10 ways to add color to your outdoor living space

To set something straight, green is indeed a beautiful pop of color. But in the backyard, the green becomes the white walls in your home. It sits in the background - waiting to be dressed and painted.

There are endless ways to add that extra umph; the pops of color to brighten your outdoor spaces. Some of which may even work during the colder times of the years. So without further adieu, here are the top 10 ways to making your outdoor living spaces a little brighter, and happier - flowers not included. 

1. Add a bright planter at the end of the walkway. Let it sit at the very dead end - so that it can serve as the straight-on focal point during the path.

2. Paint your bench! Go for yellow or a purple shade (to match a nearby flower).

3. Choose multi-colored gravel - and skip the solid collections. 

4. Don't be afraid to pick colorful stone or pavers - but do make sure there are ways to match those colors in the surrounding areas (plantings are an easy way to do this).

5. Attract butterflies and birds! Adding water elements in open areas, like a columnar fountain will bring them right to you.

6. Paint the doors. Colorful front, side, back - even the shed doors all work. This is especially impactful if there area seating areas stationed nearby.

7. Outdoor rugs are perfect. Not only do the create framing around a space (and therefore add the cozy touch), but they're also perfect for bringing colors in from within that space, or nearby outdoor spaces.

8. Colorful mood lighting, either hung or standing work for your spaces both day and night. By day with their painted exterior (burnt red looks great) and by night with the subtle lighting.

9. Patio umbrellas for shade, dryness, coziness, and yes, color!

10. Hang outdoor art. Think wind vanes and chimes. 

-Image Flickr Rudolf Vlček

Paver Patterns: The secret weapon for beautiful outdoor living spaces

Unilock Paver Pattern tool, Uvision, allows consumers to visualize their new paver or walkway pavers.

With so many decisions to be made when planning a new outdoor living space, the small details can get lost in the details. Luckily the team at Landworx is all about details. We believe that small touches can pack a big punch when it comes to landscape design. 

Paver patterns are just such a detail. Depending on the hardscape product being installed, there are usually a few different options for laying out the pattern. A few things that we consider when choosing the right paver and the right pattern are below.

The size of the space and patio

For smaller spaces like fire pit circles, little seating area patios, or 4’ wide walkways, choosing a pattern comprised of small pavers allows the pattern to really develop. If the pavers are too large with multiple sizes in the set, the eye wont be able to really take in the pattern and the design value will be lost. 

In contrast, large spaces and larger patios really work well with large format pavers with multiple sizes. A very popular choice is Unilock’s Beacon Hill Flagstone which has 3 different sizes, all in large format. 

Add Borders and Accents

Once you select the paver pattern for the main, center area—referred to as the “field"—it’s time to move on to the exciting details and accents, or “borders.”  Much like tile in a kitchen or bathroom, there are endless possibilities for borders and inlays. Consider introducing complimentary colors in the border pavers that pull in the accent color of a house or structure. 

Some hardscape manufacturers offer visualization tools for just such product selection tasks. For instance, Unilock has created an awesome way for homeowners to visualize different paver patterns working together with borders. The drag and drop style “Uvision” tool comes loaded with high-resolution images and textures of their entire product line. Take it for a spin using the link below!

-Image source: http://assets.unilock.com/drag-n-drop/

 

Need shade for your patio? Shade sails offer a nice alternative to the norm

Properly designed outdoor living spaces and landscapes offer areas of full sun, as well as shady retreats for sitting and relaxing. Here in the Hudson Valley, homeowners generally turn to options like pergolas, pavilions, awnings, or umbrellas. These all work well and the team at Landworx has certainly installed its fair share of these solutions. 

As of late, there seems to be a new-comer to the shade party. Commonly referred to as shade sails, they are essentially large pieces of heavy duty, weather resistant fabric help taught by heavy duty posts. A quick search on Houzz.com will yield numerous inspirational photos of real projects where sails where used. Often triangular in shape and used in sets of 2 or 3, shade sails are great for creating a design statement or focal point in the landscape. 

