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Enjoy the Fall Season: 4 Landscaping Trends for Loving the Outdoors in Wheaton and Hinsdale, IL9/13/2021  Just because summer is winding down doesn’t mean that outdoor fun has to stop. If you want more outdoor fun and natural serenity in your life, here are our tips on how to enjoy the fall season: 4 landscaping trends for loving the outdoors in Wheaton and Hinsdale, IL.
Related: Why a Fire Pit Becomes the Prime Destination of the Backyard Patio in Hinsdale, IL A Patio With Character It’s hard to get excited about hanging out with friends on a boring concrete slab. But on a gorgeous custom paver patio complete with a pergola… seat walls… an outdoor fireplace or fire pit… and an outdoor kitchen with bar seating? Now we’re talking! The most appealing and functional patios feature a zoned approach where high-traffic areas such as the outdoor kitchen don’t interfere with quieter activities such as a lounge area. Think about your favorite patio activities, and plan a patio so that each of these main activities have their own zone. One way to achieve this is by setting these different zones at different elevations. For example, your outdoor kitchen could be on the main level - convenient to the home - and your lounge area a step higher for a commanding view of the surroundings, and a fire pit one step below the main patio to add a sense of coziness and intimacy. If you don’t relish the thought of shoveling your patio once the snow begins to fall, consider a driveway heating system that’s placed under the pavers. Your patio will be safer and much more appealing in cold weather. An Outdoor Kitchen With the Amenities You Need Cooking delicious meals for family and friends is one of the joys of outdoor living. The key is to have a cooking space that meets your needs as a cook. Do you love grilling? Then a masonry grill station with an adjacent bar could be just the ticket for backyard BBQs. Do you love to wow your guests with gourmet meals? Then spring for a full outdoor kitchen that features a wine cooler, Kamado grill, 2- or 4-burner cooktop, or even a wood-fired pizza oven. Shelter Nothing puts a damper on outdoor fun than a cold November drizzle. But from the shelter of a pavilion, you won’t give it a second thought! A pavilion is an open-sided structure with a solid roof that offers protection from the elements. You still get the outdoors feeling, but without the hassle of running indoors when the skies open up. Since a pavilion can be any size, it could cover your outdoor kitchen/bar area, and even include a seating area. Make it even cozier by adding an outdoor fireplace along one side - or a gas-fueled fire table in the center, for an amazing outdoor dining experience. Updated Lighting As the days get shorter, you’ll want landscape lighting that will keep your outdoor spaces safe and inviting. Today’s landscape lighting designs use light-emitting diode (LED) technology because these bulbs last an incredibly long time, use very little energy, and their small sizes mean you can get creative with placement. A layered approach will give you the most pleasing results. This strategy involves the appropriate amount of lighting within each activity zone (a combination of task lighting, ambient light, and accent lighting). As well, you want to prevent the unpleasant contrast between a dark landscape and a brightly lit patio and walkway. Placing a few subtle lights throughout the landscape will give dimension to these formerly dark spaces, without disrupting the appeal of a nighttime experience. Related: Options for Outdoor Lighting to Improve Safety and Beauty Along Your Wheaton, IL, Driveway
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 Your patio is the focus of your outdoor living area and so it should include features which keep you outside longer. One of these features is the fire pit, which has been bringing everyone together for thousands of years. Are you renovating your patio? Here are six reasons to include a fire pit in Naperville, IL.
