We were contacted by a Tanglewood resident who was unhappy with the appearance of her front yard. The existing drive was nothing more than a massive concrete slab that left little room for any vegetation other than small patches of San Augustine grass and a magnolia tree that was very close to cracking the back wall next to the house. The landscape had excellent drainage, which in most cases is a good thing. However, in this instance the topsoil retained very little rainwater, so for at least six months of the year the grass would wither and turn brown. Our client wanted this grass replaced with lush plantings of vegetation that would feature varying shades of green with seasonal flowers, and she also wanted a brick walkway that would add a classic Old World touch reminiscent of horse and carriage days of past centuries.

We began our project by carefully studying a number of late 19th-century photographs of brick roads and sidewalks. We studied bricklaying patterns used at the time to create streets that were made entirely of brick, but which by necessity also had to provide humans and horses with a smooth, sure surface for travel. We showed the owner one pattern in particular that caught our eye—a style known in bricklaying as the running bond. This pattern uses bricks laid only on their sides so that the narrow parts face upward. This creates a smooth surface to walk over, but the ends of the bricks do not line up with those in adjacent rows. When you glance quickly at a running bond brick walkway, your eyes often trick you into thinking the brick are racing against each other to a common destination—hence the use of the word “running” in the name of the pattern. This unconscious sense of movement is ideal for building a walkway that leads around a bend, or corner, or through a garden in the front yard.

A brick walkway of any kind is normally a period or historical piece, and it should always look as simple as possible so as to retain its original theme. In the case of this project, for example, we avoided any visible use of concrete or mortar when laying the bricks in the walkway. Instead, we laid a concrete foundation covered then by mortar, and we laid the bricks carefully, by hand, to make certain that we captured the essence of a late 19th-century street. We used only sand covered with paver seal to fill the space between the bricks. This created the illusion that the bricks were loosely laid together, yet walking over them, you felt a firm surface as sure as any modern concrete.

We wanted to really highlight the color and pattern of this new brick walkway to first time visitors and returning guests. In order to do so, we planted a line of boxwoods to frame it much like a picture frame is used to accent a fine painting. This is a common technique in formal landscaping, because boxwoods can be used to enclose everything from flower gardens and shrubbery to fountains and decorative sculptures. In this case, planting a row of boxwoods right next to the outer edge of the walkway formed a sharp right angle of intersecting green and red—just enough to catch the eye and force it to run along the bricks all the way to the front door of the home. Surrounding vegetation was planted to mirror this effect, and selective plantings of dwarf monkey grass were used at the base of our frame to hide the boxwood stalks and further accent the structure and pattern of the bricks.

All of this opened new doors for landscaping the remainder of the front yard and creating a new sense of balance and proportion on both sides of the house. The first things to go were the magnolia tree that was threatening the rear wall, and the patches of San Augustine grass that were drying in the sun. We planted drought resistant zoysia grass in the front center of the yard to create a very plush, emerald-green lawn that would require very little water, and that would retain its color throughout the year. Zoysia also has a much finer blade than San Augustine grass, and it is comfortable and safe to walk on either in shoes or on with bare feet.

To create a border for the south side of the property, we planted a line of Japanese yew trees that continue all the way to the wall in the back. This forced the eye to stay within the front yard and focus on the alternating layers of green and seasonal floral colors that were laid out in patterns in symmetrical, curved patterns of motion. We planted plum delight to add a splash of burgundy that would last throughout the year, and we introduced caladiums into to provide flowers in the winter months.

On the north end of the front yard, all that separated the residence from the neighboring property was what was left of the old driveway and a thin line of San Augustine grass. We left part of the pavement for parking, and we replaced the San Augustine grass with a linear planting of boxwoods and mondo grass. We then elevated this natural barrier with crepe myrtles placed to compliment the Japanese yews on the opposite side of the yard, and we planted a very large tree that we needed as a balancing point between the house and surrounding landscape elements.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Landscape Renovations or Landscape Design

Outdoor design is a highly specialized form of residential landscaping. While paying close attention to standard landscaping elements such as fountains, gardens, and ornamentation, outdoor design creates a much more sophisticated aesthetic that actually extends residential living space from the house into the surrounding greenery. Only a few companies in the world of landscaping offer outdoor design services. Of this number, only a select few, such as Exterior Worlds in Houston, TX, do this type of work on a smaller scale for residential clients.

