“This has been the space we live in all summer. We don't spend any time indoors." These are the sentiments of a customer Techo-Bloc worked with locally to create a Tuscan retreat. The company's Vanessa Angell observes, "In recent years the patio has become an extension of the indoors. Because the economy is looking brighter, people are really taking the indoor kitchen and they're bringing it outside."
These days this involves more than just cooking over a grill. We're talking pizza ovens. Fireplaces. Smokers. Bars. Refrigerators. Even, in some cases, dishwashers and showers. With movie nights on the couch under the stars—or the pergola—the backyard scene is officially where it's at.
Tom Dreyer of Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center says, “Fifteen to 20 years ago everyone was putting an addition on their house. Now they're adding a patio. Homeowners are flourishing within the Lehigh Valley and are looking for modern statement pieces to furnish their patio.”
Before we look at what Dreyer suggests as a modern piece, let's consider the hardscape, or the bones, of the patio. Hursh's Landscaping won a Builder's Choice award from the Lehigh Valley Builders Association for a project featuring a mix of pavers manufactured in Pennsylvania by Techo-Bloc. For that installation, interlocking sandalwood Mista pavers, round Antikas that mimic river stone, and rectangular shale grey Elenas work together to create visual interest and define areas.
“The best thing about these products is that they not only look great and help define areas, they are also maintenance free,” says Jason Grate of Hursh's Landscaping. He says the polymeric sand between the pavers doesn't wash away but solidifies like grout, eliminating weed growth.
Angell says these outdoor flooring products can achieve upscale looks affordably. “It's really hybrid landscaping. Some of our products replicate high-end bluestone or travertine, which normally you'd have to import from Italy. Our Travertina is made here; you can use that for your patio and create a border with cost-effective options like pavers and slabs.”
Photo Courtesy of Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center
The Southern Cay customizable seating option is a modern statement piece that can be adjusted to fit most any size patio.
Outdoor Furniture that Rocks
Once the floor is down on your patio, it's time to consider seating. Dreyer is excited about two new items in particular. One, a crimson set from Southern Cay is undeniably dramatic.
“This piece is modern, yet retains a traditional flair that makes it a perfect set for an outdoor patio, deck, or pool area,” he says. “The Monterey day bed is a fabulous alternative to lounge chairs. It's an exclusive statement piece typically seen only on cruises and at resorts.”
Pergolas and umbrellas or canvas shade sails are popular items this year and provide cool spots for entertaining even when temperatures soar. When filling out your patio, though, Stacey Nash of Parkland Nurseries in Orefield advises making room for flow.
“We come across homes where you have to dodge everything to get out of the area—the chiminea, the umbrella table, the fire pit. You need about three feet of space between fixtures so people can move freely. It's important to de-clutter your space so it functions better. Sometimes it makes sense to move the fire pit off the patio into the yard.”
Photo Courtesy of Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center
Fire Power
Fire pits are one of the first items many homeowners go for after choosing furniture. The Santorini fire pit from OW Lee is a good option, since it's attractive and runs on propane so no one gets the smoky side. Dreyer says, “The Santorini creates a nice ambiance. Instead of buying a dining set, you could eat around the fire pit and then hang there for hours.” For additional use, try placing a glass table top on it when it's not lit, adding function as well as style.
Another popular add-on is the pizza oven. Dreyer says Alfresco's Fornetto oven “looks extremely chic out on the patio.” He notes that some models are also smokers and “can create distinctive flavors with different meats.”
A third option for fire power is an actual fireplace. Hursh's recommends having one custom built. “Some fireplaces are higher priced but they're a lot more permanent,” says Grate. “It's going to be there for the life of the patio. We can build one to match or complement the colors of the patio itself so you'll have something no one else has.”
A Lehigh Valley Builders Association award-winning local landscape project by RidgeCrest Landscaping & Lawncare of Allentown.
Dressing It Up
Once you've made room for gatherings and passageways, you can accessorize. Joann Compton of Dan Schantz Greenhouse & Cut Flower Outlet in Allentown says the possibilities are endless: “It all depends on your décor. You can use certain accessories, like birch log planters, if you want a rustic style.” She suggests considering a green roof or even a vertical green wall for a focal point. “It's a fairly hostile environment for the plants, but it's an amazing, unique feature.” (Consult someone knowledgeable if you're considering one of these to ensure you have the right irrigation system and plants.)
Parkland Nurseries' most popular water features this year include fountain kits. “The sound of water is really pretty spectacular in a low bowl, with colored pottery next to another container with foliage,” observes Nash. “It makes a very nice grouping.” Some fountains can accommodate floating water plants, and pondless fountains add sound and movement even if you don't have a lot of space.
