To make the most of waterside living, you want a mix of softscape and hardscape techniques that create a harmonious landscape that is as beautiful as it is functional. If your landscape is in need of renovation, here are 5 landscaping trends for a waterside landscape design in Westhampton, NY.
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An Elegant Patio
A comfortable patio down by the waterside will surely become one of your favorite places to relax and entertain. Natural paving stones or concrete patio pavers can either blend in or intentionally contrast with the natural surroundings. Whether the patio is positioned prominently as a space for entertaining (and to take advantage of views) or positioned in a more secluded spot for relaxation, pay particular attention to creating activity zones: centrally located high-activity zones (cooking and dining) and more outlying, relaxed zones for relaxing.
An Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit
Sometimes the waterside activities can be brought to a halt by cold weather. A wood-burning or natural gas fireplace on the patio and a fire pit immediately adjacent to the water ensures that you and your guests stay comfortable whether they want a quick warm-up after a swim or linger by the fire for good conversation. Both fire pits and fireplaces can be built from gorgeous stone masonry that can be paired with stones used on your patio or in the surrounding hardscapes.
Include a pizza oven in the design of an outdoor fireplace. Even small features like a hotplate where you can prepare hot chocolate or apple cider will keep everyone warm and cozy. And who can resist the fun of making homemade pizza outdoors?
An Exquisite Landscape
A landscape featuring carefully curated plants will make your waterside property a stunning showpiece that could be reminiscent of the exquisite gardens you’d find in Old World palaces.
While there’s a wide variety of design schemes and types of plants that will fit into your landscape, the best option is to choose native plants. Natives are not only beautiful but perfectly suited to your surrounding environment. Natives will reduce maintenance and watering, and they are hardier in general than imported plants.
Eco-Conscious Landscaping Methods
Ultimately, aside from creating a smaller eco-footprint, eco-conscious landscapes mean gorgeous landscapes that translate to less work for you and more time spent relaxing with friends and family.
Xeriscaping is a technique that combines the use of native plants with river rocks or gravel that covers the soil. It can be a great opportunity for minimalist design around a modern patio.
Installing low-voltage LED lights in a strategic lighting system will ensure elegant lighting that promotes safety, security, ambiance, and functional illumination for cooking areas while utilizing far less electricity than traditional bulbs. These compact, low-wattage lights are actually incredibly efficient at dispersing just the right amount of light where they’re needed, without over- or under-illuminating parts of the landscape.
An automatic irrigation system for your landscape will help reduce water waste while taking care of plants with diverse watering needs. The system can be calibrated to release water during the cool of morning and uses sensors to detect rainfall, so watering can be adjusted accordingly.
Installing permeable pavers on your patio, walkways, and driveway will ensure that any rainfall or snowmelt will seep into the ground instead of pooling or running off. This does double duty of ensuring that water returns to the aquifer and that less ice builds up on your hardscape areas.
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