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Hardscape hearth: Get the outdoor fireplace of your dreams
Entertaining always seems to happen in certain areas in the house. Kitchens and fireplaces are welcoming spaces that signify warmth and welcome, and the crowds tend to gather around them. An outdoor fireplace may be the hearth your yard needs to feel more like home. While a fire pit is a lovely addition to any
https://ephenry.com/blog-2017-june-hardscape-hearth-get-the-outdoor-fireplace-of-your-dreams/Defining 5 Terms an EP Henry Authorized Hardscaping Contractor® May Use
Congratulations! You’re starting a new hardscaping project that will beautify your landscape and create a space for making many happy memories. But what did your contractor say again? Masonry, like all other professional areas, has its own glossary of terms. The hardscaping industry borrows many of these for describing the flatwork of installing pavers. Learning
https://ephenry.com/blog-2017-may-defining-5-terms-an-ep-henry-authorized-hardscaping-contractor-may-use/Making and maintaining an outdoor kitchen is easier than you think
Looking to bring your patio to the next level but you wonder what’s involved? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Outdoor cafe culture started in Europe and eventually took over even the smallest American towns. Now homeowners are picking up on the trend. Additions like outdoor rooms, patios, kitchens and sports bars are topping homeowners’
https://ephenry.com/blog-2017-march-making-and-maintaining-an-outdoor-kitchen-is-easier-than-you-think/Cast Veneer Stone: Adding color and texture to living spaces
You don’t need a psychology degree to know that color affects us. Fast food joints use bright yellows, oranges and reds to convey energy and encourage customers to eat quickly. Cafés use dark greens, browns, blues or maroons to give an air of sophistication and comfort. If you do have a degree in psychology, you
https://ephenry.com/blog-2016-october-cast-veneer-stone-adding-color-and-texture-to-living-spaces/Fire from the hearth: Which type of fire pit is right for your hardscape?
The cooler nights, the changing leaves, the crackling of a fire… the wonderful sights and sounds of the Fall season are back in full swing. Sitting together “out back”, faces lit only by the warm glow of a fire and enjoying each other’s company is the cozy scene we all love. One fire pit can
https://ephenry.com/blog-2016-october-fire-from-the-hearth-which-type-of-fire-pit-is-right-for-your-hardscape/Outdoor rooms can have ceilings, too
“Outdoor room” doesn’t have to mean “out in the open.” There are many options for covering your patio space. Summer officially ended this week, but you still can catch some rays. While you’re admiring a beautiful sunset and reminiscing on a hot season well spent, lend some thought to the coming summer’s heat. The time
https://ephenry.com/blog-2016-september-outdoor-rooms-can-have-ceilings-too/Communicating with your contractor
In 1894, Labor Day became a US federal holiday. It was created to celebrate the craftsmen of the early labor movement and their contribution to this nation. Now, Labor Day marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year for the kids. Let’s honor the roots of the holiday by looking
https://ephenry.com/blog-2016-september-communicating-with-your-contractor/To design a grand entrance to a home, it’s essential to pay attention to the driveway.
Your own personal access road Back in the old country, “driveways” were simple, private roads leading from the trade routes to a castle’s entrances for staff and guests. These roads were maintained solely by the castle residents and usually consisted of a utilitarian single lane made with nothing more than grass, gravel or (in more
https://ephenry.com/blog-2016-august-to-design-a-grand-entrance-to-a-home-it-s-essential-to-pay-attention-to-the-driveway/Swim to Gold in your own backyard pool
As the Olympic Summer Games 2016 continue, we’ve seen some exciting finishes and more gold medals for aquatic phenom Michael Phelps and the rest of the amazing US swimming team. We’ve also seen a strange, but natural occurrence: an Olympic diving pool turned green! The green color was caused by a proliferation of tiny but
https://ephenry.com/blog-2016-august-swim-to-gold-in-your-own-backyard-pool/Step Up Your Hardscaping
Which part of your outdoor design holds more meaning than steps? “Steps” flood our imagination and our language. We have giant steps, baby steps, one step forward, and two steps back. We step it up, step down, step aside and step away. We have spring in our step when we make a step in the
https://ephenry.com/blog-2016-august-step-up-your-hardscaping/