The keys to success in outdoor design lie in two very important things: landscape planning, and a cohesive team of specialists dedicated to executing that plan expeditiously and seamlessly. The general contractor must select the appropriate home builders, architects, pool specialists, pond and fountain companies, and masons to create an interconnected latticework of advanced outdoor designs that flow together to turn indoor space inside out—resulting in an expanded home environment that consists of partly natural elements and blends harmoniously with natural surroundings. This is much more complex than creating landscapes that compliment architecture. It is actually a synthesis of landscape and architecture, earth and brick, light and water.

Of course, the complexity of this science calls for a very experienced and high level of project management expertise. This is the primary motivation for why homeowners contact Exterior Worlds to coordinate outdoor design services. In effect, Exterior Worlds acts in the same manner as a larger, commercial general contractor wood, only in a different niche market. We work almost exclusively with private homeowners in high-end neighborhoods who require a professional interface with each and every specialist that contributes key elements brought in to add specific landscaping elements and outdoor designs. The world of contractors in general functions in this manner, and has its own procedures and lingo, so to speak, that projects and activities are based around. Artisan contractors typically work more comfortably and efficiently under a general contractor familiar with the paradigms and terminologies of their industry than they do with an individual who is more than likely unfamiliar with these things.

It is very difficult for a single individual to manage these teams without expertise in contacting and landscaping. Outdoor design is a layered aesthetic consisting of both natural and manmade elements, and it is far more systematic in creation than it appears when the final outcome is finished and everything appears to flow beautifully together into one single, aesthetic synthesis. In fact, a good many of the elements that we take for granted in the landscapes we see daily are in actuality created by professionals who specialize exclusively in the development of these specific layers and elements. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

•Swimming Pools

•Small private lakes, large ponds, very ornate fountains

•Outdoor Lighting Systems

•Carpenters who specialize in outdoor structures

•Stone masonry

•Metal workers specializing in fence work and custom, ornamental iron work

•Paving specialists

•Painters

In fact, any attempt on the part of a homeowner to oversee the many layers of an outdoor design project without the assistance of a personal, general contractor is the equivalent of baking lasagna with the proper ingredients but without the proper knowledge of the layers. Individuals who nonetheless make this attempt find that it is difficult to communicate their expectations verbally to artisan contractors, because these professionals work better with schematics than they do with general, verbalized requests. Even more so, getting all of the many elements to fit together can be difficult if all the various contractors are working at different times, independently of a well-managed, comprehensive outdoor design and landscaping plan.

Exterior Worlds can both rectify these issues, or even better, prevent them from happening in the first place, simply by systematizing the entire outdoor design process as a contiguous plan of action that flows from start to finish, with each respective artisan contractor performing one or more services along the way. This is almost like an assembly line in terms of process flow and time management, and much more efficient and affordable for the resident.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Outdoor Design or Landscape Design

Zen gardens are very unique landscaping designs that are also known as “Japanese Rock Gardens.” . The word “Zen” means “dry” and the Japanese word for this type of garden is karesansui, meaning dry landscape. Consisting almost exclusively of stones and sand, this type of garden became very popular in Japan during the Shogun era (1185-1573AD), when feudal lords sought to landscape their estates in emulation of Buddhist temples. Monks frequently used such gardens to represent complex Universal truths in simple forms, and they frequently used them as places of meditation to calm and clear their minds.

Although American popular culture commonly refers to anything that looks Japanese or Eastern as a “Zen garden,” a true karesansui never contains water. Instead, it uses gravel and sand to symbolize water. Usually the gravel is white or near white in coloration, although this is not a hard-fast rule in landscaping. The reason that sand and gravel are used as water substitutes is because they can be intricately sculpted in ways that water cannot. Using only a rake, a landscaper can depict ripples, sea waves, rushing rivers, or still, quiet lakes. Every so often, the gardener will alter these patterns to reflect the Buddhism belief that the only thing constant in the Universe is change itself. Even those things that appear to be the most fixed of forms are slowly being altered by unseen forces all around us. In many Buddhist temples even to this day, monks remind themselves of this truth by raking the sand in their Zen gardens while they meditate, seeking a still mind in the perfection of linear form, and creative insight in curved patterns of motion that wrap harmoniously around alternating forms.