Related: Take a Fresh Look at Your Patio Options With These 4 Landscaping Ideas in Wheaton, IL The Pride of a Gorgeous Masonry Feature Having a masonry feature standing proud in your backyard will make you feel like your landscape is more complete. Luckily, a fire pit is a permanent feature on your patio (or anywhere in your landscape) that quickly becomes an anchor point. For the most cohesive look, pair the blocks used in the construction of your fire pit with the surrounding patio as well as any masonry and color schemes present in your home and landscape. A Place to Warm Up Fire pits offer that nostalgic campfire feeling without the trouble of digging and building a pit in the wilderness. While they’re fairly rudimentary, fire pits have remained one of the most attractive places for people to get together and warm up. No matter if it’s a night in the heat of the summer after a barbecue with loved ones or a frigid night around the holidays where a small group of bundled-up close friends share mugs of hot cocoa surrounded by crunchy snow, the fire pit is where everyone will go to warm up. A Place to Cook While it might take some professional skill to cook some gourmet food around a fire pit, it’s still a great place to roast sausages or marshmallows to make some delicious s’mores. Some of the finest summer memories are made with skewers around the campfire, so it’s the natural next step to reinforce those memories in the comfort of your backyard. We recommend a wood-fired fire pit for cooking; and be sure to use fruitwoods that impart a delicious flavor to your food. A Place to Gather Even though it’s fun to stand around a fire pit and chat while enjoying the warmth and flickering light, it’s much cozier when you’ve got a comfortable place to sit. Once you’ve gotten the fire started and a few logs start to glow with embers, friends and family will start taking their seats around the pit. Since you’ve already gotten a permanent masonry feature installed on your patio, you could surround your fire pit with some high-backed seat walls which can help retain the heat in the area and shelter everyone from cold winds. High-backed seat walls can provide the opportunity for sturdy and comfortable relaxation around a fire pit and help make the fire area a prominent focal point. A Potential Return on Your Investment As fire pits are one of the most attractive features in any home landscape, it will quickly become one of the selling points should you ever choose to sell your home, especially if the fire pit is fueled by natural gas or propane. Potential buyers will appreciate the ambience that only a fire pit can add. But what about you? A fire pit could be the one feature that gets you to use your outdoor living space much later into the year - even in the heart of winter. And since you are already paying for the space, it’s nice to be able to use it comfortably! A fire pit is one of the best investments you can make in your landscape. Related: Warm Up Your Wheaton IL Brick Patio With a Traditional Fire Pit We’re honored to be featured in this blog post by 15 Acre Homestead on How to Have a Yard You Love. Given how much many of us spend on acquiring a property, we should have high standards relating to the quality of the property. And this means all areas of the home. You’ll probably be spending a lot of time and effort in ensuring that the inside of your home is on point, but what about the exterior area? If you get this area right, then you’ll have a space where you can unwind, relax, and create memories with your loved ones. And the good news is that getting a yard you love isn’t as difficult as many people think. In this blog, we’ll look at a few ways that you can make sure your yard is one of your favorite places at your property. Read more.   If you have a new brick patio or you’re planning to install one, you may be wondering how to showcase it using your landscaping. Here are 4 landscape design tips for drawing attention to your brick patio in Naperville, IL.
Related: Choosing the Right Look for a Retaining Wall That Will Be Part of Your Brick Patio Design in Hinsdale, IL Brick is a timeless building material that comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Mostly, when we think of brick, we picture the traditional bricks we see on walls and sidewalks; but brick pavers can also be square, large, and they do not have to be reddish. Brick is a versatile material that will bring visual interest to your outdoor living space whether you use traditional clay bricks (which are more limited in choices) or concrete bricks, which are available in many more styles and colors since they are not tied to the colors of the clay used in the making of clay bricks. 1. Colors The first decision to make is whether you want your landscaping to contrast or complement your patio. Whether you want it to be a dramatic focal point or whether you prefer that it blends in, you can draw attention to the patio with color. A light-colored patio will stand out more in any landscape, but especially so in a wooded landscape or in a setting that doesn’t receive much sunlight. In bright, sunny areas, a light-colored patio will instantly grab your attention. A mid-toned patio won’t stand out as much as a light-colored patio, so here you could use interesting laying patterns and textures to make an interesting space. A dark-colored patio (such as granite- or limestone-inspired pavers) will blend in even more with the surroundings, but will also give your outdoor space an elegant look very much worthy of a second glance. 2. Textures Nature is filled with textures so to make your patio stand out, you could create a contrast. That doesn’t mean the pavers have to be smooth, or that you should avoid texture altogether. Here are a couple of ideas. You could use smooth patio pavers to provide a contrast to a more textured seat wall that softens the transition between the smoothness of the pavers and the varied textures of the natural surroundings. Or, your patio could feature moderately textured brick pavers in a lighter color that will help it stand out. Or, you could embrace the natural visual texture of traditional brick pavers (which is due to their small size and the many joints between them) but use laying patterns to keep the eye engaged in the patio. 3. Vertical Elements The eye is less interested in flat planes than dynamic spaces filled with a variety of horizontal and vertical elements. You could bring attention to your brick patio by surrounding your patio partially with a seat wall; adding a fire pit or outdoor fireplace; by cladding the walls of your outdoor kitchen in brick pavers; or by using brick pillars at the base of the wooden supports of a pergola. 4. Laying Patterns You can create a stand-out patio with more structured patterns. If you’re using traditional bricks, then either herringbone, running bond, or basket weave patterns provide a sense of order. If you’re using larger square brick pavers, laying them end-to-end also provides an eye-catching contrast to the softer elements in the landscape, even in a formal landscape where plants are precisely located in symmetrical patterns. Related: 5 Landscape Design Ideas for a Modern Permeable Driveway in Wheaton, IL Options for Outdoor Lighting to Improve Safety and Beauty Along Your Wheaton, IL, Driveway8/13/2021  Keeping your landscape illuminated is one of the many ways of keeping your home safe. Driveway lighting is one of the best ways to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere. However, this doesn’t mean that you need glaring floodlights. Your driveway can also be illuminated at night to showcase the beauty of the home, the front yard, as well as the driveway itself. Here are some options for outdoor lighting to improve safety and beauty along your Wheaton, IL driveway.
