Enjoy Your Winter Backyard: The Expertise That Masonry Contractors Bring to Landscapes in the Fredon and Blairstown, NJ, Areas
Winter has a reputation for being gray and dreary, but with special features, your landscape can be a visual delight all year. It can also make your outdoor spaces more usable even in the coldest months. Here’s how masonry contractors create functional, beautiful winter landscapes in Fredon and Blairstown, NJ, areas.
Warmth by the Fire
A fire feature could be the most important element that will draw people outside and make a landscape more welcoming during the winter. Its heat can create a dramatic contrast amid a snowy landscape. And a fire feature makes a patio more livable—even when it’s not being used, it evokes memories of good times spent sharing stories around the fire.
Consider a fire pit, which sets up the perfect opportunity to enjoy your landscape year-round. The main draw of a fire pit is that there’s plenty of space for everyone to gather around, and everyone benefits from the warmth of the fire. A fire pit constructed of natural stone can be the ideal solution for warming up cold feet after a family snowball fight.
An outdoor fireplace creates the feeling of an outdoor living room, and it looks stunning when snow clings to its textured stone face. While a fireplace on its own doesn’t allow for all-around seating, it’s a beautiful way to utilize an otherwise unused corner of the backyard and create a warm and welcoming focal point you can fully enjoy from the comfort of your kitchen window on the coldest of days.
A Gorgeous Stone Wall
Retaining walls are essential on sloped properties to prevent erosion and create more usable space. Even on a flat property, a retaining wall can define spaces and add an interesting vertical element. For instance, a textured wall, such as stacked fieldstone, would be a timeless addition to your landscape. This wall would give your backyard a historic charm, especially when made of stone that looks like it could have been picked from the property.
A stone retaining wall gains a patina over the seasons, and it becomes even more beautiful with each passing year. The texture of the wall will attract snow for a stunning winter effect. You can also place colorful pots with seasonal decorations on a retaining wall or place nuts, seeds, or popcorn on the capstone to offer a winter treat to local birds.
Outdoor Cooking Options
It may seem counterintuitive, but cooking outdoors in winter, when the air is crisp and fresh, makes food taste better. A rustic stone-clad grill station begs to be used even on the coldest of days. Locating your grill near an outdoor fireplace or fire pit creates a hub of outdoor living that knows no seasons. The warmth of the fire will keep everyone comfortable, taking outdoor dining to a new level as the weather cools and transforming your patio into a year-round retreat.
Water Fountains
Inactive during the freezing cold months, water fountains are generally not considered a winter attraction, but that doesn’t mean they can’t remain focal points when the water is turned off. For example, a rustic fountain made of a single type of stone can take on a completely different (and delightful) look when sporting a hat made of snow. A large candle or a reflecting ball in the catch basin could be temporary ways to dress up a stone fountain in winter.
Related: How Masons Near Me Create One-of-a-Kind Water Features in Branchville and Sparta, NJ, Areas