In most Zen gardens, rocks take the place of vegetation. This is another aspect of their design that makes these landscapes highly unique. Stones carefully placed in the sand create focal points in the endless fluidity that surrounds them, allowing an infinite variety of wave forms to accent their structure and positioning. Buddhist monks, long before Einstein, understood the relationship between matter and energy. The interplay of sand and stone directly reflects this relativistic relationship with a set of simple, natural symbols that are easy to work with and peaceful to behold. The relationship between light sand and dark stone is another important symbolic element, and directly correlates to the concepts of yin and yang. It must be emphasized that black is NOT a symbol of evil in the Eastern World, but instead represents the receptive elements of the mind. In a similar way, white has nothing at all to do with our moral concept of good. It symbolizes the mind’s ability to express itself through intentional action. The careful placement of darker stones in lighter sand (or vice versa) is therefore never intended to represent a clash of opposites. Instead, it is meant to represent the dual nature of the mind as it perceives reality through contemplation, then acts upon it through intention.

One famous Japanese text even goes so far as to state that the most important element of Zen gardening is the placement of stones. The text goes on to say that rocks should always be positioned where the most attractive side faces the viewer. It also states emphatically that there should be a greater number of horizontal stones (or “chasing stones” as they are called in Japan) than there are vertical stones (called “running stones” in the text). Again, this helps emphasize the rising force of intent coming up from the depths of the mind. Intent is mystery in Buddhism, but its effects are clearly evidenced by action.

The philosophical function of rocks is complimented on the practical level practical level by decoratively arranging them to represent objects that are commonly found in Nature. Ancient Japanese texts on the subject recommend creating such features as mountains, lakes, seashores, rivers, and cliffs out of rocks of varying sizes. The only vegetation typically found in an authentic Zen garden is moss, which is trained to grow over rocks in emulation of forests growing along river banks, lakeshores, and mountainsides covered in forests. Very small shrubs are used at times to frame a Zen garden, but only as a perimeter element, and seldom, if ever, as a central one.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Zan gardens or Landscape Design

So you’re looking to invest in long-lasting and good looking outdoor furniture. Your neighbor has long been touting the virtues of teak patio sets, but you’re not quite yet convinced. Consider a few more reasons why you should take a chance on teak, and understand why this durable hardwood has been the choice of furniture builders for centuries.

From a purely monetary standpoint, teak chairs will normally run about $200 to $700 apiece, with full teak patio sets costing between $1,000 for smaller sets to around $5,000 on the higher end for larger or more ornate styles. While that may seem like a bit of sticker shock, other types of wood like wicker, cedar and cypress can cost just as much.

Wicker, a viable alternative for indoors or sunrooms, is the most fragile and prone to breaking down over time, but other softwoods (pine included) also require more maintenance than teak and are more likely to decay from environmental factors over the years. Metal patio sets can also be very pricy, and with them there is always the risk of rusting. Not only that, metal is heavy and hard to move and usually requires additional cushions to be comfortable enough to sit on.

All of that can add up to a hefty price tab. Other materials, like plastic, will offer cheaper options, but for the consumer looking for a long-term buy, plastic may not be the way to go. Because it is lightweight and breakable, plastic patio sets need to be replaced every few years.

One thing to remember about teak patio sets is that teak is some of the strongest wood used in furniture so it is not likely to break down, rot or become infested. Also, because of teak’s naturally produced oils, it will hold its natural beauty longer and will not be as susceptible to cracking.

What all of that amounts to is less upkeep, meaning less money spent on costly sealants and cleaners. More than that though is the fact that teak will hold up for so long you may never need to buy another patio set again. Talk about a money-saver.

Another thing to remember is that all teak is imported from Southeast Asia, Central or South America. However, because of its popularity and high demand retailers can offer teak patio sets at competitive prices, unlike many other imported goods and resources. Also, even if not ready to commit to a large scale set, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the benefits of teak patio sets starting out small with teak planters, flooring and even teak dog and cat houses.

Taking the plunge with a major buy such as furniture can be a nerve-wracking proposition, but knowing the facts is the best way to make sure of a sound investment. With that, teak patio sets offer a number of advantages over the competition that make it not only a dependable way to spend your money, but they also exhibit a timeless grace and beauty that you can’t find elsewhere.

Tonya Kerniva is an experienced research and free lance writing professional. She writes actively about Teak Furniture and Teak Patio Furniture .

The beauty of this is your only need a computer and some design software now you can get some great programs there are some free trial versions available as design software changes so quickly I suggest you just google it.

The software I use at present Is at The BBC’s gardening web site in the UK its a free tool and I had a play and Found it was very good .

