Spanish bond and the rich puzzle of the whorled pattern. Circular or fan patterns are also ideal layouts for bricks: their slender shapes lend themselves to curved applications and intricate inlays with a minimum of cutting. Mixing colors - for example two or three colors mixed randomly - can add to the already rich visual texture of brick; and choosing the right jointing compound will also give you a unique look. Use lighter-colored jointing compound to create more texture, and darker jointing compound to reduce it. Related: Choosing the Right Look for a Retaining Wall That Will Be Part of Your Brick Patio Design in Hinsdale, IL  The driveway is an important feature of your landscape, but the standard asphalt driveway doesn’t do much for the aesthetics of your home. However, with the right materials it can certainly become a functional focal point. Modern pavers are the way to go, for many reasons. To help you make a decision, let’s take a look at these six modern paver options to consider for a Naperville, IL driveway.
Related: 4 Ways a Paver Driveway Can Greatly Enhance Your Landscape Design in Hinsdale, IL Timeless and Classical For creating a look in your driveway that’s timeless and classical, consider brick pavers. Traditionally, bricks are made of clay fired at high temperatures. This simple, yet effective approach has helped to build countless paved surfaces and structures throughout the world for centuries. Brick is incredibly strong and filled with character. Though clay bricks are typically earthy colors like reds and tans, modern concrete bricks can expand your color options to match any design theme. In fact, brick can be a very chic addition to an ultra modern or contemporary home - it’s not just for historical homes or bungalows. Whatever your design style, brick driveways can create the impression that your newly paved driveway has been around for a long time, giving a familiar and welcoming feel to your home. Elegant and Cozy The driveway is very likely the first part of your home that any of your guests are going to experience. When they see that you’ve paved the driveway with gorgeous cobblestones, they’re going to get a certain feeling that only certain places in the world can provide. Cobblestones have been used for centuries in building roads and paths all over the world and modern concrete versions are also durable, with the added benefit of easier installation (only the surface is irregular; the parts of the pavers that join together are precisely shaped to fit together snugly). You may be wondering if snow plowing is even possible with cobblestone pavers. You don’t have to plow or shovel: all modern pavers are compatible with snowmelt systems that will keep your driveway ice- and snow-free all winter. Rustic and Warm The rustic appeal of flagstone has made it one of the most sought after masonry materials in outdoor living spaces. Natural flagstone is not suitable for driveways because it’s a sedimentary stone that will quickly show signs of wear. However, plenty of concrete alternatives are available that are rated for driveway. Flagstone-inspired modern pavers evoke the same look and feel in a more practical version that you can carry throughout your hardscape. Suave and Modern For homeowners that want to keep a modern design element throughout the landscape, certain unique pavers could fit the bill. For example, hexagonal pavers give your driveway a fresh and fun look while honoring the classic shape of the honeycomb, a nod to hard-working bees. Pavers with a brushed texture - especially alongside pavers with other textures - and longer, linear plank shapes are becoming more common on driveways that are intended to stand out and make a statement. Permeable Pavers All of the above options are available in a permeable version. This eco-friendly option allows surface water to seep through the joints between the pavers without causing any heaving or movement. The look is the same, but you’ll enjoy a high-performing driveway designed to prevent ice buildup, pooling, and runoff. And yes, they can be installed over a driveway heating system for extra convenience. Related: 4 Ways a Paver Driveway Can Greatly Enhance Your Landscape Design in Hinsdale, IL  Great outdoor lighting techniques have the ability to transform even the most mundane landscapes. In fact, no matter what features and amenities your landscape has, it matters very little after dark, without decent outdoor lighting. There are a few key places around your property with which outdoor lighting is essential and others where it can make a huge difference in the overall feel of your landscape. Here are four places to include outdoor lighting to enhance your Naperville, IL property.
Related: Increase the Safety of Your Driveway With These Outdoor Lighting Tips in Naperville, IL The Driveway and Garage Area The old-school technique was to mount a floodlight on the garage, to illuminate part of the driveway and the area in front of the garage. However, a single bright light source above the garage provides strong illumination immediately below the garage, but it can also provide a significant amount of glare that can interrupt the driver’s vision. It’s an unattractive and unappealing way to light the area. Instead, opt for lights that are placed closer to the ground. Walkway lights are a great solution because they illuminate the ground for safety, without causing glare or stark shadows. Placing a sconce on either side of the garage door, with light emanating both directly up and down, will add ambient light but in a much more welcoming way than a floodlight. Walkways and the Entrance Ensuring that the walkways are adequately illuminated will greatly enhance safety. Once again, focus on using walkway lights. Remember that the higher the lights, the bigger chance that objects can interfere and create shadows. Choose walkway lights that are low to the ground to maximize their energy efficiency as well as their effectiveness in lighting your way. Some people choose solar powered walkway lights although keep in mind that snowfall and extended cloudy weather will quickly deplete their batteries, which could leave your walkway very dimly lit or entirely in the dark. We recommend hard-wired lights for the walkway, which won’t fail because of the weather. Outdoor lighting can also be integrated into masonry features such as a retaining wall, or even directly into the walkway surface. Your front entry should be well-lit and welcoming. Again, keep in mind the angle of the light: directly up and directly down is best for light fixtures mounted on either side of the front door. Outdoor Living Spaces On the patio, use a mix of lighting strategies to create ambient light as well as task lighting for your outdoor cooking area. For the perimeter of your patio, you can use walkway lights and overhead task lighting in places such as a covered outdoor kitchen and bar area or pergola. Use masonry surfaces to disguise light fixtures: a fire feature, water feature, outdoor kitchen, pillars, steps, and retaining walls are excellent spots to integrate lighting. Within the Landscape To give your landscape a more dimensional feel, consider placing a few “random” light fixtures such as spotlights or walkway lights in a few spots such as under a shrub or tree, to add dimension and reduce the contrast between the dark landscape and well-lit outdoor living spaces. Add silhouetting and moonlighting techniques to add interest. You’ll notice that most of these lighting strategies don’t use one bright fixture to try to illuminate a space: instead, a multitude of small, dimmer fixtures placed below eye level will create a much more pleasing atmosphere. Related: Creative Outdoor Lighting Solutions for an Active Patio in Hinsdale, IL |
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