Related: Why Adequate Outdoor Lighting for Your Naperville IL Driveway and Front Yard Is So Important Abandon the Floodlight One of the most common styles of landscape lighting actually does more harm than good. Floodlighting using a single bright light source will do a poor job of covering an area while using a high amount of energy to do it. It will produce a harsh glare - the last thing you want to be looking at when navigating an unfamiliar driveway. Flood lights also produce contrasting shadows that can obscure obstacles in the driveway. Here are some great alternatives. Solar-Powered LED Path Lights Placing solar-powered LED path lights along the driveway provides safety as well as a clear delineation of the driveway. Low-lying lights won’t produce glare since their light is aimed at the ground. The downside to path lights is that very low lights could be obscured by snow; so knee-high lights will be more practical in all but the deepest snows. When choosing the right path lights, you can go off the grid. Choose light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as your main light source in standalone light fixtures that are powered by the sun during the day, and activate as night falls. This will eliminate energy costs for keeping your driveway illuminated while also adding an elegant touch. Masonry-embedded Lights If you have any existing structures such as a retaining wall along the driveway edge, this will provide a wonderful housing for your solar-powered LED light fixtures. You can place a series of lights just under the lip of the cap stone on an existing wall - or if you’re thinking about a new wall, you could build them anywhere into the wall itself during construction. Another option is to install lights embedded into masonry pillars that run the length of the driveway; the pillars could also serve as posts for a decorative fence. Spotlighting Landscape Features Part of creating a sense of depth perception for safe driving up and down your driveway at night is by illuminating various landscape features. You can achieve this with the technique of spotlighting, which uses bright lights near the ground that are angled upwards to show something in its full glory. This may be a gorgeous tree that dominates your front yard, a series of shrubs, a beautiful rock outcropping, or maybe even a statue or a retaining wall. Giving these features proper illumination at night will help create a much safer and interesting experience for visitors. Leading With String Lights String lights are typically used to create a festive atmosphere for backyard gatherings, but they may find another excellent use for your driveway. String lights can be placed above the driveway along the edge, both giving excellent, soft ambient light for the surrounding features as well as helping a driver or pedestrians find their way. It’s an excellent welcoming tactic that’s simple to install though you’ll want professionals to install string lights from your home or in tree canopies. Best of all, there is a wide variety of string light designs and styles to use in your landscape that conform with all parts of your aesthetic. Once your guests arrive at night, they’ll already be in awe by the time they reach your doorstep. Related: Outdoor Lighting Trends to Consider for a Naperville, IL, Brick Patio  Retaining walls are often thought of as purely utilitarian features. However, retaining walls can serve as important focal points with just as much beauty and character as your patio. The trick is to choose complementary or contrasting wall materials that help the wall become part of the design and not an afterthought. Here are our tips for choosing the right look for a retaining wall that will be part of your brick patio design in Hinsdale, IL.
