Outdoor living spaces are one of the premier home improvement options of the year and offer unique opportunities to the design community. These spaces can vary drastically from each other and allow for a lot of customization in design and material choices. One material that can be used in a number of outdoor applications is natural stone. Natural stone is a building material that has been quarried or harvested from the Earth without any color or chemical manipulation. The only changes in the material are in size and shape to create a range of products like landscape materials including steps, and flagstone for patios, pools and walkways. Another main use for natural stone material is to create stone veneer, this is used in applications like like outdoor kitchens, fire pits, fireplaces and accent stonewalls. Incorporating natural stone into an outdoor living space can be done with either landscape material or veneer options in a number of ways and capacities.

Natural Stone Accent Pieces

Natural Stone has a way of positively impacting a space in any capacity. Accent pieces are the features around the main project that add a unique aspect that compliment the bigger space. This can be a small seating wall, an interior backsplash, natural stone risers or any other secondary project. We often say that you can use a little stone for a big impact and this is true for interior/exterior and outdoor spaces. The project below features a small amount of natural stone veneer that was used for a spillover spa and small accent wall but adds a special aspect to this otherwise standard pool space. These small details also help add dimensions to the pool area and separate it from the rest of the landscape.

Landscape Architecture 

The different uses for natural stone in outdoor spaces has grown tremendously with the fabrication capabilities of the industry. With the ability to create custom material like steps and flagstone more projects are opting for natural stone in their design. This lakeside NH project features extensive outdoor space incorporating custom steps and flagstone material from the Liberty Hill Collection. This material was all fabricated to the specifications of the project and by using the same material throughout, they were able to create a cohesive landscape design.

Focal Point Projects 

Outdoor living has long been about creating a place where family and friends can congregate and spend time together but recently there has been a focus on focal point features like outdoor kitchens, fire pits and fireplaces. New and existing patio spaces are adding these features to be the centerpiece of their space and natural stone is a popular material specified in these designs. The outdoor kitchen below using Old New England Rounds thin stone veneer is the featured piece of this standard Cape Cod travertine patio space.

Outdoor living spaces can also be planned around these focal point features. This American Mist Flagstone space is an example of that, this space was specifically designed around the idea of having a place to sit and enjoy the fieldstone veneer fire pit in the middle. 

Regardless of the size, specifications or design, natural stone is one building material that can impact an outdoor living space in a number of ways. Through accent pieces, focal points and complete landscape architecture makeovers there is always a way to include natural stone into a new or existing outdoor living space. 

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