Best Patio Designs for 2013

As we say goodbye to 2012 and make way for 2013, most people are thinking about new beginnings and fresh ideas for their homes. What are your landscape and design goals for the upcoming year?

A popular trend from the last couple of years that is sure to carry over into 2013 is an emphasis on outdoor living. In many areas, as winter turns to spring, homeowners are integrating their indoor and outdoor living spaces in order to take advantage of the nice weather and to save money. One way to do this is by creating a new patio or expanding your existing one.

Some great examples of popular deck and patio designs incorporate elements such as:

·  Outdoor kitchens

·  Formal dining and seating areas

·  Retractable doors between the house and the patio or deck

·  Patio covers or enclosed patios

What are some benefits of these types of patio designs? They offer comfort and privacy, first and foremost. There are several other advantages, as well:

1) They save you money. With versatile kitchen and dining options, more people are cooking and eating their meals at home, which is usually cheaper than dining out.

2) Increasingly, people are discovering the joys of “staycations” and relaxing at home. Rather than traveling long distances for vacations, staying home helps you avoid travel costs and the general hassles of planning a trip.

3) When you integrate your indoor and outdoor living areas, you have more usable space. Multi-generational families, for example, can benefit from having more breathing room and living space that they can enjoy together.

4) Your options are limited only by your imagination! For instance, your outdoor kitchen and dining space could range from a simple grilling area to a more elaborate, gourmet set-up, according to your preferences. You might prefer a small and intimate space, or a patio large enough to entertain large groups.

Designing and landscaping outdoor patios is one of our specialties. If you live in Washington, DC, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Silver Spring, or Potomac, contact us today, and we’ll help you create a unique and beautiful outdoor living space.

Comment (0)

Expert Stone Wall Construction

Stone wall construction makes good use of naturally occurring materials that exist across the state of Maryland and the surrounding areas. When properly engineered, stone retaining walls can last literally for a lifetime. Install one and you may make a contribution to those that tend to the property far into the future -- perhaps even your own grandchildren or great-grandchildren. 
Originally, stone walls and retaining walls were a natural outgrowth of freeze-thaw cycles slowly heaving large rocks toward the surface of area farm fields. Such stones were habitually cleared from the fields after the spring plowing. Today, other rocks may be quarried. This adds the potential for more angular rocks that will interlock well. It also offers the potential for more monochromatic designs where rocks will be consistently brown, gray, black, etc. 

Smaller Walls 

Lesser size retaining walls can be constructed of a single layer of interlocking stones or rocks. Proper backfilling techniques are a key to durable, stable walls. 

Tilted Walls 
Walls higher than about three feet are typically tilted into the hill for added stability. 

Wider Base
Multiple layers of interlocking stones can further stabilize such retaining walls. Adding layers at the bottom of the wall further strengthens the base. Larger stones are often used in lower sections of the wall. They better resist freeze-thaw cycles and better handle the weight of the wall above. 
More than meets the eye -- higher walls still only show that outer course of rock. That outer layer of material may mask the fact that the base of taller walls may be as much as three or even four feet wide. 

Safety
Leaving the construction of retaining walls to the pros can be better than risking serious injury working with heavy stones without the right hydraulic and other equipment. Also, mishaps due to improper construction techniques have resulted in partial wall collapses that cause injury.
Design
Long straight walls and those that flow along the natural lines of the property are possibilities. Professional landscape designers can work with you to create the aesthetics that you want. 
If you live in Washington, DC or the Maryland suburbs, we can offer creative and contemporary landscape solutions. Contact us so that we might get acquainted with your plans and ideas.

Comment (0)

Backyard Design Ideas for Your Home

The backyard of your home is a sanctuary to be enjoyed by you, your family and any friends that come over to visit. If you are considering a landscape project or a new backyard design, then we can work with you to develop a plan to meet any need.

Replace Old with New

Features and previous design elements can easily be replaced in a new landscape design. This allows you to incorporate new options or variations of a theme into your backyard. Concrete comes in a standard form or it can be colored to match the style of your home. 

Make Your Patio Space Bigger

If you have been stuck with a backyard patio that is too small, then a new landscape design can enlarge the size. A larger patio space can accommodate bigger or additional furniture pieces and the addition of a new grill. A 10ft by 10ft size patio can easily be enlarged to 12ft by 12ft or larger. Ask about enlarging your patio during your design consultation.

Consider the Use of Pavers

A backyard patio that is a standard gray and drab concrete can be updated to a new look. You can also have your existing patio or sidewalk completely torn out and replaced with concrete pavers. 

Utilize All of Your Space

Backyard spaces that are small will need a design that takes advantage of all available areas. When you work with our landscape team, then you will end up with a space that will meet your needs. A backyard layout will need to incorporate space-saving ideas and techniques with features that will fit into your backyard area.

Additional Information

If you live in Washington, DC or Maryland suburbs and have any questions about backyard design ideas, then contact us for more information. You may also get a bit of inspiration from backyard designs in our photo gallery.  

Comment (0)

Early winter's a great time for new landscaping design ideas

The colors of fall are quickly giving way to the browns and grays of a Mid-Atlantic winter. Whether your home is a quiet, traditional property in Chevy Chase, or an edgy bungalow in Takoma Park, the arrival of the 'dormant' season might make you — along with many other homeowners in the greater Washington DC area — downright blue.

But take heart! This is really a season of opportunity, a time to see your home freed from the distractions that abound during warmer months. Now, as you walk up your driveway or peer out a back window, you can see your landscape and hardscape as a blank canvas — and you as a creative painter with total freedom.

Those neutral grays and earthy browns allow you to experiment with landscaping design ideas without feeling rushed to prepare the soil, purchase plants, or haul bags of top soil around your yard. Imagine what your place would look like if you changed your walkway, your patio, your garden furnishings. Imagine a new mix of hues and colors, a new sense of depth or openness using different bushes or brighter perennials.

Here is a three-step process for putting winter to work for you:

·  Peruse our photo galleries to open up your thinking and see what others have done. You don't need to worry about being a 'copy cat' — remember, you're just looking at some of the endless possibilities available. To do so, visit http://www.jlsinc.net/photo-gallery.html.

·  Grab your digital camera and walk around the outside of your home. Snap a handful of pictures from different vantage points so you have a collection of shots showing your existing landscape and hardscape. Now, take those images with you (keep them on your camera or upload them to a mobile device) while you go get coffee or a relaxing lunch. Stare at them. Mull over them. Remember, you're a painter and those pictures show your home as an open canvas.

·  Finally, after you've spent some quality time in the confines of your own (and maybe your family's) creative perspective, contact us. We can visit your home and offer advice and professional guidance that allows you to transform those imagined possibilities into practical plans.

See, winter is not so long and bleak after all. It can be a time of renewal and preparation for a whole new look.

Comment (0)