Related: Take a Fresh Look at Your Patio Options With These 4 Landscaping Ideas in Wheaton, IL Many factors can go into selecting the right wall materials including size, shape, color, and texture. Regarding budget, most manufacturers will have several price tiers of wall units, with similar appearances - so you can get the look you want, at a budget that works for you. Modern retaining walls are typically made with a core of stacked concrete blocks and faced with a brick, natural stone, or manufactured stone veneer. This is the case with light-duty retaining walls shorter than four feet tall. Larger heavy-duty structural retaining walls are typically made with full-sized wall blocks that can weigh 50-75 pounds each and they must be designed by a licensed engineer to ensure they can withstand the tremendous weight and pressure of the soil they are holding back. When it comes to design, the choice of wall units to pair with a brick patio is a personal one, depending on the look you want to achieve. The main thing to remember is that the best look will be achieved using slightly or dramatically different materials, rather than the same materials. In other words, avoid brick for your wall units next to a brick patio which can quickly become tiring to look at. A better option is to choose materials that bring out the best in each other, whether it’s a slight difference or a striking one. Here are some ideas: 1. Smooth retaining wall blocks alongside textured patio pavers such as brick (contrasting textures) While brick pavers are not highly textured, due to their small size, they are visually textured (especially if you are using contrasting jointing sand). A beautiful modern look could be achieved by embracing the contrast and using oversized plank-style wall blocks in a smooth texture. 2. Lightly textured retaining wall blocks alongside a brick patio (similar textures): Lightly textured wall units could look like tumbled quarry stone. This look is in keeping with an easygoing casual/rustic atmosphere: a low-maintenance carefree style that invites you to enjoy the space without worrying about fussy materials. Choose lightly textured wall units that are larger to give the wall a substantial look. Laying Patterns Also factor in laying patterns. If you’re using classic bricks (whether clay or concrete) they will likely be laid in a running bond, herringbone, or basket weave pattern on your patio. The best results will come by using a simple pattern on the wall, such as a running bond (which will also simplify the installation) - no matter what the laying pattern you are using on the patio. Relatively busy laying patterns on the patio will look best when complemented with simplicity, and using larger format wall units to create visual balance. Colors Choosing colors is just as important as choosing textures. Opt for complementary or contrasting colors, and avoid the same tones for the most pleasing results. This will give each element its own distinct character. Whether you highlight the retaining wall by making it lighter than the surrounding brick patio or give it a dramatic presence with darker tones, the color will draw you in and say, “this wall is important.” Related: The 5 Benefits of Having a Retaining Wall Near Your Driveway in Naperville, IL  Your landscape is the outdoor expression of you and your family and it should be celebrated in its natural and augmented states. Letting the nature of your landscape flourish is important as well as making a place that’s your private oasis in the world. To both add some life and color to your landscape while making it entirely yours, there are some concepts to consider. You can brighten up your landscaping with these five landscape design ideas in Wheaton, IL. Related: Take a Fresh Look at Your Patio Options With These 4 Landscaping Ideas in Wheaton, IL Adding Native Shrubs and Flowers Keeping plants alive and healthy doesn’t need to be tedious and expensive. There is a wide variety of plants native to Illinois that will bring vivacious color to your landscape along with the undeniable delights of low maintenance and minimal watering. Native plants have evolved over millennia to live perfectly in your landscape. Whether you enjoy a riot of color or a serene monochromatic planting theme, there are native plants ideally suited to the task of ensuring year-round bright colors in your landscape. Diversified Lighting Strategies Without proper night lighting, even the most gorgeous landscape turns to a dark and dangerous nightmare after night falls. Using one or two spot lights to illuminate your landscape won’t do the job. A mix of different strategies is the most effective. Use light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures close to the ground along walkways and patios to make sure the ground surfaces are safe. Use spotlights and moonlighting to add texture to trees and other landscape features. Use the refractory properties of water to your advantage by lighting your pool and any other water features. Add string lighting above your patio to make things feel a little bit more exciting. Soon, your landscape will have nighttime depth and will attract friends and family whenever they visit. Xeriscape Unused Sections Lawns are a treasured part of the American home, but they don’t need to cover every square inch of a landscape. Lawns use a considerable amount of water and unless your lawn is host to daily play by kids and the family dog, you could consider replacing some portion of your lawn with xeriscaping, which is an environmentally-friendly decision that adds multiple benefits to your landscape. Xeriscaping means using water-wise plants (not cacti!) surrounded by a bed of decorative stone (not mulch) to decrease your landscape’s water usage, help return snow and rain runoff to the soil, and create a visually stunning landscape. Switch to Light-Colored Pavers Using pavers on your patio, pool deck, walkways, and driveway will create a visually interesting landscape. Pavers can complement any design aesthetic, whether you prefer the clean lines and minimalist approach of modern design, or the warm tones, irregular textures and relaxed look of rustic spaces. Light-colored pavers will reflect more sunlight, making for a brighter space. This could be a good option if your landscape is heavily treed and shady. Encourage Outdoor Living Part of spending time outdoors in your landscape is being comfortable. A bright, cheerful space starts with a patio that comfortably houses all of the activities you want to enjoy outside. Bringing some of the trappings of modern life outside may simply be the key to helping you enjoy your landscape. Consider an outdoor kitchen to cook and enjoy delicious feasts al fresco, making great memories with family and friends. Related: Inviting Landscape Design Elements to Add to Your Front Yard Landscaping in Hinsdale, IL  Retaining walls provide both practical and aesthetic value to a home. If your home is on a slope, you might be interested in learning about the 5 benefits of having a retaining wall near your driveway in Naperville, IL.
