January February March April May June July August September
January: Back To Top
Design Tip: Don't let your outdoor room become cookie cutter. Invest in something that taps into your personal style, architectural tastes or otherwise reflects what's inside your home. This grand pavilion captures the drama of its backdrop and packs more of a style punch than a traditional gazebo.
February:Back To Top
Vacation at Home
Design Tip: With gas prices and travel expenses rising, the backyard is becoming vital when it comes to leisure, says Scott Cohen, landscape artist of The Green Scene in Canoga Park, Calif. Taking vacations at home means designing your backyard like a resort with all the amenities. Waterproof plasma flat-screen TVs and swim-up bars are all fair game.
March:Back To Top
Define Outdoor Spaces
Design Tip: In general, the biggest mistake in backyard design is one oversized patio with plantings on the borders, says landscape artist Scott Cohen of The Green Scene in Canoga Park, Calif. "When you're designing outdoor space you have to think about how people socialize. As soon as you have more than four people over they break into different groups, and that's how your yard should be divided, too."
April:Back To Top
Create a Focal Point
Design Tip: When you create an outdoor room, there has to be a reason to use it whether it's functional (to eat, to swim, to cook, to relax) or it's visual (a sculpture, fountain, fireplace, fragrant plant). Plan your yard with focal points in mind.
May:Back To Top
Mix Fire and Water
Design Tip: Depending on where you live, most outdoor spaces aren't complete without a fire. Add a fireplace or fire pit to extend the seasonality of your outdoor room. Fire and water elements can even be combined; think of the beautiful reflection of flames on still water.
June:Back To Top
Shape up the Pool
Design Tip: Kidney-shaped pools are out, and entire spa-pool experiences are in. Landscape artist Scott Cohen of The Green Scene in Canoga Park, Calif., often designs yards where the pool is a focal point. "For many it's the place where everybody is going to hang out, " he says. "We do spas that seat eight to 10, or they can swim up to the water bar and play cards." Other great features include a water shoulder massage and vanishing edge pools.
JulyBack To Top
Personalize Your Yard
Design Tip: Get creative in your backyard outdoor room. Landscape artist Scott Cohen of The Green Scene in Canoga Park, Calif., installed two hippo statues, one that spouts water into the pool, for a client. Your imagination is the limit: "Whatever you can do inside these days, you can do outside too," he says.
August back to top
Personalize Your Yard
Design Tip: Get creative in your backyard outdoor room. Landscape artist Scott Cohen of The Green Scene in Canoga Park, Calif., installed two hippo statues, one that spouts water into the pool, for a client. Your imagination is the limit: "Whatever you can do inside these days, you can do outside too," he says.
September back to top
Add Color and Texture
Design Tip: : Fill your backyard with a variety of colorful plants, shrubs and landscaping materials. Don't be afraid to spend more for quality, comfortable patio furniture so you can enjoy your plantings.
100 - 1553 Harvey Avenue
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