There are two types of landscape gardening, first is self-explanatory you design, then create someone is perfect garden. The second is probably more lucrative and the customers are usually easier to please, this is commercial landscaping for companies and businesses, I suggest we start with landscaping people’s gardens, followed by taking on some commercial projects.

The first step we have to take is to make sure we are thought of as professional, to do this you will need to first learn to use a landscape design programme, Once you have learnt it just make sure you are comfortable with it.

Its Best To Seem Like a Expert

To start with I would recommend you learn how to use the software above, do some designs print them out on high-quality paper, and put them all together in a folder. To do this take some photographs of a friends garden, then use these with your landscape programmes to show where you’d make improvements. The best way if your garden or a friend’s garden needs landscaping, is to do the work and keep a photo diary of it. if it’s for a friend, you could maybe do the work for free if your friend paid to the materials. This would help selling your service as you will have photos of a job already completed.

How To Get Your First Job

Now there are lots of ways to approach this, personally I think I have figured out the best for you. Do a show garden at a local flower show or country show, just about any large event where you get a lot of people who are interested in gardens or homes.

You can usually get the space for free, if you are willing to put on a display if you do have to pay to space, I suggest selling some plants just to cover the cost.

Just type ‘show and the place you live’ into Google with a bit of searching around you should get all sorts of events come up that are local to you.

You can either choose to exhibit inside or outside, I suggest outside throughout the summer, and to be honest, it’s not worth creating a show garden in winter is your display plants will not look brilliant.

For your display garden I suggest about 12feet by about 12 feet. In this area incorporate a patio with slabs or deck covering about two thirds of the area, have a table and chairs with a few planters on the deck/patio. Round the edge of the patio, have raised bed, using some wood to build up is usually the easiest. In the raised beds, use of the large plants and trees if you can get them, then under plant with some herbaceous perennials and a few bedding You can usually drum up a lot of interest this way.

For More Information On Landscape Business Also Growing And Selling Plants Click Here In addition you qualify for a FREE Ecourse Teaching You About Buying And Selling Plants You may use this article as long as you include my name and resource box

Spring is on its way, and warm weather will be here again before you know it. What does that mean? It means dusting off the old barbecue and giving gardens the once over. Patio sets can be a relaxing escape on a nice day, but for some added fun, there are a bevy of things one can do that can turn a summer snooze-fest into a backyard blowout. See just how swings, fire pits, bird feeders and more can make turn a patio set into more than just a place to sit.

For starters, there’s nothing like the gentle swaying of a rocking chair or porch swing to laze away on a breezy summer afternoon. Become a kid again on an old-fashioned wooden glider. Rocking chairs, gliders and swings come in many different sizes, colors and materials (mainly different woods) so there is bound to be just the right patio set to suit your inner child. Add a comfortable fabric cushion for a truly relaxing experience and prepare to be carried away.

Another idea to get the outdoor party going is the addition of a fire pit. Whether you’re fond of stone, fiberglass or cast iron, these stylish, compact pits look great anywhere and are space-saving, so they won’t take up a lot of room like bulkier grills usually do, and they’re also safe to use. Everyone will want to congregate around the warm night’s glow as you roast marshmallows and hotdogs. Speaking of glow, a few metal lanterns or torches in select spots will add an exotic touch of light to your soiree.

For animal lovers, a bird feeder makes for hours of entertainment for avid orniphiles and casual bird watchers alike. Place one or more in your backyard or balcony and watch the different species come together. Most bird feeders are inexpensive and make for attractive ornaments in any outdoor environment. If you’ve already got a furry friend, treat them to an outdoor wooden dog or cat house. Not only will it keep them shaded from the harsh sun in summer, it will also shield them from the wind during colder months.

Sometimes, just the act of decorating and embellishing patio sets can be the most fun. There are countless ways to beautify the backyard, including larger constructive projects like ponds and bridges or even something as simple as a weathervane. Add a quaint and colorful touch with a stainless steel gazing ball, stone sundial or lawn figurine. Far from the likes of plastic flamingoes, a classy accent piece will bring boring gardens to life and be the envy of your neighbors.

When it comes down to it, having fun does not always have to mean straining yourself or having to travel far. Often times, the most fun can be had at home with loved ones. With just a few simple tricks patio sets can get a facelift that’s fun for all the family, young and old alike. Whether you enjoy swinging, animals or decorating, the backyard can be an endless blank canvas for your creative whims.

Tonya is a free lance author and expert in patio sets including teak patio sets, and patio accessories.