For container gardening, Nash says to start with an evergreen or pampas grass—a good deer-resistant choice—then add perennials and accent with annuals seasonally: “One of the biggest and happiest perennials is the coneflower. New colors include papaya, a neon pink that could hurt your eyes, and lemon limes, which show up well at nighttime if they're illuminated.” She also recommends a variety of materials, like wrought iron baker's racks, plant stands of different heights, and pottery, to fill out your space.
To add privacy and soften the lines of your patio as it transitions to the yard, add some native plants, like Joe-Pye weed, pink turtlehead and Magnolia virginiana. Grate also recommends spirea, hollies and knockout roses, which flower “pretty much from spring through the fall.”
Show Time
Once you have these items in place, adding lighting can transform your patio into a showpiece. “Illuminate your surroundings,” says Nash, “not just your patio. Extend your visual space by looping white Christmas lights on a fence at the end of the yard. Uplight a mature tree. Put out tiki torches, candles and torch lights.”
Once the patio is equipped, it's time to fire up the pizza oven or roast s'mores over the fire pit. Add a fountain and some flowers and then illuminate them, and you're ready for your best extended outdoor season yet.
Where To Buy Guide
Winston's Southern Cay Modular Deep Seating
Bold and contemporary rattan in multiple configurations and fabrics with backless seating options. Prices vary.
Patio Renaissance's Monterey Day Bed
All-weather wicker, resort-style lounger in dozens of fabrics, from houndstooth to chocolate floral to tropical. Prices vary.
Alfresco's Fornetto Pizza Oven
Wood-fired smoker/roaster. Prices vary.
Santorini Fire Pits
Available in multiple sizes and shapes (circular, square, rectangular). $1,700–$2,200
Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center | Allentown | 610.391.1570 | lvhgc.com
Fountain Kit
Large pots, great for container ponds. $19.99–$27.99
Glazed Pottery
All colors and glazed finishes. $7.99–$69.99
Dan Schantz Greenhouse & Cut Flower Outlet | Allentown | 800.451.3064 | danschantzgreenhouse.com
Additional Resources:
Techo-Bloc | 877.832.4625 | techo-bloc.com
Parkland Nurseries | 610.395.2717 | parklandnurseries.net
Hursh's Landscaping | 610.965.7610 | hurshslandscaping.com
“This has been the space we live in all summer. We don't spend any time indoors." These are the sentiments of a customer Techo-Bloc worked with locally to create a Tuscan retreat. The company's Vanessa Angell observes, "In recent years the patio has become an extension of the indoors. Because the economy is looking brighter, people are really taking the indoor kitchen and they're bringing it outside."
These days this involves more than just cooking over a grill. We're talking pizza ovens. Fireplaces. Smokers. Bars. Refrigerators. Even, in some cases, dishwashers and showers. With movie nights on the couch under the stars—or the pergola—the backyard scene is officially where it's at.
Tom Dreyer of Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center says, “Fifteen to 20 years ago everyone was putting an addition on their house. Now they're adding a patio. Homeowners are flourishing within the Lehigh Valley and are looking for modern statement pieces to furnish their patio.”
Before we look at what Dreyer suggests as a modern piece, let's consider the hardscape, or the bones, of the patio. Hursh's Landscaping won a Builder's Choice award from the Lehigh Valley Builders Association for a project featuring a mix of pavers manufactured in Pennsylvania by Techo-Bloc. For that installation, interlocking sandalwood Mista pavers, round Antikas that mimic river stone, and rectangular shale grey Elenas work together to create visual interest and define areas.
“The best thing about these products is that they not only look great and help define areas, they are also maintenance free,” says Jason Grate of Hursh's Landscaping. He says the polymeric sand between the pavers doesn't wash away but solidifies like grout, eliminating weed growth.
Angell says these outdoor flooring products can achieve upscale looks affordably. “It's really hybrid landscaping. Some of our products replicate high-end bluestone or travertine, which normally you'd have to import from Italy. Our Travertina is made here; you can use that for your patio and create a border with cost-effective options like pavers and slabs.”
Photo Courtesy of Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center
The Southern Cay customizable seating option is a modern statement piece that can be adjusted to fit most any size patio.
Outdoor Furniture that Rocks
Once the floor is down on your patio, it's time to consider seating. Dreyer is excited about two new items in particular. One, a crimson set from Southern Cay is undeniably dramatic.
“This piece is modern, yet retains a traditional flair that makes it a perfect set for an outdoor patio, deck, or pool area,” he says. “The Monterey day bed is a fabulous alternative to lounge chairs. It's an exclusive statement piece typically seen only on cruises and at resorts.”
