A Brick Patio and Other Characterful Additions to Hinsdale, IL Landscapes

If your landscape is in need of freshening up — especially now that everyone is spending so much time at home — a few special touches can make all the difference and transform an ordinary space into one you are happy to spend your time in. Here’s how a brick patio and other characterful additions to Hinsdale IL landscapes can put a smile on your face.

Brick is a top choice for adding beauty, expanding your outdoor living space, and making the walk from one part of your landscape to another enjoyable.

Brick is durable and beautiful. It works well with nearly any architectural style, either as a complementary or a contrasting material. Whether you choose authentic clay brick or a concrete alternative, you can be sure that your outdoor space will be filled with historic charm and character.

The classic brick patterns include running bond, basket weave, or herringbone. The most dramatic is herringbone, which creates amazing visual texture. This laying pattern is extremely strong, making it perfect for driveways as well as pedestrian spaces. If you want to get fancy, a fan-shaped or circular laying pattern adds even more interest and says “You’ve arrived” in style. Bricks are nearly the perfect material for use in walkways. Their slender profiles and small sizes lend themselves to curves; and what’s more romantic than a sweet brick walkway that meanders through the landscape?

If you want to recreate a cozy cottage look in your backyard, consider a collection of smaller brick patios: one for cooking, dining and lounging; one for quiet contemplation or one-on-one conversation; and another, centered around a fireplace or fire pit, to create a gathering spot you’ll enjoy in any season. Link these spaces with meandering brick paths.

If you’re not a fan of so much “brick red” you may want to go with concrete pavers made to resemble brick. You will have significantly more color choices including dramatic blended colors, and some flexibility in dimensions as well.

Another character-filled material is bluestone. Quarried in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, bluestone is a type of flagstone with a dramatic bluish tint. It also often features other colors within each stone, including bronze, chocolate, buff, green, and purple. This makes each stone completely unique.

Brick and bluestone pair exceptionally well. For an elegant yet relaxed look that works with nearly any style of home, use brick as a border for a bluestone patio.

How can you finish the look of a brick or bluestone patio and walkway? Masonry walls! Masonry walls can be comfortably low — serving as overflow seating — and serve as a wonderful bridge between the man made shapes of the home and the bricks, and the surrounding landscape.

Walls give your landscape vertical dimension. A neutral-toned stacked-flagstone veneer will add texture and interest to the patio, and this style works very well with both brick and bluestone. Incorporate landscape lighting into the wall construction (just under the lip of the cap stone) for a subtle yet dramatic lighting scheme.

The rich details of a brick or bluestone patio and a masonry wall make any space feel cozy and welcoming. The timeless look of these three character-filled materials is sure to be a hit. All three will add value to your home, too!

Take this opportunity to plan a few landscape upgrades, so that once the warm weather is here to stay, you’ll have a stylish and appealing space to hang out in!