Mediterranean-Inspired Landscape Design and Masonry Oyster Bay NY
If you’re dreaming of a Mediterranean getaway, you can recreate the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere right in the convenience of your own backyard. Enjoy and get inspired with ideas for Mediterranean-inspired landscape design and masonry in Oyster Bay, NY.
Pergola
While the weather begs you to go outside, the Mediterranean sun is unforgiving. To get protection from the sun, the pergola has become essential to Mediterranean alfresco dining, cooking, entertaining and even an afternoon siesta. The open roof structure of a pergola allows heat to escape and breezes to circulate, but it does not offer shelter from the rain.
Billowing outdoor curtains add privacy and shade, and flowering climbing vines enhance your pergola with gorgeous color. While it may be tempting to plant a grapevine on your pergola, keep in mind that birds and small animals love grapes and you may end up with a big mess on your patio floor, so you may wish to stick to fragrant flowering vines that don’t bear fruit, such as Clematis, Chinese trumpet vine, Golden Hop, Morning Glory, climbing roses, or wisteria.
Pergolas can be white or natural, depending on your preferences and your aesthetics. And, they can be any size: big enough to provide shelter for an outdoor cooking/dining/seating area, or small enough to offer a bit of shade for a bench or swing. Dress up your pergola with decorative corbels, festive string lights, and even a fan to cool things down even more. A pergola can also be covered with clear roofing if you want the light, airy look but need a bit more protection from the elements.
For a dramatic and more formal look, consider twin pergolas: one to shade a portion of your patio, and another to shade a smaller sitting area within the landscape.
Walls and Other Stonework
Many Mediterranean homes are set on steep hillsides, which necessitates the use of terraces to obtain usable space. If you don’t have a sloped property, you can still incorporate seat walls and other vertical masonry elements into your hardscape. Seat walls offer overflow seating that eliminates clutter on the patio; they’re a perfect place to put a few colorful pots with annuals, perennials, or small evergreen shrubs.
Fireplaces, fire pits, outdoor kitchen veneer, and water features are all wonderful additions that will bring a touch of the Mediterranean to your backyard: a place designed to be used frequently. Both fire pits and fireplaces can be built using the same materials as retaining walls for a cohesive look. If you want to add sophistication, a chic fire table - one that’s coffee table or bar height and wrapped in colorful hand-painted tile - will greatly enhance the dining and entertaining experience.
Achieve the most authentic Mediterranean look on your vertical elements using simple block-style wall units that look like quarried stone with a weathered patina. Choose lighter sandstone colors (dark colors get too hot, and cool greys don’t give you the warmth of a Mediterranean patio). Use rounded coping on steps and cap stones (the top layer of walls) to soften the look. Alternatively, concrete block construction with a stucco exterior will give you a Mediterranean look. Traditional stucco can be high-maintenance especially in the NY climate; but today, there are concrete versions that won’t crack and never need any painting or other maintenance!
Privacy is valued in the Mediterranean. While views are celebrated, neighbors are often separated by relatively tall walls. If a masonry wall feels too “heavy” for your space, you could use wooden privacy fencing instead, punctuated every eight feet or so by a masonry pillar. These pillars can be decorated with light fixtures or hanging flower pots, or left plain to make the space more tranquil.
When it comes to embellishments on vertical elements, less is more. A few decorative wrought iron items are all you need (fences, grills, handles, light fixtures, etc.). Otherwise, let the masonry steal the show, and enjoy a classic look that will never go out of style.
Underfoot: Pavers, Gravel, Cobbles, and Tile
What’s underfoot as important as what’s around you. You may think of beautiful hand-painted tiles as being synonymous with Mediterranean decor, and while some Mediterranean outdoor spaces do feature tiles on the patio surface, it’s uncommon because clay tiles are not very durable, and will often succumb to the freeze-thaw cycle.
Decorative floor and wall tiles can be used in a variety of ways. On walls, you can use an accent band of tiles, individual tiles placed randomly or strategically to draw the eye. You could position a few painted tiles strategically as accents on the patio surface, but be sure to place them where they won’t see a lot of foot traffic.
Given the NY climate with its long winters, it’s best to reserve beautiful hand-painted tiles for vertical surfaces rather than putting them underfoot. This will also keep your outdoor living space from feeling overly busy - and, you’re less likely to get tired of a plain paver than a decorative tile.
