Low-Maintenance Living
When the hustle and bustle of daily life gets the best of us, tending to our landscapes can fall to the end of our list. That’s why homeowners are increasingly opting for low-maintenance landscaping options in the form of natural, overgrown grasses like no-mow fescue or synthetic turf. Heather Sweeney, senior designer at Mom’s Design Build, shares more: “I love synthetic turf for shady areas where you normally can’t get grass to grow,” she says. “It’s also amazing for dog runs, game courts, or areas around your landscape you want furniture but don’t want hardscapes. You don’t need to water it—which decreases your water bill—it’s amazing for hard-to-drain areas. The system acts as a large drain field (depending on your base material), so you don’t have standing water after a heavy rain.” But what’s the catch? What are the cons? “It’s not real,” Sweeney adds. “The cost is a lot higher than natural turf, and it can get warmer on your feet than natural lawn.”
Family Fun
Backyards are often designed for ultimate entertaining, but instead of sitting around and sipping drinks in large seating areas and four-season porches, that entertainment is also happening in full-blown game areas—like mini putting greens, full-size shuffleboard courts, and dedicated bean bag stations.
Outdoor Eats
We always talk about bringing the outdoors in, but what about bringing the indoors out? Outdoor kitchens (like this one by Ruby & Suede), are one of the best ways to entertain and throw parties in style. You can personalize however you please, of course, but we can’t resist recommending a brick pizza oven and mini fridge with ample room for cocktails and condiments to whip out during summer cookouts.
Hot Spots
Fond memories never fail to be made when enjoying time around a fire with friends and family on a fleeting fall evening. But this year, amp up the quintessential activity by investing in more than a set of chairs and portable pit. Designated, built-in fire areas (especially sunken pits like this one by Ground One Landscape Design + Build + Maintain) is where you’ll want to spend every waking moment.
