Many homeowners love to get into the full holiday swing as the cold weather months begin and start stringing up lights, draping wreaths, and installing festive lawn features. However, fall and winter shouldn’t stop your landscape improvement schedule or even be a bump in your road to outdoor fun. The cold season is actually a perfect time to schedule those big projects dealing with stone masonry – just in time for those cheery holiday decorations. What better way to finish the winter and enter spring ready to start to bring your home to its full potential? Here are five options from our stone supply for a stunning winter landscape in Bergen County and Sussex County, NJ areas.
The Warmth of a Fire Pit
A fire pit could be the single most important addition to your patio or any outdoor living space. The comfort and warmth that come from a fire pit attract people in all seasons. One built from natural stone masonry would easily adorn the aesthetic of a rustic home or backyard. For more modern applications, a fire pit constructed with concrete blocks helps expand your space while creating an intimate area for gathering.
The Design Possibilities of a Fireplace
While a fire pit brings back feelings of camping in nature, the options of an outdoor fireplace can greatly expand the use of your gathering space. Fireplaces allow the ease and control of the communal warmth through modern technology with switches and remotes. Setting the fireplace area slightly below the level of your patio will create a little nook that traps the heat and shelters the space from exposure to wind. Outdoor fireplaces can be constructed from natural stone, evoking a mountain cabin, or concrete block masonry that can be applied to almost any aesthetic.
The Comfort of Built-In Seating Around a Fire Feature
Built-in seating around a fire feature completes the feeling of comfort, even a sense of community as you help everyone come closer into the fire. The option also allows for storage space beneath the seats like extra cushions and blankets to be safely kept away and organized. Angle your built-in seats so that they all encircle your firepit or face your fireplace to maximize the effect. High-backed seat walls built from natural stone or concrete block masonry will last a lifetime of good times.
Related: PATIO PAVERS AND PAVING STONES FOR HISTORICAL HOMES IN ROCKLAND COUNTY NY
The Pride of a Vegetable Garden
Now might not seem like the best time to start a vegetable garden with cold and snow approaching. However, many edible plants are best seeded in the winter before the first frost or as winter ends to help them sprout in the first days of spring. By planning a raised plant bed with your landscape architect, you can get ready early for the epic growing season. An irrigation system built into the bed will allow the ease of watering so you can ensure your vegetables have the best chance. Building a solid raised plant bed from natural stone or concrete blocks will also give the best opportunity for you to sit comfortably while gardening and enjoy the experience even more.
The Forethought of a Retaining Wall
As snow melts and water starts to trickle down the slopes of your backyard, so begins the season of erosion. Excess runoff can damage your landscape and one of the best options is to install a retaining wall that can control water flow and support the slope of a landscape. Walls can also create the option of a terrace for expanded use of your outdoor living space. Why not make this the foundation for any of the options above? The easiest and most sturdy installation of your retaining wall could be the use of concrete block masonry with a natural stone veneer.
Related: CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLOR AND STYLE FOR YOUR PATIO PAVERS IN ORANGE COUNTY NY
