Patios
The Spanish and the Mexican cultures gave us patios because they understood how pleasant a cool evening outdoors could be in hotter climates, where life begins as the workday ends and the sun retreats. Latinos have traditionally designed outdoor patios with indoor-style amenities like fireplaces, ovens and benches for gathering ‘round. Shady walls and surrounding garden elements naturally connect the living space with the outdoors.
If space, slope and budget permit, patios can give a more formal, more permanent feel to your landscape master plan. Never have there been more materials to choose from and the list grows every day, so you don’t have to settle for a no-personality gray concrete patio
Walkways
Heading down the garden path isn’t just a cliché; it’s a phrase that speaks volumes about the wonderful allure of well-planned landscaping. You want your outdoor greenscapes to beckon to you, to appeal to the kids, grownups, cats and other wild creatures in your life. Plug in the perfect set of paths and walkways, using your own wild creativity and you’ll make it happen.
Traffic and use dictate the width of your walkway. Four feet of width is enough to walk side-by-side, for instance, but overall, a walkway is wider and more formal than a path. Poured concrete has been the traditional material, but as more and more alternatives become available, plain concrete is yielding to ties, pavers, gravel and even tiles. The same materials you might consider for a patio are likewise excellent choices for your garden walkways, and a little planning effort can pay off in usability.