The patio is a nearly always present feature of the Houston home. By enlarging your living space, patios make the house feel bigger and unite the interior and exterior spaces. Patios give us an opportunity to enjoy the out-of-doors, especially when they are dressed up as an outdoor room.

And nothing enhances the look of a patio better than flagstone. A flagstone patio denotes hardiness, security, wherewithal and permanence. With its bluish coloring, flagstone also conveys a cool beauty, particularly welcoming during our hot summer months. A flagstone patio sends a powerful visual message.

Flagstone Patio: What is Flagstone?

In geological terms, flagstone belongs in the sandstone family. It is hard and relatively thin, making it a rugged, ready-made flooring choice. It comes in irregular shapes thus adding texture and interest to whatever space it covers. In fact, the laying of flagstone has been likened to putting together a puzzle.

Its fine-grained surface contains flakes and specks of mica, which makes it glitter and glimmer when the light catches it just right. Sometimes called bluestone or freestone, flagstone also works well for a retaining wall, built-in seating and planters.

Flagstone Patio: The Design Process

Since the patio functions as a transition space between your home and your landscaping, it plays a critical role in your garden landscape. A patio gives you an opportunity to display a personal touch and show off your own aesthetic. It also provides your family and friends with an interesting view out the windows of your home.

Your patio design can range from an airy arbor to an elegant and well-stocked outdoor kitchen, from the classical balance of a formal landscape design to the overflowing abundance of an English garden design. In making your design choices, remember to choose designs and materials that complement the architecture of your house. You also want the designs to reflect your personality, so that you can get maximum enjoyment from this personal and private space.

Patios are a type of hardscapes, the subset of landscaping categories that describe the non-plant material in your landscape’s design. Thus your material choices within that entire group need to be coordinated. Because of its durability and neutral palette, flagstone is a go-to choice for many hardscapes.

Flagstone Patio: Other Landscape Elements

A flagstone patio is a perfect setting for an outdoor water fountain as the water element breaks up the sea of stone and creates a focal point. This, or any other, focal point will draw the eye to it and will be the highlight of your patio. Flagstone also creates a pleasing backdrop for pots and planters in varying height, shapes and sizes that are filled with greenery.

Garden pathways lead your guests from the patio to the rest of the landscape, thus finishing off the patio design. Paths create interest and direct the eye across the green expanse of a yard. Flagstone is especially suited as a material choice for pathways.

Since flagstone is an impermeable surface, you will want to be mindful of your yard drainage. Consulting qualified drainage contractors is your best bet. Another professional to hire is a landscape designer or landscape architect who can capture your very best hopes and wishes for the space in a completely functional way.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Flagstone Patios or Landscape Design

We were contacted by a family in River Oaks who requested that we completely remodel their pool and the yard that surrounded it. They wanted to get rid of the pool’s “L-Shape” construction and have it redesigned with a curved, linear structure and rounded ends. They also wanted to surround the pool with something very different than the traditional wooden deck or concrete surface. Instead, they wanted a stepping stone patio that would look like a part of Nature itself and cause the pool to look more like a part of the landscape.

Stepping stone patios of all sorts are common in landscape design. They are at all difficult to construct. However, creating a french drainage system can often be a challenge depending on the constituency of the soil. Water can create mud between stones and on accumulate on their surfaces, making it unpleasant to walk across the patio after a rain. To make such a structure work as a pool patio, it was necessary for us to build a concealed drainage system underneath the stone elements and use organic material to conceal it. What we did to accomplish this was to pour individual pads of cement that worked as bases upon which to mount the flat stepping stones. We built the drainage system at the level of these concrete bases, and then planted grass between the individual stepping stones.

This concealed the patio’s manmade origins, and created the illusion that it was much older than it actually was. The grass looked like it punched through the rocks and established a tenacious foothold in the spaces between them.

We then continued the natural theme by building a walkway out of the same material we used to construct our stepping stone patio. We designed one end of this walkway to hug the side of the pool, functioning as a 30” coping that gave plenty of comfortable pool access, transit space, and an aesthetic link between the water and the land. We were able to curve its direction by cutting the stones into pie shapes, then fitting them together by hand individually. Once completed, the walkway arced around the sides and ends of the pool, ran through the end of the yard, and passed under a garden trellis into a sculpture garden.

