When someone comes to your house, the front yard is the key to their first impression. It acts as a preview of your home’s visual aesthetics, which is why it can be important to set the right mood using your landscape features. Masonry features in particular have the beauty, timelessness, and functionality that can make a front yard landscape truly memorable. Before your landscape renovation begins, here are six masonry ideas to make your Dix Hills and Setauket, NY, front yard stand out.
A Water Feature
Water features can have a transformative effect in both front yard and backyard applications. In the front yard, a waterfall or fountain will be an attention grabber that imparts a sense of elegance. The intensity of the water will directly affect the mood of your front yard. Water features are infinitely adaptable to any design aesthetic and size of the entry area. For example, a pondless sheer-descent waterfall can be constructed to look rustic, ultramodern, traditional, mid-century modern, and much more.
A Curved Walkway
The entry walkway helps set the mood as visitors approach your home. The walkway can be a gorgeous masonry feature and just like a fountain, you can take advantage of endless design opportunities. Use masonry materials such as quarried natural stone slabs, clay bricks, modern patio pavers, or even a tasteful combination of materials to make a memorable arrangement.
A curved walkway can instill a relaxing mood as it encourages your guests to slow down and take in the sights.
A Retaining Wall
The retaining wall is one of the most useful masonry features that can be added to a landscape. On sloped landscapes, the retaining wall is a necessary support to prevent erosion and to increase outdoor living spaces. On relatively flat properties, a retaining wall can act as a barrier between spaces of use. Next to a front yard walkway, it can be a tasteful guide to the front door. It can also harbor light fixtures that illuminate the walkway and other features in the front yard. If there’s a particularly good view to be enjoyed, a low seating wall could be the perfect spot to take it all in.
A Series of Raised Planters
Masonry plant beds are meant to provide easier access to plants as well as to add vertical interest. These raised features can serve a similar purpose as a low wall along the walkway, guiding your guests to the front door—but a masonry planter takes things a step further in delighting them with the colors and aromas of seasonal flowers; and they’re an opportunity to embed landscape lighting into the masonry structure for an elegant look.
A Paver Driveway
Whatever the style of your home, asphalt and poured concrete don’t do it justice from a design perspective. Pavers immediately give a warm look that’s compatible with the home’s architectural style. You can also look into having a snowmelt system installed beneath the pavers so your driveway is free of ice and snow all winter long.
An Elegant Landing
Give your guests a place to gather outside your front door. Many modern entryways are tight spaces—fine for one or two people, but crowded for more. The transitional space between the walkway and the door itself could be an important welcoming element with a masonry bench and plenty of room to gather.
Related: MODERN MASONRY FOR ENTRANCEWAYS IN BABYLON, LONG ISLAND, NY
