While every hardscape project presents unique challenges, modifying a mature property is a particularly daunting task for landscape designers. Well-worn structures, mature trees and well-defined transit paths all need to be taken into consideration; otherwise, the hardscape can look like it was simply tacked onto the home as an afterthought For DelVal Landscapes’ designer Glenn Fayer, the Neugenbauer residence in Norristown presented all of these challenges and one more: existing paver steps in very good condition made in a color no longer available.
The steps were part of a small existing paver patio in the backyard. It was too small for entertaining and lacked a walkway, which created a disconnect from the rest of the property. Fayer also needed to design around mature landscaping that the homeowner wanted to preserve: an existing fence line surrounding the property.
“Color was something I wanted more control over and pavers gave me that option,” says homeowner Ed Neugenbauer. “I also knew from past experience that pavers are easier to work with than natural stone, particularly in this large area.”
The area grew even larger when Neugenbauer decided to add a hot tub and firepit to the project. The patio ended up at 1,000 square feet with a connecting walkway that covers 200 square feet and leads to the side yard, linking the driveway with the rear of the home.
“The walkway creates a more defined traffic pattern to the backyard and, if desired, deters visitors from tracking through the house on their way to the back,” Fayer explains. “At the same time, the area and access ways flow with the surroundings, becoming organic parts of the environment.”
The homeowner was familiar with paver alternatives, such as natural stone, but was sold on keeping the concrete pavers. After consulting with Neugenbauer, Fayer chose Rinox’s Trevia series 6 by 6 inch and 6 by 9-inch pavers in Panama beige. The color complemented the existing steps leading into the home.
“Good communication is key to starting any job,” Fayer points out. “This helps ensure a design that is both beautiful and functional. Without the homeowner’s input, even the most unique design may end in disappointment. But that wasn’t the case here.”
Fayer and his team matched the Trevia pavers with Rio series wall and pillar pavers to create the defining elements for the space: a 2-foot high, 90-foot long wall with columns topped with decorative, yet functional, lighting. The serpentine wall creates definition without isolating the finished area from the natural surroundings.
Curves in both the patio and wall mirror the existing tree lines, adding an aesthetic element that maximizes space and creates an interesting design. In addition to the columns, lighting was also added to the surrounding landscape to extend outdoor living into the evening hours. In addition to brightening up a living area, night lighting can have an interesting effect on the textures and colors of the patio. On this patio, shadows play up the Trevia paver’s antique look. Light bounces off the “pillowtop” paver surface, enhancing shadows and adding more depth to colors—something the casual observer might not notice during daylight hours.
The lighting, hot tub and circular firepit all enlarged the scope and scale of the project, but they also transformed a wonderfully comfortable space into a spectacular showplace that provides year-round family enjoyment.
“The patio ended up being larger than I had originally intended,” says Neugenbauer, “but I’m glad it worked out that way. The extra space and features make this the place for family, friends and special occasions. It isn’t just a patio, but really an extension to our home.”
Delaware Valley Landscapes is a full-service landscaping company that is locally owned and based in Harleysville. It consists of a small group of knowledgeable professionals, environmental landscape designers, horticulturalists and certified Interlocking Concrete Paver installers.
Rinox has been making homeowners’ dreams come true for nearly a decade with high-quality pavers, retaining wall systems and masonry products.
Nearly perfect look-alikes to natural stone, Rinox products provide the elegance and opulence of natural hardscape without the installation and maintenance hassles—The perfect marriage of form and function guaranteed to turn heads and last a lifetime.
Rinox products are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and textures—all inspired by nature—and suitable for walkways, garden patios, retaining walls, driveways, pools and decks.