Related: 7 Landscape Design Ideas That Include a Retaining Wall in the Hinsdale, IL Area 1. Drainage and Erosion Control On any sloped property, managing the flow of water and preventing the movement of water-laden soil is a top priority. If your driveway cuts across the slope of the property, you may notice water, mud, and/or debris flowing across your driveway after a heavy rain: not only is this unattractive, but it can cause serious damage to downslope vegetation. Sliding debris can also mar the surface of a paver driveway, as dirt and rocks act like sandpaper that will damage the pavers. One solution is to install a retaining wall on the upslope side of the driveway. The height of the wall will depend on the steepness of the slope. On a gently sloped property, the wall could be lower than three feet. The wall will need to be engineered if it exceeds three feet in height. Taller walls could also be constructed as terraced walls, which offer an opportunity for creative landscaping. If your driveway goes directly up the slope, then retaining walls along both sides can help prevent water and debris from flowing off the landscaping into the driveway after heavy rains. 2. A Mellower Approach To the Home Some driveways can be very steep and scary on icy, wintery days. A retaining wall can help create a mellower, easier approach to the home, and give you more space to drive and turn around. Depending on the need, there are two types of retaining wall: cut, or fill. A cut retaining wall is literally cut into the side of a slope to give you more room to drive and turn around. A fill retaining wall builds up your driveway to compensate for a slope that’s too steep or too shallow. 3. Elegance and Landscape Protection Whether your property is sloped or pancake-flat, you could give a long, winding driveway an estate feel by adding a low wall along one side (or both sides). Aside from the wonderful Old World aesthetics of placing a retaining wall along a driveway, there’s a practical side to it as well. A retaining wall will help protect your landscaping from errant snowplows and from deicing salts. 4. Landscape Lighting While this isn’t the primary function of a retaining wall, a retaining wall is an opportunity to install low voltage LED landscape lighting. This is especially welcome on a long, winding driveway, giving visitors a warm welcome from the moment they enter the driveway. 5. Beautiful Plantings Any retaining wall has the potential to become a botanic gardens-style feature. Adding plants that drape over the top softens the look of the masonry and adds wonderful color and fragrance. Plants you can drape over the retaining wall include Creeping Phlox, Clematis, Lobelia, Creeping Thyme, Virginia Creeper, Dichondria “Silver Falls,” and Golden Creeping Jenny. Climbing plants such as roses, wisteria, or ivy do the same from the ground up. Planting a row of cypress along the wall will give your driveway the wonderful appeal of a Tuscan villa. Or, plant flowering trees such as cherry; or maples with their spectacular fall foliage for a colorful welcome every time you come home. On a steeper slope, terraced retaining walls are an opportunity to showcase beautiful plantings while preventing erosion. You could even place statues and other ornamental features on these terraces, for dramatic effect. Related: 4 Landscape Design Ideas for Tranquil Landscaping in Hinsdale IL  Have you been wondering how to make your outdoor living space “the” place to spend your summer - and beyond? If so, a fire pit could be the answer. Here’s why a fire pit becomes the prime destination of the backyard patio in Hinsdale, IL - and why it’s one of the best investments you can make in outdoor living.
