Stone features can enhance your enjoyment spent outdoors. With the late-summer season comes the urge to find time by the pool and grilling on the patio with friends and family. Your pool and patio areas can be more exciting with added luxuries that don’t have to be found only at resorts. In fact, more people are learning to incorporate resort luxuries into their own outdoor spaces.

Here are some ideas for adding stone features that can make your outdoor space more enjoyable.

Expand your patio for more entertainment

Get ready for entertaining outside. If you have a small concrete patio space, you have limitations and your area might not be that appealing. You’ll be hip when you replace the concrete pad with a new surface of flagstone. This is the perfect surface material to bring beauty and function to your space. The various colors and patterns provide options that are appealing. Our Sequatchie Gray and Smokey Mountain flagstones are two popular varieties we offer. The luxury of a flagstone patio area can give you renewed energy to decorate with tables and chairs that are perfect for entertaining.

Build a beautiful waterfall

There is something exotic about having a waterfall in your backyard! You can incorporate a gorgeous stone veneer feature with your existing pool or design a pond with a waterfall in your garden. There are an amazing number of stone veneer products to choose from that will make your waterfall unique. Some of our favorite stone veneers for waterfalls are Thick Veneer Fieldstone or Riverrock.

Create a walkway to your patio

Sometimes you might prefer that your guests use a side entrance compared to going through your home when you entertain in the backyard. Entice your guests toward the side entrance with a beautiful walkway of flagstone or stepping stones. Mix in some gravel between the flagstone or create an edging with stacked drystone to add more detail. If you have a slope, think of the beauty that our Bluestone Cut Pattern would look with bluestone steppers for an elegant entrance. Your walkway doesn’t have to be a straight route. Planting shrubs and flowers along an indirect route provides interest that helps guests enjoy the walk.

Add in a cozy fireplace or fire pit

Imagine your family and friends hanging out together by a warm fireplace or fire pit in your backyard. At Fieldstone Center, we have premade fire pit kits that are easy to install. If you prefer, choose from our variety of stone veneer products to build a unique fire pit or fireplace that will soon be a favorite area for entertaining. Some stone veneer products that would look great in a fireplace are Ashlar Square Fieldstone and Elberton Granite Rubble.

Finding time to use your outdoor space is easier when you have luxuries that create a paradise in your backyard. Fieldstone Center is available to assist you with selecting the best stone products for your new project. Contact us at 770-385-7708 for more information and assistance.

The post Enjoy the Outdoors with Luxurious Stone Features appeared first on Fieldstone Center.

There are a number of possibilities for using stone in surfacing an outdoor patio. The design and materials used in that design are important for the area’s setting and style. Besides design, you want to consider the size of the area you are working with and the function of the stone. And you don’t have to limit yourself with only one type of stone.

Here are 3 patio surface ideas:

A Flagstone Pool Patio

Your pool area is where everyone congregates. Flagstone is both an elegant and casual option for a pool area. It has rich earth-toned colors and textures. Lay down rectangular cuts in a stacked, basket weave, herringbone, or other arranged pattern for a sophisticated atmosphere. Choose a random pattern or use irregular shapes for a more casual atmosphere.

Homeowners love flagstone around pools because it is practical for both small and large areas. It is cut flat to make it ideal for patio surfaces. It is especially ideal around areas that get wet regularly because it has a natural non-slip surface. Besides resisting moisture, it resists heat and can withstand constant use.

A Cobblestone Garden Patio

Granite cobblestones give a quaint, historic feel to an area, making them wonderful for smaller garden patios. When laid down for your surface, cobblestone can make a space look larger. They are hard and don’t stain so they work well for garden patios where you have high traffic. They are non-porous so they work best in areas that are dry, such as an eating area. Rectangular in shape, the cobblestones can be laid down in a stack, herringbone, basket weave or circular fan pattern to create the look you want.

A Casual Courtyard with Aggregates

Aggregates such as pea gravel look good as a casual courtyard surface material. Add a curved path with stone aggregate leading to and from the courtyard for a cottage feel or mix in paved stepping stones to create a more prominent entrance. This is an inexpensive option for the person who doesn’t mind periodically raking the gravel. And if you mix and match pea gravel with larger pavers to make a pattern, your area will stay tidy longer. The look is quite elegant with some simple furniture pieces or a focal point such as a fountain.

Fieldstone Center has a wide selection of stone to choose from for your patio project. Call us at 770.385.7708 for more information or visit our showroom.

The post 3 Stone Patio Surface Ideas for Your Residence appeared first on Fieldstone Center.

3 Different Stones for Patio Projects

Flagstone

A favorite choice for homeowners, flagstone is noted for its loose grains and rough texture and admired for its color variations and limitless pattern options. It looks good on both small and large surfaces. Select uniform shapes to create a pattern or irregular cuts for a more random appearance. Color options include red, pink, orange, brown, blue, green, gold and gray. It’s easy to use because of its flat cut surface and ideal for high traffic areas because of its non-slip surface. Since water permeates through it instead of running off, it is a good choice near pools and water features.

Granite

Known for its versatility, granite cobblestones add an authentic charm to patios. Granite is nonporous so it resists staining. It requires very little maintenance. Because of its hardness, you can’t beat its durability in landscape design. The downside is it can be quite pricey so it is often more practical for smaller patios or combined with other surface materials. Mix and match black and grey colors and lay the cobblestones in a pattern to create a stunning patio design. Or add a cobblestone walkway with a patio seating area that is surrounded by gravel and plants for a natural look.

Gravel

An easy choice for the do-it-yourselfer, small aggregates such as pea gravel can help transform your patio area to one reminiscent of a cottage garden or courtyard. While aggregates are easy to put down and inexpensive, more maintenance is required over time compared to most stone. This is especially true in high traffic areas where gravel can get dislodged to create a messy look. It is great for drainage but can be difficult to walk on; therefore, consider adding in some stepping stones.

Mixing Materials for Your Patio

Consider the different affects large flagstone will have on a space compared to smaller granite cobblestones or gravel. Mixing and matching two or more types of stone together can increase your possibilities. For example, use flagstone for larger areas of a patio that lead up to a more intimate area set in a pattern of cobblestones for a dramatic effect. Or add aggregates or cobblestones around the edge of a flagstone pool area for variance. Aggregates or groundcover plants can also be used to fill in spaces between flagstone or cobblestones for a relaxing lounge area.

Whether you are designing an intimate gathering place or an expansive area with a pool, choose the best quality natural stone for long-lasting beauty. Fieldstone Center has a wide selection of natural stone for your patio project. Contact us at 770.385.7708 to arrange to see our selection or for more information.

The post Adding Beauty to Your Patio with Stone appeared first on Fieldstone Center.