| As summer approaches, you might consider making a | | | | You could lay a patio of stone native to your locale, |
| few changes around your home to prepare for the | | | | or you could match the patio material to your home's |
| best season for entertaining. Summer is a time for | | | | brick. You could create a patio feature around the |
| outdoor gatherings, parties and barbecues. Small | | | | distinguishing trees and other flora of your yard. You |
| home additions or contracting projects can make a | | | | favorite tree can have seating around it, or you can |
| beneficial difference to your exterior design, and | | | | border a side of your patio with a boxwood hedge. |
| make your warm weather entertaining better for | | | | You of course should consider the shade the trees in |
| your guests! | | | | your yard offer when picking a spot for a deck or |
| Adding a deck or patio may be easier than you can | | | | patio. An openly-spaced brick patio can allow grass to |
| imagine, with the help of a professional contractor. | | | | grow through, or ivy can be trained through |
| Restoring your old patio area, or installing a new one, | | | | lattice-work in a deck. You can fit a patio into your |
| is obviously a great way to prep for summer parties. | | | | backyard landscape so that it appears to be an |
| Consider additional seating to make your deck more | | | | organic development of your home and not a recent |
| suitable for having people over for lunch or | | | | addition. |
| dinner-that way you won't have to drag out the old | | | | Decks lend themselves to many great |
| lawn chairs to have more guests over! Adding | | | | features-maybe you'd like a gazebo, a veranda, or a |
| architectural detail to a large, grassy backyard can | | | | screened-in porch? You can build in a hot tub or a grill, |
| make it more habitable for guests, too. Terracing or | | | | or place your deck to maximize the view from your |
| brick retaining walls can be functional as seating, can | | | | home. For summer enjoyment by you or your |
| create more usable space in your yard, and can | | | | potential guests, a new deck or porch addition is a |
| make room available for great landscaping features | | | | great investment. For a small amount of money, you |
| to show your individual taste. | | | | can add to your yard in a way that will have a big |
| You may think that brick patios and wooden decks | | | | effect on your summer entertaining. |
| have very little individuality-but consider your options! | | | | |