Related: Warm Up Your Wheaton IL Brick Patio With a Traditional Fire Pit Fire Brings Us Together Since the dawn of mankind, we have been gathering around the fire. The warmth and safety of a fire draws us in, and we linger, enjoying the mesmerizing dance of the flames as we share stories and laughter with family and friends. A round fire pit is more conducive to larger gatherings because everyone has equal access to the warmth of the fire. Installing a seat wall that partially encircles the fire pit will give plenty of people a chance to gather. A square fire pit can comfortably accommodate fewer people (in larger gatherings, the people sitting at the fire pit’s corners won’t be as close to the flames). Fire Belongs In Your Design A fire pit is a slightly more structured take on the primal campfire: using masonry or other materials such as large metal bowls, poured concrete bowls, or other materials give you unprecedented design flexibility. A fire pit can complement any architectural style and landscape aesthetic. You may prefer the classic round fire pit that brings back memories of fun times roasting marshmallows around a campfire. You may prefer the stark angular shape of a square fire pit that complements a linear landscape design. You may enjoy the gorgeous juxtaposition of a sleek concrete fire bowl with the textures of a gravel patio. You may wish to integrate a fire pit into the design scheme of your patio by using the same materials on all vertical elements including a fire pit, outdoor kitchen wall, and retaining wall. Fire Offers Cooking Alternatives Aside from your outdoor kitchen - which typically houses a grill and sometimes a wood-fired pizza oven - you can expand your cooking experience over a wood-burning fire pit. With the addition of a grate or some skewers, your fire pit can double as another grill - a bonus if you’re hosting a large party! Be sure to use fruit wood to give your food the best taste; and avoid cooking on natural gas- or propane-fueled fire pits, because dropped food can bake onto the decorative lava rock or fire glass, and be extremely difficult to remove. Fire Maximizes Your Use of the Space Have you ever thought about how little an outdoor space gets used after the warm days of summer have passed? In fall and winter, we rarely venture outside to sit and enjoy the fresh air - which is a shame, since we are still paying for the space. A fire pit eliminates virtually every excuse not to go outside. Its warmth will keep the patio cozy even on the most frigid days. The warming effect is more pronounced if you’re burning wood, but you will also be exposed to the elements since a wood-burning fire pit cannot be installed within a pergola or pavilion. However, a natural gas- or propane-fueled fire pit can safely be installed within an outdoor shelter. And with that solution, there are no excuses at all not to go outside, which means you actually get to enjoy the space you pay for year-round instead of just in the summer. Related: Take a Fresh Look at Your Patio Options With These 4 Landscaping Ideas in Wheaton, IL  If you’ve been thinking about updating your front yard, here are some inviting landscape design elements to add to your front yard landscaping in Hinsdale, IL. From a welcoming entry to increased safety and curb appeal, you could utilize some or all of these elements to put a smile on your face every time you come home.
Related: How a New Landscape Design Can Better Incorporate Your Naperville, IL, Driveway with the Rest of Your Front Yard A Warm and Safe Welcome Your home’s entry makes a statement. You can enhance its curb appeal with a paver natural stone walkway, accent features, proper lighting, and attractive and well-maintained vegetation. A paver or natural stone walkway has so much more appeal than any poured concrete walkway. You can choose from dozens of wonderful styles that match your home’s design. Pavers can mimic the look of natural stone, brick, tile, or wood. Whether you love the charm of brick or cobblestones; or want a sleek linear look for a modern aesthetic, pavers offer a huge variety of colors and textures that go beyond what you can find in natural stone. You can get the look of bluestone or tumbled granite in its natural form or in a concrete paver alternative. For a walkway that’s more eco-friendly (and stays drier), some concrete pavers are available in permeable options with larger joints that allow surface water to seep into the ground below. If you love the random and character-filled look of natural stone, be sure to choose stones with a non-slip texture such as flagstone or limestone. These will need to be sealed periodically to minimize water absorption, but you will be rewarded with an absolutely unique walkway. If you want to add safety to the beauty, installing a heating system beneath your walkway will ensure no more slippery, icy walkways in winter. Accent features such as a small fountain, sculpture, or gazing ball at the front entry add interest. A bench lets guests wait in comfort. Symmetrical planters on either side of the entry are an opportunity to add seasonal color or even holiday decorations. Proper lighting is an absolute must. Instead of the traditional single post-mounted light and a light above the front door, consider a series of path lights that direct light where you need it most for safety: to the ground, not in your eyes. The effect is softer and more welcoming, yet offers plenty of illumination for safety. A Balanced Effect Some homes naturally lend themselves to a symmetrical entry, while others do not. But never fear, you can still achieve a balanced effect in your front yard. Balance doesn’t have to mean perfect symmetry. While symmetry is pleasing, what’s most important is balancing visually dense elements such as a spruce tree or a large boulder with a multitude of smaller, lighter elements such as a fruit tree, ornamental grasses, flowers, a masonry planter, and even a bench. Boxwood hedges, a circular plant bed beneath mature trees filled with shade-loving annuals and ground covers, tall ornamental grasses, and a few oversized planters could be used to balance the front yard while making it infinitely more interesting than simple foundation plantings and a large lawn. Where possible, choose native plants. They are perfectly suited to the location, extremely low-maintenance, and will reward you with their beauty and variety. Incorporating one or more of these elements in your front yard can make a big difference in your home’s curb appeal. Related: 10 Creative Outdoor Lighting Ideas to Light Up Your Driveway in Hinsdale, IL |
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