Having a stylish backyard gives homeowners more space to entertain and just have fun. From patios and pools to outdoor kitchens and living rooms, you can turn a boring backyard into a modern and beautiful space.
“For patios, depending on the architecture of the home and the style, and what the homeowner prefers, we like to use pavers,” says Kristina Jones of Cat in a Hammock, a landscape and outdoor living construction company. “There are modern paver slabs that have large patterns and pavers that have a slate stone finish to create more of an Italian or Spanish villa look. Then there's the ultramodern, more contemporary patio, where we can use porcelain pavers that look like tile. Those are very minimalistic and sleek, and they're usually in one shape, such as a large rectangle or square.”
After the patio is complete, there are countless options for what to put on top of and around this beautiful foundation.
“People are asking for barbecue islands, usually with some sort of bar overhang so everyone can sit around the barbecue,” she says. “It depends on the size of the yard and the budget, but everybody wants a grill, some stainless steel drawers, maybe a refrigerator, and a trash bin hidden away inside the island.”
Usually made out of cinder block with a finish such as stucco or a honed stacked stone, they are tailor made.
“We've done one with a wood grain tile around it, and then we put a polished precast countertop on top,” says Kristina.
Of course, there’s nothing like a pool to add that luxurious, resort-like feel to any backyard. Rectangular shapes with blue liners and clear lights are popular, but now there are many extras to add some pizzazz to that pool.
“We've been doing a lot more pebble versus plaster inside the pool,” she says. “The stones come in different sizes and plaster holds them together. Some brands even include abalone shell, so you get a little bit of glitter on the floor of the pool, which is very nice and adds a little bit more dimension to the bottom of the pool.
“In terms of color, we did this pool that was in a night sky, dark color, and it had a lighter coping [the border around the pool] and it looked like a lagoon. It was really modern and elegant.”
To add even more interesting detail, LED lights that change colors depending on the season and the homeowners’ preference can be installed. Light changes can even be put on an automated system so around Halloween the pool will be flooded with orange light, or red for Valentine’s Day.
Other common requests are Baja shelves with lounge chairs and an umbrella hole to relax in or out of the sun, and amazing spas.
“The trend with spas is they are level with the rest of the pool, so when you're sitting on the patio, it looks like one seamless body of water,” says Kristina.
Combining water and fire features is also popular.
“We can install sheer descents of water coming into the pool or have waterspouts coming out of tall accent walls. These walls can also serve to hide pool equipment, so they have two purposes,” she says.
“The element of fire is also very attractive to people, so they like to have a fire bowl or other fire feature, especially when they have a water feature. We can put a fireplace in the corner of their patio to create a living room space. When they have that water running and that fire going in the evening, it just feels so cozy.”
All of these choices, details and decisions can feel overwhelming to homeowners, but the experts at Cat in a Hammock can make the transformation of a backyard seamless. As both a design and build company, they handle everything from designing and creating proposals to getting permits and building the projects.
“We’re a one-stop shop,” says Kristina. “It's easier for the homeowners because otherwise they would have to hire all these different trades people. We're an exterior designer and manage every aspect of the project. We help with the materials so that they go with the style, colors and textures of the house so it all flows together.”
Cat in a Hammock also provides landscaping, irrigation, outdoor lighting, and more.
“We do everything outside,” she says.
To find out more and see what they can design and build for you, visit CatinaHammock.com.