This modern inner city residence sat on the Elbow River. Rear garden landscape improvements included a built-in cooking station and dining terrace with view of the river. The dining terrace includes a decorative aluminum louvered screen to provide privacy from the busy Elbow River. Incorporated in the screen is a planter bowl water feature and attractive hanging outdoor modern lights. Pennsylvania bluestone was added to the dining and conversation terraces and laid in a running bond pattern. The front garden touch ups included a new driveway with stone bands and borders. Bluestone was also added to the front walks and entries along with ornamental grasses of varying heights and colors to welcome the visitors. Tall pots were added at the street to more clearly mark the location of the front entry.

The first goal for this client in Chatham was to give them a front walk and entrance that was beautiful and grande. We decided to use natural blue bluestone tiles of random sizes. We integrated a custom cut 6" x 9" bluestone border and ran it continuous throughout. Our second goal was to give them walking access from their driveway to their front door. Because their driveway was considerably lower than the front of their home, we needed to cut in a set of steps through their driveway retaining wall, include a number of turns and bridge the walkways with multiple landings. While doing this, we wanted to keep continuity within the building products of choice. We used real stone veneer to side all walls and stair risers to match what was already on the house. We used 2" thick bluestone caps for all stair treads and retaining wall caps. We installed the matching real stone veneer to the face and sides of the retaining wall. All of the bluestone caps were custom cut to seamlessly round all turns. We are very proud of this finished product. We are also very proud to have had the opportunity to work for this family. What amazing people. #GreatWorkForGreatPeople As a side note regarding this phase - throughout the construction, numerous local builders stopped at our job to take pictures of our work. #UltimateCompliment #PrimeIsInTheLead

Located in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, this project creates a welcoming driveway and arrival area that leads to a relaxing outdoor living area with natural pool shape with bluestone decks and unique boulders. The garden also features a covered pavilion, fireplace, decorative iron gates, steps stones, lush landscaping and shade arbor. Completed with Naud Burnett & Partners.

This hill country home has several outdoor living spaces including this above ground swimming pool. The stone flooring is 12x24 Cantera stone tile in Recinto color. It is accented with 6x12 Antique Saltillo tile - also known as antique terra cotta tile. The barstools are also topped with custom fit cantera stone seating. The coping edges are also Cantera stone coping pieces in Recinto. This is similar to a volcanic rock. Drive up to practical luxury in this Hill Country Spanish Style home. The home is a classic hacienda architecture layout. It features 5 bedrooms, 2 outdoor living areas, and plenty of land to roam. Classic materials used include: Saltillo Tile - also known as terracotta tile, Spanish tile, Mexican tile, or Quarry tile Cantera Stone - feature in Pinon, Tobacco Brown and Recinto colors Copper sinks and copper sconce lighting Travertine Flooring Cantera Stone tile Brick Pavers Photos Provided by April Mae Creative aprilmaecreative.com Tile provided by Rustico Tile and Stone - RusticoTile.com or call (512) 260-9111 / info@rusticotile.com Construction by MelRay Corporation

This Ledden Palimeno Client wanted a traditional entertaining space in the backyard of their Wenonah New Jersey home. We provided them with a well thought out design that focused on all areas of the yard. The patio itself was installed with Pennsylvania Bluestone cut in a random pattern. The sod is used as groundcover and a finished look, but it doesn't overwhelm this small space. The curbstone edging and landscape lighting are key accents. The use of hedges and hydrangeas brought a traditional feel to the landscape. Shade loving perennials like the astilbe here, provide a pop of color in the dark areas of this space. Cast lighting fixtures bring light to this shady garden space. The Pennsylvania Bluestone patio meets the 2' wide strip of grass that creates a soft divider from the Belgian block edge of the landscape bed. This installation was completed just in time for the graduation celebration of this client's high school senior son!

Patio - mid-sized traditional backyard tile patio idea in DC Metro with a fire pit and a gazebo

To create a colonial outdoor living space, we gut renovated this patio, incorporating heated bluestones, a custom traditional fireplace and bespoke furniture. The space was divided into three distinct zones for cooking, dining, and lounging. Firing up the built-in gas grill or a relaxing by the fireplace, this space brings the inside out.

