By choosing to add an eye-catching outdoor fireplace to your Hollis, NH, home, you’ll introduce a magnificent addition and focal point to your landscape. In fact, it’ll soon become a central gathering place for family and friends. Before you move forward with such a project, however, consider the area surrounding it and how it will interact with other aspects of your landscape. You may find that a paver or natural stone walkway could be the inviting factor that will compel visitors to go straight to your warm outdoor fireplace.
Related: ROUND VS. LINEAR FIRE PIT: WHICH IS BEST FOR YOUR LANDSCAPE DESIGN IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NH?
Why a Walkway?
Natural stone or paver walkways help transition people from one part of your outdoor space to another. They serve a functional purpose of providing a sturdy, visible pathway for people to walk on, but they can also lend elegance and style that helps complement the beauty of your overall backyard scheme.
What Look Should You Choose for Your Walkway?
To address the question of what kind of pavers or stone to use, a good place to start is the materials you are leaning toward for your outdoor fireplace, whether that is going to be a more rustic landscape feature or contemporary. Simply using a similar look may make the most sense. So, if you chose flagstone for example, you might continue with that scheme. But you could choose a complementary solution that adds interest to your overall fireplace area. The key is to work with your landscape contractor to consider your options.
How Many Pavers?
You and your contractor will go over your vision for your walkway that will help inform the design and layout. Based on the overall length and width of the walkway you’re envisioning, you’ll want to discuss the number of pavers that you may need for this project.
Stone or Paver Arrangement
The arrangement of your walkway stone or pavers is key as well. Pavers are installed with spaces in between that help offset the pressures caused by incremental soil movement that occurs from season to season. With advancements in both technologies and techniques, landscapers are able to better address issues of rain and ice that can cause slippery surfaces and safety hazards. By using permeable pavers, for example, excess water is able to seep through the paver feature instead of remaining on top, an effect that is better for stormwater systems and can minimize icy patches.
Safety and Beauty
Adding light features or fixtures to your paver walkway brings both safety and beauty to the overall experience of your fireplace as well as your landscape design. With the proper installation of lights you, your family, loved ones, and guests are able to walk safely at night without the constant worry of a misstep. You want people engaged with each other, enjoying one another’s company without having to think about their next step.
And if people are carrying beverages, the added safety of light becomes even more important. There’s also the sheer beauty of a lit walkway leading you and your guests to the coziness and warmth of your fireplace feature. There’s a luminous elegance and serenity that comes with well-apportioned light. As you consider all the various aspects of your paver walkway, make sure and include lighting in that conversation as well.
Related: 6 REASONS TO INCLUDE A FIRE FEATURE IN YOUR LANDSCAPE DESIGN UPGRADE IN AMHERST, NH
