Tag Archives: patio

A well-designed backyard is so inviting! You’ll want to spend hours outside. Are you looking for ideas? Here’s a list of decorative details that will make your recreational space the ideal place to enjoy life.

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Trees are the focal point of any outdoor design. Choose your tree species carefully because they don’t offer the same decorative potential. The tortured trunk of an oak tree, the slender trunk of a poplar tree and the drooping branches of a weeping willow tree look nothing alike. If there’s already a tree in your backyard, why not plant flowers around it? A sober tree emerging from a super colourful floral design always looks stunning. A paved circle or one made of small stones will serve as a place to linger. Use plants of your choice to form a second circle around it and place a bench somewhere in the midst of it all.

You’ll only need a few shrubs to provide depth in the backyard. A tiny woodland allows you to create a clearing to welcome guests in a setting decorated to your taste.[……]

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Homeowners once believed that having a pool in their backyard meant selling their homes faster and at the price they asked for. They were wrong. Others counted on their flower beds, patio and garden. Another disappointment. So, the landscape won’t make a difference either? Definitely not!

The landscape increases the value of a property, but very little compared with a kitchen or bathroom that is renovated pragmatically with modern materials and configured in a way to increase practicality. A roof and foundations in good condition, a basement designed with taste, and even multiple and efficient storage spaces will increase a property’s value more than the landscape.

You are selling your home. You are waiting for those first emails to come in or those first buyers to visit your home. If you were in their shoes, what would your first inquiries relate to? The landscape or the condition of the windows? The flower beds or the radon levels in the soil? The patio or the structure of the home?[……]

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You will need to consider many factors before choosing the right flooring material for your patio, like its resistance, comfort, maintenance, harmony with the outdoor decor and recreational space. Here is an overview of the options available.

Natural stone paving on a bed of sand is very popular. There are so many options to choose from, like granite, slate, limestone, sandstone, etc. This type of flooring pairs very well with the surrounding vegetation, especially if the stones are laid randomly. It creates a very natural look.

Fill out the joints with sand, pebbles, earth (mixed in with sand to prevent collapsing). If possible, try to stay away from mortar to let the rainwater penetrate directly into the ground. The downside: very porous stone is not very resistant to freezing temperatures. In addition, it stains easily.[……]

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We tend to examine the yard quickly. In our minds, it’s not very important. The condition of the home and its financing are of greater significance. Yet, taking the time to observe the four corners of the yard may save you many problems.

If you’re only planning to stay for a few years, you may think the yard doesn’t really count for much. Caution! If the yard hides a defect, it will affect the home’s resale price. If you intend on staying there permanently, the yard will require much thought for future projects. In both cases, a basic examination is required.

If an old tree is near the house, its roots may be so deep and spread out into the ground that they are about to crack the foundations, especially if they’re already fragile.[……]

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At last! We can now unwind and enjoy the beautiful warm summer evenings. Time to head for the patio or terrace. Maybe you are just about to set it up? Or perhaps you wish to change the way it looks? Here are some ideas that will surely inspire you. The Holy Grail of recreational spaces is the convivial atmosphere they evoke. Remember, the space you are about to set up is the ideal area to relax and entertain. Here, you can decompress, alone, amongst family members or friends. Everything needs to be light, warm and easygoing.

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The lounge style is always very popular. You can find designer furniture usually made of polyethylene, chic umbrellas, copper or silver accents, metal lanterns, refined lighting and a flashy decor. The fancy bar is never too far away.

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Many people love lounging around in a laid-back atmosphere like the African way of life. This style comprises many decorative accessories. Take your pick: a leopard-printed footstool, a zebra-striped fabric, a rug with a tiger motif, a low wooden table, terracotta vases, amber-tinted jugs, brass lanterns, a Moroccan-style modular couch, masks and a solid bamboo balustrade. What about the colours? They are warm, of course. We’re in Africa, after all![……]

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May is certainly the best time to undertake outdoor renovations in the hopes of taking better advantage of the long summer evenings ahead. Here is general advice to create or renovate a recreational space, such as a patio, deck or garden.

Before building a deck, consider all the relevant factors. There are quite a few. Are you looking for more sunlight or more shade? What scenery would you like to see every day? Would it bother you if the neighbours could see in your backyard? Do you want the garden or the kid’s play area to connect with the deck? Would you rather have a deck close to the home or farther away?

Bricks, concrete blocks and terracotta tiles are the best materials for building a patio: they will give you the possibility to leave space to plant vegetation. That is what we call a green patio. Designing green spaces between hard material not only looks stylish, it also creates a cool oasis, however small it may be, for your recreational space during hot summer days.

Wood is a material that is accessible to everyone, or almost. Building a wooden pathway is relatively easy. As for a wooden deck, a handyman can eventually extend it every year by installing joists, if need be.[……]

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You came up with the idea of redecorating your deck or patio. Or, maybe you are about to open your backyard to the pleasures of summer for the first time. New decorative features have emerged in the last few years. Allow us to present you a few.

It is referred to as Yakisugi. It is wood, usually cedar or larch, that has been purposely burnt, which gives it a darker colour, often with different hues. Its surface is smooth and shiny, almost like glass. Its black colour varies from greyish-black to the blackest of blacks. Luckily, it appears that black is the new decorative trend for recreational spaces.

The Yakisugi is not only restricted to exterior siding. We have seen fences, plant pots, furniture, countertops made of Yakisugi as well. Incidentally, you could add some black accessories to your decor to echo the colour of Yakisugi, such as black rattan, a Victorian lamp post or forged iron. Throw in other colours like silver, gold, and ivory and you will give your deck an upscale look.[……]

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