This modern inner city residence sat on the Elbow River. Rear garden landscape improvements included a built-in cooking station and dining terrace with view of the river. The dining terrace includes a decorative aluminum louvered screen to provide privacy from the busy Elbow River. Incorporated in the screen is a planter bowl water feature and attractive hanging outdoor modern lights. Pennsylvania bluestone was added to the dining and conversation terraces and laid in a running bond pattern. The front garden touch ups included a new driveway with stone bands and borders. Bluestone was also added to the front walks and entries along with ornamental grasses of varying heights and colors to welcome the visitors. Tall pots were added at the street to more clearly mark the location of the front entry.

All photos by Linda Oyama Bryan. Home restoration by Von Dreele-Freerksen Construction
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic front yard brick driveway in Chicago.

Front exterior view
Example of a large mountain style beige three-story stucco and board and batten gable roof design in Chicago with a shingle roof and a brown roof

Located in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, this project creates a welcoming driveway and arrival area that leads to a relaxing outdoor living area with natural pool shape with bluestone decks and unique boulders. The garden also features a covered pavilion, fireplace, decorative iron gates, steps stones, lush landscaping and shade arbor. Completed with Naud Burnett & Partners.

Located in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, this project creates a welcoming driveway and arrival area that leads to a relaxing outdoor living area with natural pool shape with bluestone decks and unique boulders. The garden also features a covered pavilion, fireplace, decorative iron gates, steps stones, lush landscaping and shade arbor. Completed with Naud Burnett & Partners.

Inspiration for a mid-sized timeless backyard tile patio remodel in DC Metro with a fire pit and a gazebo

Landscape block seating wall with paver patio.
Patio - mid-sized traditional courtyard concrete paver patio idea in Philadelphia

Dry creek made of river rock and large boulders. By carefully framing views and clearly defining spaces for entertaining and arrival, Ryan Associates achieved a feeling of spaciousness and privacy within the very narrow bounds of this property. Site and circulation challenges were addressed by purposefully delineating paving patterns, planting design, and changes in elevation to define and separate the spaces and their uses. The signature feature, an oval lawn, is set off by a stunning grove of birch trees and a ramped grass path with granite steps – the focal point for an upper bluestone terrace overlooking the space.

This visually simple, modern solution is unique within its suburban context, and gives this family the custom landscape of their dreams. The homeowners’ wish list included a modern design and clearly defined spaces: a larger dining patio, firepit patio, hot tub, and a 4-season sport court (which gets flooded for ice hockey in the winter). Circulation and screening were key in Ground One’s landscape design. A sport court could overwhelm the entire backyard, so it was raised three feet above the primary backyard to physically separate different spaces, and minimize its visual impact. Rectangular bluestone in a running bond pattern was used in all the gathering spaces (dining, firepit, hot tub). Bluestone walls reinforce a simple material palette. A larger dining patio was installed near the house for greater entertaining flexibility. Plank paver paths connect to a private hot tub area and allow kids to don hockey gear and enter the sport court without messing up the house. The firepit patio is at the back of the property, nestled into the existing hillside under a large oak and below the sport court terrace. Plantings reinforce the geometry of each gathering space, provide focal points, and create layers of screening and separation from any given vantage point. Hardy species were selected for their low-maintenance requirements and various seasons of interest. Landscape lighting was incorporated to provide way finding between the patios, accent various hardscape elements, and highlight the trees.

This modern inner city residence sat on the Elbow River. Rear garden landscape improvements included a built-in cooking station and dining terrace with view of the river. The dining terrace includes a decorative aluminum louvered screen to provide privacy from the busy Elbow River. Incorporated in the screen is a planter bowl water feature and attractive hanging outdoor modern lights. Pennsylvania bluestone was added to the dining and conversation terraces and laid in a running bond pattern. The front garden touch ups included a new driveway with stone bands and borders. Bluestone was also added to the front walks and entries along with ornamental grasses of varying heights and colors to welcome the visitors. Tall pots were added at the street to more clearly mark the location of the front entry.

Formal Dining Room
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spaulding landscape architects, llc
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