Pergolas and umbrellas or canvas shade sails are popular items this year and provide cool spots for entertaining even when temperatures soar. When filling out your patio, though, Stacey Nash of Parkland Nurseries in Orefield advises making room for flow.
“We come across homes where you have to dodge everything to get out of the area—the chiminea, the umbrella table, the fire pit. You need about three feet of space between fixtures so people can move freely. It's important to de-clutter your space so it functions better. Sometimes it makes sense to move the fire pit off the patio into the yard.”
Photo Courtesy of Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center
Fire Power
Fire pits are one of the first items many homeowners go for after choosing furniture. The Santorini fire pit from OW Lee is a good option, since it's attractive and runs on propane so no one gets the smoky side. Dreyer says, “The Santorini creates a nice ambiance. Instead of buying a dining set, you could eat around the fire pit and then hang there for hours.” For additional use, try placing a glass table top on it when it's not lit, adding function as well as style.
Another popular add-on is the pizza oven. Dreyer says Alfresco's Fornetto oven “looks extremely chic out on the patio.” He notes that some models are also smokers and “can create distinctive flavors with different meats.”
A third option for fire power is an actual fireplace. Hursh's recommends having one custom built. “Some fireplaces are higher priced but they're a lot more permanent,” says Grate. “It's going to be there for the life of the patio. We can build one to match or complement the colors of the patio itself so you'll have something no one else has.”
A Lehigh Valley Builders Association award-winning local landscape project by RidgeCrest Landscaping & Lawncare of Allentown.
Dressing It Up
Once you've made room for gatherings and passageways, you can accessorize. Joann Compton of Dan Schantz Greenhouse & Cut Flower Outlet in Allentown says the possibilities are endless: “It all depends on your décor. You can use certain accessories, like birch log planters, if you want a rustic style.” She suggests considering a green roof or even a vertical green wall for a focal point. “It's a fairly hostile environment for the plants, but it's an amazing, unique feature.” (Consult someone knowledgeable if you're considering one of these to ensure you have the right irrigation system and plants.)
Parkland Nurseries' most popular water features this year include fountain kits. “The sound of water is really pretty spectacular in a low bowl, with colored pottery next to another container with foliage,” observes Nash. “It makes a very nice grouping.” Some fountains can accommodate floating water plants, and pondless fountains add sound and movement even if you don't have a lot of space.
For container gardening, Nash says to start with an evergreen or pampas grass—a good deer-resistant choice—then add perennials and accent with annuals seasonally: “One of the biggest and happiest perennials is the coneflower. New colors include papaya, a neon pink that could hurt your eyes, and lemon limes, which show up well at nighttime if they're illuminated.” She also recommends a variety of materials, like wrought iron baker's racks, plant stands of different heights, and pottery, to fill out your space.
To add privacy and soften the lines of your patio as it transitions to the yard, add some native plants, like Joe-Pye weed, pink turtlehead and Magnolia virginiana. Grate also recommends spirea, hollies and knockout roses, which flower “pretty much from spring through the fall.”
Show Time
Once you have these items in place, adding lighting can transform your patio into a showpiece. “Illuminate your surroundings,” says Nash, “not just your patio. Extend your visual space by looping white Christmas lights on a fence at the end of the yard. Uplight a mature tree. Put out tiki torches, candles and torch lights.”
Once the patio is equipped, it's time to fire up the pizza oven or roast s'mores over the fire pit. Add a fountain and some flowers and then illuminate them, and you're ready for your best extended outdoor season yet.
Where To Buy Guide
Winston's Southern Cay Modular Deep Seating
Bold and contemporary rattan in multiple configurations and fabrics with backless seating options. Prices vary.
Patio Renaissance's Monterey Day Bed
All-weather wicker, resort-style lounger in dozens of fabrics, from houndstooth to chocolate floral to tropical. Prices vary.
Alfresco's Fornetto Pizza Oven
Wood-fired smoker/roaster. Prices vary.
Santorini Fire Pits
Available in multiple sizes and shapes (circular, square, rectangular). $1,700–$2,200
Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center | Allentown | 610.391.1570 | lvhgc.com
Fountain Kit
Large pots, great for container ponds. $19.99–$27.99
Glazed Pottery
All colors and glazed finishes. $7.99–$69.99
Dan Schantz Greenhouse & Cut Flower Outlet | Allentown | 800.451.3064 | danschantzgreenhouse.com
Additional Resources:
Techo-Bloc | 877.832.4625 | techo-bloc.com
Parkland Nurseries | 610.395.2717 | parklandnurseries.net
Hursh's Landscaping | 610.965.7610 | hurshslandscaping.com
