This backyard in North Normal is the kind of space that makes a vacation feel unnecessary. It was a pleasure to build an outdoor room this family will enjoy for years to come.
A Fireplace That Stretches The Season
The centerpiece is a double-sided stone and brick fireplace. It anchors the patio visually, gives two seating areas something to gather around, and makes the space comfortable well into the cool evenings of a Central Illinois fall and the first warm weeks of spring. A fireplace or fire feature is one of the simplest ways to turn a summer-only patio into a three-season one.
Shade For The Hottest Months
An attached shade structure takes the edge off July and August afternoons. Without it, a south or west-facing patio can be too hot to use when you most want to be outside. Pergolas and covered structures also give the space a "ceiling," which makes a patio feel like a room instead of a slab.
Green That Takes Care Of Itself
An irrigation system and framing trees handle the green side of the project, so the family can spend their time enjoying the space rather than dragging hoses. Trees planted to frame a patio also add privacy and, over time, more shade.
See It Come Together
We filmed this project as a time lapse from start to finish. You can watch it on our Facebook page. Stay to the end for the finished space.
Planning Your Own Backyard Retreat?
Most great outdoor living spaces combine the same building blocks: a patio sized for how you entertain, a focal point like a fireplace or outdoor kitchen, shade, and plantings that soften the hardscape. Start with how you want to use the space, then let the design follow. The photos here are from other F&W outdoor living projects to give you more ideas.
Rather have a pro handle it? F&W has provided hardscapes for Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, and Champaign-Urbana, Illinois properties since 1989. Call (309) 664-2666 or request a free quote.