With outdoor living industry exploding in popularity, more and more products are coming to market, offering great design options for homeowners in Orange County, NY. So following suit after advancements in patio pavers, outdoor kitchens, and pool construction, we were due for a new solution for creating shade in the residential landscape. Perhaps these shade sails will take off in popularity here in the Hudson Valley as they have out on the West Coast. We can only wait and see what the 2016 outdoor living season has in store for us!

Keep your dog happy in your new outdoor living space.

When designing a new outdoor living space, the kids, the in-laws, the big parties, and even the cold evenings are often considered. Making sure there's plenty of room to relax, that it's easy to access the necessities (e.g. proximity of the outdoor kitchen to sitting areas), and the kids safety find their way to the top of the list. And since the dogs are family members too, it's just as important to think of how they’ll be enjoying the landscape as well. The sooner you think through all the extra details that will make the little four-legged friends comfy, the more that your landscaping professional can ensure that all of the pieces work well together in the overall design.

To get your inspiration going, here are 5 important things to consider when creating animal-friendly outdoor living spaces for your Orange County, NY home. 

1. SHADE. Just like their humans, dogs love and need shady areas for rest. Consider a doggy house (maybe even multiple levels) to match the rest of your landscape design. Or perhaps areas of the patio that will always provide an opportunity for a break from the sun. Don’t forget that some pavers and stone can become extremely hot on the particularly sunny days; make sure to provide alternative walking paths for those moments.
2. WATER.  Water fountains with a pump and filter are perfect for providing never-ending clean water for your pet. Place these in discreet areas for dedicated water source for your doggies or use them as integrated design elements that complement or stand out on their own. By integrating, you get the opportunity for double benefits - relaxing water feature for yourself and other humans as well as potentially multiple options for water for your pet. Keep in mind that many dogs can’t swim and even those that can should always be provided a safe way out in case of danger. Enabling access to only shallow water and discouraging access to deeper water areas is best.
3. WANDERING PATHS. Dogs love to roam and explore. Provide fun areas for discovery by creating paths within the space or even all around (a kind of dedicated dog walk area). The paths can also serve as fun exploration areas for children (if safety needs are met - such as avoiding small rocks). Add some benches, great scents from plants like lavender, and you’ll also have the perfect adult paths that allow for meditation and escape.
4. LAWN. All dogs must run! Provide enclosed and large (if possible) spaces for them to go wild. Depending on the breed of your dog(s), some might use this space a lot more than others to get all of their energy out. To help make sure that the rest of your family can enjoy the fury animal members, ensure the running space is near adult-friendly features such as your outdoor kitchen or a children’s swingset. 
5. SAFETY. Some dogs can be happily trained to stay within an area - and others can’t. You know your happy dog best, be sure to incorporate a fence into your design, if its necessary. There’s more to keeping dogs safe - such as avoiding the use of some plants (e.g. lilies - ask your vet for more info) and protecting your animal from other animals. Think through what dangers your dog might be put in with a new design—and which ones currently exist—and face them head on in your conversations with your landscape design/build company. 

3 reasons why fall in the Hudson Valley is perfect for plantings

Contrary to popular believe, the landscape planting season doesn't end come October. In fact, it's just beginning! Because the summer sun here in Orange County, NY can be harsh, trying to establish new plants during the heat can be very challenging. That's why professionals tend to install large new plantings during the cooler months of the year before winter sets in. Here's 3 reasons why autumn is great for pulling the trigger on that new foundation planting, privacy screening, or large tree planting. 

1. The new root systems have time to grow.

Planting in the fall gives shrubs, trees, and perennials time to become accustomed to their new homes. Come spring and summer, their root structures have had many months to establish good growth structure and they are better suited to take on the heat.

2. You get to choose beautiful fall bloom colors when, well, they're in bloom!

Fall is when a large number of trees and shrubs show their beauty. It's difficult to select the plants you wish to use—think Burning Bush and it's fire red glory—in the spring if they are fall blooming specimens. Installing plantings in the fall allow you to see exactly what you're choosing. 

3. Autumn rain showers and cooler temperatures make it easy to keep the soil moist.

With any new planting, regular watering is the most important factor to success. Planting in the summer months makes it extremely challenging to maintain optimal moisture content underground. Luckily, fall in the Hudson Valley usually comes with lower temperatures, morning dew, and regular rain showers. Talk about making your life easier!