Multi sports courts® are becoming increasingly popular in Houston.
Healthy competition builds self-esteem and self-confidence. Exercise is good for people of any age. Supervised play allows children something fun to do under the watchful eye of parents without the worry of exposing them to the nefarious elements of a fragmented society.
Outdoor events are even more fun when a family can offer more than a meal, a drink, and a
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Hardscape
The term “hardscape” refers any non-organic landscape element that is deliberately planned and constructed. It gets its name from the nature of the materials used to build the many forms that constitute this family of landscaping elements. Most construction materials used in these projects are very hard, and create lasting, durable, and resilient fixed that serve special purposes and add beauty and aesthetic impact to the yard.
Hardscape structures are almost always the first forms built when the time comes to actually implement a residential landscaping design project. This is due to the powerful visual impact they carry which lends itself so well to the establishment of order and system throughout the property. Though non-organic themselves, these structures are crucial to the proper showcasing of vibrant colors of garden design and the lush shades of green of a well-manicured lawn.
The types of hardscape structures that can be added to a yard are truly many and varied. Elements such as paved sidewalks, stepping stone pathways, brick walkways, atriums, courtyards, and custom patios are just a few examples. Many people also like to have more elaborate and sophisticated structures built, such as outdoor fireplaces, custom fountains, sports courts, stairways and steps, and garden pergolas.
There are also structures such as retaining walls and masonry planters that serve a vital practical purpose as well as adding vertical impact to the flat Houston landscape.
Any material that provides a firm, durable surface can be used to create a hardscape. Preferably, this material should be decorative as well as functional. Stone is still the most popular material after thousands of years. It looks natural and can be used to compliment any landscape design theme. Another popular material is concrete. It can be colored and stained to mimic stone, or it can be made to stand out as a unique, decorative statement all its own. Wood and brick are two other materials that have been around for centuries and show no sign of going away in the years to come.
In terms of practicality and aesthetics, the benefits that hardscapes add to landscaping are almost too numerous to count. Some of the more notable of these advantages are discussed as follows:
- Pathways and walkways create transition by providing clear, recognizable transit areas through which traffic moves from one point of interest to another.
- Paths can also create zones of interest and make a yard look bigger by altering the perspective and depth of the scene.
- Architectural walls can create borders around vegetation and activity zones, magnifying the impact of the vegetation in the process.
- Retaining walls can be used to change the grade of the Houston landscape.
- Courtyard walls create enclosed spaces for privacy and conversation.
- Garden pergolas, with their lattice walls, can screen the view with such elements as lattice walls or raftered ceilings partly open to the stars
- Custom patios establish entertainment and seating areas, such as swimming pool patios, luxury spas, and outdoor fireplaces
- Stairways and steps leading to and from outdoor buildings create drama and a sense of grand entrance.
- Arbors create shade and comfort in the hot, Houston summer sun.
- Masonry constructs add vertical impact that lifts the property above the aesthetic norm.
- Front yard walkways and custom driveways add curb appeal to the edifice of the home.
In all of these examples, we can see how equally important the aesthetic element of hardscape is to its functional element. Ideally, there should always be a purposed served by a structure in a way that also pleases the eye. Some forms, however, are for all intents and purpose pure decoration and nothing more.
An excellent example of such would be outdoor water features such as custom fountains. Very small architectural walls around patios and morning gardens also do little to create enclosure or true privacy per se, but lend themselves very well to the sense of special place that is set apart visually and distinctively from the rest of the yard.
Driveway Designs For Your Property
A driveway is many things: a welcome mat as you drive into the garage, a utility feature that allows easy access and parking on your property, and an element of curb appeal. For all these reasons, Exterior World believes your driveway design should be an important part of your residential landscape design.
Driveway designs are a subset of custom hardscapes, the non-plant features of landscaping that are tailor-made for your
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Concrete Driveways Houston
If you are looking for a cost-effective and durable driveway option for your Houston home, call Exterior Worlds and get an estimate on a concrete driveway. Concrete is one of the toughest substances we can use to build a driveway. Only natural stone can endure equivalent amounts of wear and tear—and stone requires more upfront cost and often more maintenance to preserve.
Concrete driveways, on the other hand, really
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Houston Driveways
There are many types of Houston driveways.
In terms of residential landscapes, a driveway, by definition, is a special hardscape that connects the street to the interior of the property. A driveway can either function as a motor court parking area itself, or it can lead to a designated parking area in the front, to the side, or even in some cases, partly behind the home.
Without the assistance of
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Driveway Landscape Design
By definition, driveway landscape design is the deliberate construction of a functional hardscape with a high aesthetic impact on the surrounding landscape. Walls and fences create vertical impact and style, while flower beds, shrubs, and trees soften an otherwise plain surface into a vibrant area of eye-catching presence and life.
The direction and shape of the driveway itself is based upon the size and architecture of the nearby home, the
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Brick Driveway
A brick driveway can add character and curb appeal to any brick home.
Brick is much more aesthetic than asphalt and very easy to work with when creating customized designs. Because the majority of homes are built of brick, a driveway made from the same material with instantly make the property stand out as preeminent on the block.
It also helps link the landscape around your home to your house
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Stone Driveways
As indicated by its name, a stone driveway is any driveway made from stones laid flat to form a level surface.
There are some very good reasons for using stones to build a driveway.
For one thing, stone is the one of the strongest materials found on earth.
In nature, it can easily last for hundreds of thousands of years. That is far longer than concrete. Stone also outlives many
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Gravel Driveway
Several layers of rock are used to build a gravel driveway.
The initial layer is composed of large stones, sometimes as large as a person’s fist, that create a near-solid foundation. While very stable, these stones form a surface that is too irregular to be safe for tires to drive on, or for feet to walk on. Two additional layers are needed to make the driveway functional and aesthetic.
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Motor Court
A motor court is not the same as a driveway.
It designates a special area for vehicle parking. Equally important, it is often a much more sophisticated hardscape that contributes function and form to a residential landscape design by providing a stylish transition space for guests approaching the front of the home.
In some cases as well, it is absolutely mandatory for homeowners living on narrow Houston streets where street
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Flagstone Driveway
A traditional flagstone driveway is made using cut, irregular stones that convey a distinctively Old World European sensibility. In particular, it provides a superb compliment to French, Italian, Mediterranean, and other styles of Western architecture.
Depending on the way the stone is cut, it can be used to support either an formal home and residential landscape design, or it can be used to create a countryside look reminiscent of Old
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