For a more welcoming front yard, you can add character, charm, and functionality with a few masonry additions. Here are six masonry tips to transform your front yard landscape design in Manhasset, NY.
Related: 4 MASONRY IDEAS FOR A SWIMMING POOL THAT WILL ROCK SUMMER 2021 ON LONG ISLAND, NY
A Clear Direction
You’d be surprised at how often visitors don’t know which door to use when arriving at a home that has two prominent doors viewable from the driveway. Make it more obvious by opting for elegant masonry pillars topped with attractive light fixtures at the beginning of your front entry walkway.
An Artistic Walkway
A walkway doesn’t just take visitors to your front door. It’s an opportunity to add an artistic touch to your front yard. The prospect of a new walkway made of natural stone or concrete patio pavers offers up endless design options that can complement your design aesthetic. You could choose a uniform color to create a sophisticated walkway, or blend several colors for a more relaxed and completely unique look.
You could also consider a change in walkway shape. Many old-school walkways were designed as a straight run to the front door—they are efficient, but not very interesting. A curved paver walkway, however, would invite a sense of relaxed welcome that lets visitors linger and admire your landscape’s most attractive features.
A Seat Wall
Adding a low seat wall along your walkway’s outer perimeter could create a welcoming feeling of warmth as your visitors close in on entering your home, by implying that they will be cared for when visiting, and will have plenty of places to sit and relax. Walls can be built to incorporate low voltage landscape lighting fixtures to minimize clutter while beautifully illuminating the walkway for safety.
A Welcoming Landing
Many walkways don’t feature a landing, which means that multiple guests arriving together must either spread out along the walkway or crowd together by the front door. Create a warmer welcome with a wider landing that features a comfortable bench (or a continuation of the seat wall), as well as an artistic element like a water fountain, birdbath, a fragrant flowering tree or shrub, or sculpture.
If your entryway is raised, new natural stone steps and a stone landing would add a sense of grandeur and a far more substantial and comforting look than wooden steps. If your entry is at the ground level, then a choice of pavers (or natural stone) will define the space and signal, “You’ve arrived.”
If your front entry is under a covered porch supported by wood columns, this could be the perfect opportunity to add substance with the addition of masonry cladding. It’s a look that goes well with nearly any architectural style.
A Pleasing Symmetry
On either side of your front entryway, you could place masonry planters filled with colorful flowers or seasonal decorations.
A Gated Entry
If you relish the thought of coming home to your own castle, start with a graceful masonry entry gate (whether it’s actually gated or just gives the appearance of closed-in security, it’s an elegant way to welcome visitors). This look could be a bit too much for smaller homes but works well with larger homes of any architectural style.
If your home is smaller, you could opt for a paver apron where the driveway meets the road and a complementary stone-clad mailbox enclosure.
Related: MODERN MASONRY FOR ENTRANCEWAYS IN BABYLON, LONG ISLAND, NY
