Planning an outdoor space begins with an idea. A fun picnic on a friend’s Hardscape or a relaxing time at a poolside bar on vacation inspires us to recreate those feelings in our own backyards. So you want an outdoor space. What’s the next step in the planning process? “We tell our customers to look

Stringing lights over the patio adds whimsy and a warm glow. Follow these planning tips to get the most out of your efforts.   String lights are the new tiki torches. People love the county fair or outdoor Parisian cafe feel of a string of bulbs draped over a patio. Many kinds of string lights

Cookie cutters and a carving knife are all you need to elevate your watermelon to monumental status. According to National Geographic, watermelons have been around for 5000 years. Seeds and paintings of the fruit were found in King Tut’s tomb. By the year 500, the watermelon had migrated into the Mediterranean countries. It’s been modified

Learn how the Swedish lifestyle of Lagom can help you live your best outdoor life. Loosely translated, Lagom means “just right.” It is the feeling when something hits the perfect balance between two extremes. In her new book, Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life, British

Add a little style to your summer sips and snacks We all do it – make a cold drink and a snack inside to enjoy outside. More times than not, we’ll carry it out with a plastic tumbler and paper plate. That’s not exactly the image of relaxing luxury you want. Punch up the patio

Here are some ideas on adjusting to the change. A little look back This weekend, we jump the clocks forward for Spring. Daylight Savings time (DST). The tradition of turning clocks ahead for the spring and summer months is often thought to be an agricultural push, but the roots of the practice took hold for

From cheesy dips to mini s’mores, a ton of delicious fondue fun awaits.  Fondue legend says the tradition started in the 1600s Switzerland. The practice grew in popularity in Switzerland in the 1800s, when the Swiss government promoted it as a nutrition strategy and a use for aged cheeses. A pot with its own heat

Now is the time to harvest your own bushel of apples for a whole cart of fall fun. Right around now is the best time to get outdoors and go apple picking. Whether you’re lucky enough to have your apple trees in your own backyard or you have an age-old (or new!) family tradition of

Under-porch patios are making a splash as homeowners look to enhance their existing homes by gaining more living space. A little paver planning can transform that weedy, moldy area under an elevated deck into a room of many uses. When a raised deck is more than 8 feet off the ground, the space underneath may

You may already have the makings for an amazing movie night right outside your door. Start a tradition of stars under the stars. Outdoor movies have been popular ever since the drive-in days. Drive-ins are hard to find now but almost all major cities host a movie-in-the-park series. A picnic dinner, a blanket and little