Be Kind to the Earth with Green Landscapes

Curb Appeal

The first impression for any home is the front yard. To make a lasting impression, any project should be created with the needs of the homeowner in mind. Are their existing elements that need to be used, is space an issue, is there a look, style or color scheme that should be used? By incorporating these items into the design, you will not only have a functional front yard, but one that offers curb appeal as well.

When the Sobocinskis were looking to update their front yard, they had a list of items that they wanted to do to make their unmanageable hillside a beautiful entrance to their home. Existing trees and stairs were to be incorporated with additional plants and landscaping to soften the overall look of the home. They wanted a retaining wall that could give them an actual front yard area using natural stone or if natural stone was not in the budget, something that would look natural. To them it was important to use a product that was not harmful to the environment, a “Green” recycled material.

After doing a little research and talking to local contractors, they found that building their retaining wall using a concrete product was the way to go. There were several options from size, color and style to choose from. During their research they found a new “Green” product that was available from Allan Block - the AB Fieldstone Collection. This seemed to fit their plans and budget for having the look of natural stone and be an Eco-Friendly product.

Once the product was selected and the design completed, it was time to get to work. The lighter-weight two-piece AB Fieldstone units made the installation faster and easier than their original natural stone choice. Building terraced walls in place of one tall wall, allowed new planting areas to help soften the look of the landscape. No special or extra blocks were needed to build corners or curves and by ending the walls with curves into the existing stairways, additional planting areas were created.

AB Fieldstone was such a very user-friendly product that in less than one week, this home was able to go from an unmanageable hillside with no space, to an impressive front yard that is the envy of the neighborhood.

Investing in the Outdoors - The Latest in Landscape Trends

The state of the housing market has made some changes in the way people are looking at their living spaces. Rather than moving, many homeowners are opting to stay in their homes and invest in upgrading their existing living spaces. This trend has pushed to the outdoors as people are staying in more often and entertaining at home has increased the need for more livable outdoor space.

Homeowners want to create a sense of place for their family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy outside.
So what are some of the hottest trends in investing in your outdoors?

Living and Building Green

A lot of emphasis has been put on being green or environmentally friendly recently, as we all look for ways to conserve, replenish and otherwise help the environment we live in. While homeowners are looking for more low-maintenance water friendly plants and landscaping, they are also looking for more ways to improve their spaces while still shrinking the size of their carbon footprint. This is where new “green” products and practices have an opportunity to soar.

Allan Block products have always been made to be good for the environment, using our environmentally safe products to replace millions of feet of treated timber walls, and keeping millions more from ever being installed in the first place. Allan Block has taken this one step further with AB Fieldstone.

AB Fieldstone, a new retaining wall product from Allan Block, is a perfect choice for homeowners who still need a retaining wall structure but want to be more “green”. This two-piece system is made with recycled materials, has a natural stone appearance and is easy to install, making it Green, Natural, and Friendly - that is AB Fieldstone. This revolutionary product is just another way homeowners can reduce their carbon footprint, while still maintaining a beautiful and lasting outdoor living space.

Outdoor Kitchens

This leads us to the next trend - Outdoor Kitchens are much more than just a barbecue grill and a lawn chair. With the combination of entertaining and gourmet cooking becoming all the rage, it is only natural for the evolution of the outdoor kitchen. Homeowners today are looking for the complete package - kitchens with counters and bars, dining areas, places for not only cooking but entertaining as well.

Using the AB Courtyard Collection products to construct these outdoor eating and entertaining centers keeps the job beautiful and easy to build. Because of the block’s unique versatility, each outdoor kitchen can be customized to fit the space and style the homeowner is looking for.

Seating/Entertaining Areas

As this trend for moving the indoors out continues, there is a need to design these “living rooms without walls” to be just a warm and inviting as the ones found indoors. Incorporating seating walls and enclosures, pergolas, dining and entertaining areas will bring this dream to life. Elements of fire and water are also high on the list. Integrating fire pits or fire places, waterfalls, fountains and ponds are another way to bring peace and tranquility to the space.

Investing in the Future

While economic times may be leaner than some years past, we are continuing to see a trend in improving our living spaces. With Allan Block products and their wide variety of styles and finishes, investing in the future of your outdoor living space can be beautiful, green and inviting. What is your next outdoor project going to be?