Posted: Feb 9, 2012 at 2:55 PM [Feb 9, 2012]
• Local landscape designer releases his review of what’s hot this spring
Outdoor living is the priority as residents create space they can enjoy with family and friends. Ivan Katz, founder of Southeast Michigan’s Great Lakes Landscape Design, said current landscaping trends are all about relaxation and socialization:
1) Open patios vs. enclosed decks. The 2012 look is open, with landscaping and patio flowing together for expansive views and a seamless connection with nature. An array of stones and pavers allows high-impact designs, playing up color, textures, geometric shapes and … no maintenance!
2) Green: Recycle, Reuse, Restore. Residents are planting more trees, using natural materials like bamboo fencing, and recycling household materials for use as planters, garden art, etc. “One family was having work done in their kitchen when we first met them. We rescued their old granite countertop and made it into an outdoor bar,” Katz said.
3) Game courts. It started with the “staycation.” Today, it’s a determination to spend more time with family and friends AND be more active. Attractive backyard basketball courts, tennis courts, even shuffleboard and pickleball courts increasingly are part of the landscape.
4) Outdoor kitchens. Husbands like to call them man-grills, but the fact is, built-in grills, wine racks, pizza ovens, refrigerators, and outdoor bar areas all support the idea of backyard gatherings.
5) Built-in fire pits. Nothing says “chill” like sitting around a fire, making S’mores, moon-gazing, and celebrating the end of a long week. Permanent fire pits, often made of stone, pavers, and tile, are safer and enhance your yard more than portable pits. They can be big, small, round, or square.
“In 2012, landscaping isn’t just for aesthetics. Or weeding,” Katz said. “Today, landscaping is about enjoying life and nature, really using your yard to spend time together.”
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