When creating your outdoor living space its exciting to think about how you are going to use the space. Its important to make sure there is enough seating and places to gather around but also making everything flow together perfectly. Typically  we have these get togethers in the evenings, or as the sun is starting to set. But i find one accent that some times gets overlooked but can make a world of difference is out door lighting. Landscape lighting not only shows off all of your beautiful stonework but also makes your gathering spaces much safer as well. We want our guests to be able to move around comfortably and a walkway with lighting accents can do just that. When it comes to choosing a lighting design there is so many options to choose from. Lighting fixtures come in all types of shapes and sizes. While one fixture can be used to sit on top of a pillar another one might be recessed under a stair tread to be a little more concealed. I also install landscape lighting in and around our pond less waterfalls. Thats right they have lights that are completely submergible as well. Adding these lights to your landscape allows you to enjoy and see it like never before. Some of our lighting techniques are

• Accent Lighting: Creates scenes mimicking the natural affects of moonlight within trees or highlights architectural features of your property. 
• Accent Uplighting: By shining a light upward to illuminate an object or surface for dramatic, attention getting visuals. We use this technique quite often and can be offset with down lighting as well. A tree, home or a special part of a project like a pillar is great for this.
• Grazing: will add depth and dimension to your stonework by having the light expose different shadows because of a materials inconsistencies on its surface.
• Shadowing: Is used to project the look of a tree or your favorite piece of art onto a surface behind the object. So instead of lighting an object it is quite the opposite. We are showing off the shadows of a trees branches onto a home for example.
• Silhouette Lighting: Calls out an interesting shape by lighting a vertical surface behind the object to accent a unique shape.
• Mirror Lighting: Is used to create dream like water scenes be strategically lighting back ground areas around bodies of water. By using some of these techniques we can make your property come alive at night. Typically it is best to do these installations before or during the construction phases. Which is why i always suggest planning ahead. 

Ponds have always been a popular choice when adding something special to the landscape. Just thinking about steams and waterfalls right in your own backyard is exciting. The moving water can drown out street traffic or instantly help you relax. But the idea of maintaining a pond seems to discourage more and more people from getting involved. Most families have pets or even small children and the thought of a pond can be troublesome. Unless you’re a huge koi enthusiast i would recommend a different approach. Pondless water falls allow you to have all of the same features with out any of the headaches. Those features like winding streams and waterfalls is what makes this so appealing to us in the first place. The premise is still the same. You have a pump at the lowest point of the feature that returns the water back to the top where it can spill back into the stream recirculating itself. Pondless waterfalls are virtually maintenance free. Which makes it an attractive option if you travel a lot as well. No worrying about fish being safe, fed or what happens to them if the power goes out.  Automated lighting can even be incorporated into them so they can be enjoyed in the evening. They also bring a very natural element to your outdoor living space. Large boulders and beautiful plants working together can make you feel like you stepped out into your own little paradise. Experience nature right in your own backyard. All kinds of birds and butterflies will be excited to to see your new creation. We can even help make it even more sustainable by redirecting rain water from gutters into it. Saving even more on maintenance and water costs. So if you’re going to consider adding a new feature to your landscape thats fun, interactive and safe for everyone consider a pond less waterfall!

How to choose between a Fire pit or Fireplace.

When we think of a back yard patio a few things come to mind. Either a summer weekend grilling out doors or possibly enjoying a warm cup of coffee early in the morning listening to the birds. But the one thing that definitely comes to mind is those get togethers with family and friends around a fire. There is just something about those evenings when we get to kick back and relax under the stars. Maybe roast some marshmallows with the kids or share a glass of wine with a loved one. At the end of the day a fire will bring people together. It is a great way to open up and talk about your day or maybe even share a spooky story. We know sitting around a fire is always fun but since there are so many options what is the best way to enjoy it? I have listed some of the pros and cons of both a fire place and a fire pit to help. While either one is a great choice it is important to find the one that best fits your lifestyle and landscape. 

Choosing a Fireplace

• Seating. Enjoy intimate seating on one side of the structure, ideal for small groups or romantic settings. While this stimulates relaxing conversation and ambiance, it also requires additional seating. 
• Perspective. The structure will become a magnificent focal point in your outdoor space, but its size also obstructs views, creating privacy from neighbors, or a blockade against surrounding scenes.
• Safety. The enclosed fireplace blocks the wind from guests as well as the lit fire, and provides additional safety around the flame while redirecting bothersome smoke.
  
• Cost. While fireplaces offer more decorative opportunities, they are priced significantly higher, and come with a list of permits, regulations, and inspections.