Summer Loving: Backyard Pool and Spa Inspiration
Just because winter is almost here doesn’t mean that the backyard you worked on all summer has to go dormant. There are still plenty of projects you can do throughout the colder months that will make your garden functional and beautiful through the winter while prepping for next summer. Below are a few of our favorite projects to work on in the off season.
When considering adding a fire feature to their backyard, a lot of people end up trending toward installing a fire pit. And the reasons make sense – fire pits are easy to come by (you can often pick them up at a big box store), they’re normally pretty affordable, and they’re fairly easy to install. Though these 3 reasons make a good argument for choosing a fire pit, we think that in the long run, an outdoor fireplace is the better investment for the savvy homeowner. Here are 3 reasons to choose an outdoor fireplace over a fire pit.
Fall weather has finally made an appearance, which means it’s the perfect time of year for hanging out in the backyard on a crisp night. But to get the most out of those fall evenings, you should really think about updating your summer patio and make your outdoor space last well into the new season. Check out our favorite tips below for bringing your patio from the summer into the fall.
The perfect patio isn’t just a fun space to hang out outdoors – it’s also an extension of your home. Building the perfect patio is just as much a labor of love as designing the interior of your house. From flooring to colors to furniture, paying attention to the little details and making sure they coordinate with each other and the rest of your house is crucial to creating the outdoor living space of your dreams. The possibilities are endless, but here are a few of our favorite trends for designing the perfect patio.
Warm summer nights mean one thing: outdoor entertaining! Luckily, in the last couple years, extravagant backyard makeovers have become more and more popular, giving homeowners a wide variety of outdoor living features to incorporate into their patios.
Warm weather and long weekends means that it’s the perfect time for all you weekend warriors to get outside and work on the backyard of your dreams. With a little help from a friend (or two), and a pre-engineered masonry fireplace kit from FireRock, building an awesome outdoor fireplace is just a weekend away!
Extravagant pools are no longer just things to be featured on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. With the boom of the luxury building materials industry, homeowners have more access than ever to great materials to build the pool of their dreams. With a little inspiration and creativity, you can create your own luxury pool that is sure to make your neighbors jealous. Here are our favorite pool trends to help get you started.
Featuring FireRock Clay Pavers
Don’t be square when it’s time to start building your pool. Plain rectangular pools, while popular, are boring. The easiest way to create a one-of-a-kind pool is to pick a unique shape. Choose something that fits your yard or something that reflects your own aesthetics.
"Swimming pool bar, Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, Bangkok" by David McKelvey is licensed under CC BY 2.0
If you’re still in the beginning design phases of your pool, consider opting for a swim-up bar. If you plan on having adults over to swim, a poolside bar is a fun and easy way to keep the party going while providing that “wow” factor that is sure to make your friends jealous. And if a permanent bar isn’t in the budget, you can always opt for a moveable cart once your pool is built.
Featuring FireRock Steel Pavers
Blending your patio and poolscape together is a great way to make your backyard feel even bigger and more impressive. Choose a material like pavers with a high solar reflectance index that can incorporate easily into both a patio and a pool deck. Using the same material throughout the entire space helps create a cohesive design that will let the beauty of your pool shine.
Featuring FireRock Outdoor Fireplace
If you’re really looking to up the “wow” factor of your pool, think about playing with fire. More and more pool designers are installing fire pits or even fireplaces along the perimeter pool. It’s a great way to provide warmth and natural light while you swim as well as a striking visual element.
Featuring FireRock Steel Pavers
If fire features aren’t your style, you can get a similar effect with waterfalls and fountains. Adding a water feature to your pool is an easy way to add dimension to your space. Plus, the gentle sound of running water can create a calming space for you to relax and enjoy your pool.
"Pool" by David Mertl is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Another simple upgrade that you can add after your pool is built is colored lights. Whether you incorporate uplighting on the perimeter of your pool or use a colored bulb in your pool’s light fixture, colored lighting adds visual interest to your poolscape.
Featuring FireRock Ore Pavers
What’s a pool without some poolside lounging? Budget now to buy comfortable chairs, benches or even a hammock. Investing in a few good pieces of patio furniture is an easy way to make sure people actually enjoy lounging poolside.
Whether you’re in the design phase of building your own pool, or just looking for a few ways to spruce yours up, these 7 pool trends are a sure fire way to take your pool to the next level
For FireRock, 2016 was the year for showhouses. In addition to the Christopher Showhouse project, early 2016 debuted the inaugural Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens presented by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine. The spring showhome included 25,000 square foot of living space and 6,000 square foot of outdoor space in Buckhead’s Tuxedo Park neighborhood, and was opened to the public in early April.
As this year comes to a close, we're featuring FireRock's greatest hits of 2016 - the projects we loved and the highlights. To begin our look back, we're showcasing the project that kicked off this year with a bang.