Outdoor Ideas
"9. Hot tub. Few things perk up an outdoor area like a hot tub. It can be less expensive than a full-size swimming pool and easier to maintain. Plus, a hot tub brings a soothing spa experience to the outdoors. And this Santa Monica, California, backyard offers plenty of proof. Oslo I LA landscape contractors maximized the relatively small backyard with a cedar deck and built-in hot tub. Perimeter planters contain hedges that will grow to create privacy. Concrete pavers add stylish pathways, and string lights give the design casual charm. The space earned the pros a Best of Houzz Design award."
"1. Gather Round ODS Architecture and Huettl Landscape Architecture nestled this welcoming patio into a Northern California hillside. The circular shape, fire pit and comfy chairs entice the homeowners, their family and their friends to gather in the welcoming spot."
"3. Mediterranean Flair Ryan Street Architects brought Mediterranean style to this covered patio outside Houston. A herringbone-pattern brick floor, limestone walls and large reclaimed beams add an old-world feel to the new-construction home. Special touch: An oversize custom vent hood."
"8. Slope Style Kate Anne Landscape Design & Build turned a steep slope in this Los Angeles backyard into an asset. A dark and dramatic retaining wall features an integrated outdoor kitchen. Inset tile in the patio slab supports a stylish dining set beneath cozy string lights. Special touch: A shade sail."
"2. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Native to the central U.S. east to southern New England and south to Florida and Texas Loved by: Bob Hursthouse of Hursthouse Landscape Architect and Contractors in Bolingbrook, Illinois Why this tree: With their delicate lavender blooms and vase shape, “eastern redbuds are wonderful additions to most residential settings,” Hursthouse says. “As an indigenous tree to northern Illinois, it will be compatible with most soil types we experience on our projects. As a result, we know we can anticipate optimum, healthy development,” he says. Special features: “The pastel blooms in April will last in excess of three weeks if the weather stays cool enough, which is much longer than other spring-blooming ornamentals,” Hursthouse says. “In a multistem form, redbuds add an especially distinctive architectural element to residential landscapes.” These trees also provide nesting habitat and food source for wildlife, he adds. Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors Growing tips: “Site redbuds where they will have room to naturally develop their vase shape,” Hursthouse says. He notes that gardeners might notice a fair amount of dead wood after the ...
"14. Boost curb appeal. Spring is a wonderful time to make upgrades to your home’s exterior, and even small changes — like putting up bold house numbers and a shiny new mailbox — can make a big impact."
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