This sculpture garden also played an important role in this landscaping project. It too, involved the construction of a new hardscape. Because this was a formal gathering designed around a European garden theme, we built a circular flagstone patio off the end of linear walkway. This became the central seating area, with smaller, diagonal pathways radiating at angles back to the side doors of the home. Between these smaller pathways, we constructed a water fountain that was shaped like a fireplace, but that had a lit waterfall falling into its rectangular brick basin. At night, guests can sit in a semicircle facing the fountain and enjoy the ambiance of a lighted waterfall.

Throughout the property, we planted a variety of flowering plants and ground cover around our stepping stone patio and walkway. Jasmine was used profusely to control erosion and to prevent encroachment from weeds. Monkey grass was also used for weed and erosion control. Agapanthus and golden globes were used in places near brick walls and around the perimeter of the stepping stone patio to help color its borders with seasonal blooms. We also added height and elegance to the landscape with Italian cypress, and planted Camellias throughout the property to provide blooms for the winter season when other seasonal were dormant.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Steeping stoen patios and pool renovations or Landscape Design

Last summer, a Houston couple by the name of Turner called us and asked us if we could design a landscape out of natural materials that would also reflect their passion for collecting abstract and contemporary art. They wanted a garden water fountain and colorful vegetation that also combined certain aspects of the irregular geometry that characterizes abstract art. They wanted a very subtle blend of regularity and irregularity, and a combination of curved and linear elements that would suggest a natural senes of movement from the edge of the property to the back of their home.

We began our work by constructing a garden water fountain at the very end of a brand new swimming pool the Turner’s had just had installed. We built the basin in the shape of distorted figure-8 that bent to the left and right of what would ultimately become a walkway over the water. We used a gunite concrete substructure that would seal the basin and keep it waterproof, and then we concealed the top of the concrete with a decorative stone-clad overlay whose blue-gray color complimented that of the home. When we finished it looked like a small stone well filled with clear, running water that drained into the pool on one end. On the same side of this drain, we built a stone sculpture out of three stones planed into cubes. The cubes were piled one on top of the other, so that when the structure was complete, it looked like a sculpture made from boulders on some far Pacific island. The water rose out of the stone at the top and flowed down all four sides of the sculpture into the pool.

The new water fountain and surrounding basin now gave us an ideal center point around which to plant a flower garden replete with a number of species. On the left, we planted Mexican sedum to add a lime green contrast to the surrounding landscape, and we planted golden globe to provide flowering ground cover. To add a three dimensional element to the garden, we planted foxtail ferns to provide year-round greenery, and bird of paradise for its resplendent, seasonal blooms. Farther back from the fountain itself, we planted a river birch tree that framed the entire garden from the vantage point of the pool and added an additional aesthetic at night as a backdrop for up lighting. To emphasize the unique aspect of our water garden fountain we planted pink and red pentas on the right that drew the eye upward toward the stone sculpture, and we trained a vine to grow up the far wall of the home that would mirror its unique cubic design.

We then completed the project by building a walkway that led from the front of the property to the home. We constructed this walkway out of stepping pads that actually float on water. This allowed us to build the walkway straight over the water in the center of the garden. We deliberately used this design in order to blend regular material with irregular material. The stones move in a progression from asymmetry to symmetry the closer you get to the house. The very first stepping stone has only two straight sides, for example, and the second has three. Each stone that follows becomes increasingly square as it passes over the garden water fountain until it finally reaches the back patio of the home.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Garden Water Fountain or Landscaping Design

A couple named Rick and Susan Ashcroft contacted Exterior Worlds back in the spring of 2000. They told us that they had always wanted a fireplace, but knew the winters in Houston were too mild to justify having one installed indoors. They asked us if we could build them an outdoor fireplace and a patio adjacent to their living room. The intent was to create a virtual extension of the living room centered on a warm element that would make chilly nights in the early spring, late autumn, and winter both comfortable and pleasant for gatherings and conversation.

We agreed with this plan wholeheartedly. Outdoor fireplaces like this are much more useful in temperate, humid climates. The warmth of a fire adds relief from both cold and humidity, and the structure of a fireplace is an ideal architectural compliment to the styles of many home builds. To create this type of centerpiece, however, we would have to build a special patio that would be reminiscent of interior architecture and also complimentary to outdoor landscaping. The best way to accomplish this was to place symmetrically square interlocking pavers in a pattern that mimicked that of indoor tile. This helped accentuate the feeling of a virtual living room, and it better blended with the stonework and vegetation in the surrounding landscape.

We built the outdoor fireplace completely out of natural stone, fitting each one together like pieces in a puzzle. The chimney was approximately 2