22 May/June 2015 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com
ALL
PHOTOS
PROVIDED
BY
BELGARD
HARDSCAPES
the Hottest "Must Have"
in Outdoor Design
Research continues to name fire features as one of the top "must haves"
in modern outdoor living, making designing with fire a hot topic in
outdoor design. In the early days of the trend, the fire feature was typi-
cally an add-on freestanding element, such as a ceramic chiminea or
metal fire bowl, which could be easily moved to other positions as
needed. However, the trend has evolved over time to include more
built-in permanent fixtures — such as a custom outdoor fireplaces,
fire pits, or gas fire tables — which require more planning in terms of
the overall design scheme of the outdoor living area.
"We've seen a tremendous increase in hardscape fire features," said
Jackie Paulsen, marketing director of Belgard Hardscapes. "Home-
owners want to create an outdoor space that is truly an extension of
Contemporary outdoor design is all about creating an outdoor space that func-
tions as a true extension of the home. This outdoor living room was designed to
combine the atmosphere of an indoor living room with the rustic quality of the
outdoors. The Belgard Elements fireplace from the Brighton Series incorporates
multiple stone textures and is flanked by two Brighton water features inspired
by natural waterfalls. The patio paver field — which includes Bergerac, Urbana
Stone, and Dublin Cobble — combines a variety of contrasting colors and tex-
tures to mimic to look of an area rug.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