To add a splash of color underfoot, you could try a vibrant blue-and-white outdoor rug, or create a “rug” effect by mixing several types of pavers, such as tumbled travertine-like pavers and weathered brick.
Some Mediterranean spaces use gravel or pebbles underfoot rather than pavers. This is beautiful, but not very practical for areas that see a lot of foot traffic. You could reserve this technique for a small walkway that takes you to a fountain - but beware that some pebbles may migrate to the lawn if there is not adequate edging to keep it contained.
You may often see rounded river or sea stones used in paving hardscape areas. This is a beautiful technique that sets stones (often on their sides) in mortar, which allows for one-of-a-kind intricate patterns. It’s best used on casual walkways and mini-patios rather than the main patio or walkway, because they’re hard to keep clear of snow.
Masonry Planters
Many Mediterranean gardens feature terra cotta pots and urns in their patios and gardens. These can be set directly on the patio, laid on their side in a plant bed and filled to overflowing with flowers, or set atop a masonry pedestal for added visual impact.
If your landscape is flat, you could consider adding a few masonry planters reminiscent of terraced gardens. Masonry planters are a stylish way to add Mediterranean flair to your landscape. Mirror the materials you use in seat walls and water features to create a unified aesthetic.
No landscape design is complete without vegetation, but it doesn’t mean you have to go with a riot of color to achieve a Mediterranean vibe. Many homes in Spain, Italy, and Greece have very simple planting schemes that feature cypress and other monochromatic plants; more colorful plants are usually planted in terra cotta or masonry planters. If you favor serenity, go with a simple color theme.
Carefully trimmed hedges are another classic design element you can have throughout your landscape. Boxwoods in particular are ideal for formal gardens, but left slightly “disheveled” they also fit right in with a more relaxed landscape theme.
Succulents are always a big hit in Mediterranean design. They’re colorful (not just green) and drought-tolerant, and make a wonderful backdrop or ground cover for annuals.
Ornamental grasses are perfect for Mediterranean patios. They can be a backdrop, or a focal point. Tall, billowing grasses look gorgeous up against masonry walls, or as a soft barrier between the patio and the landscape. They can be planted in masonry planters or in the ground and you will enjoy the many varieties: from grasses barely a foot tall to over six feet.
Perennials like lavender, sage, yucca and allium make great foundation plants for a Mediterranean garden. Even roses have their place, especially climbing varieties that dress up a pergola or privacy wall.
You can certainly have Mediterranean plants like orange trees, but they will need to be in pots that can be moved indoors in cold weather.
Water Features
A water feature is a central element in Mediterranean landscapes. Water could come in the form of a full-sized swimming pool, dipping pool, reflecting pool, pond, or fountain. A Roman-style spout that empties into an oversized urn and spills out onto a pebble-lined catch basin is a timeless way to add the sound of running water to your landscape.
Stand-alone fountains in the center of a courtyard or entry court are distinctively Mediterranean. They can be simple or ornate, and set on pavers, pebbles, or set within a planting bed.
If you have a view, an infinity pool flanked by tall cedars and surrounded by a buff-colored paver patio will give you the feeling of being at a luxury spa in southern France or along the Amalfi Coast of Italy.
A Smaller Lawn, But More Character
Lawns are often part of a Mediterranean design, but they don’t dominate it. Cleverly designed outdoor living spaces are the ideal blend of something to look at, something to do, and someplace to be. Consider replacing some of your lawn with more patio space, and/or raised bed edible gardens for a more practical space that’s a delight to look at and be in.
Large paving stones with grass, thyme, or other low ground cover give a romantic feel to walkways, if you prefer a softer look.
Mood Lighting
Evening is when the Mediterranean landscape really comes to life. During the day it’s too hot, but as soon as the sun goes down, you’re likely to find yourself sitting outdoors late into the evening enjoying conversation with friends and family. Good landscape lighting is essential. It sets the mood, lights your way, and helps draw the eye to focal points in the landscape.
Set a festive mood with decorative lanterns and string lights; but keep most other light fixtures out of sight, either in planting beds or incorporated into masonry.
Drama
Add drama with stand-alone fire pillars: masonry pillars topped with copper fire bowls. These are stunning when they frame a view, or they can offer a dramatic welcome to your outdoor space.
For inspiration or to get started transforming your backyard into a Mediterranean getaway, give us a call!
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