April 1, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 35 Home Improvement & Gardening Turn your backyard into a sanctuary patio or along strolling paths through your backyard landscape, or if you want furniture you can rearrange and store during inclement weather. Keep the hunger pangs at bay. Outdoor barbeques are becoming increasingly popular, complete with drink coolers and sinks. For an outdoor countertop, look for a material that can withstand weather, yet still have a warm, natural look that will work with the other materials you’re using on your porch. Concrete countertops can be mixed with stains, pigments, aggregates, and epoxy coatings to give them the look, texture and feel of more expensive quarried stones like marble, granite and limestone. Soothe the senses. Spring ARA (ARA) Your backyard is your sanctuary. But you want to make it even better -- perhaps with a patio where your family can congregate, enjoy outdoor barbeques and entertain guests. Here are some design tips to help turn your backyard into the oasis of your dreams: Install a patio. You yearn for a lovely patio area for picnic lunches or to relax and read a book as you enjoy the sun. Natural stone, precast pavers, and stamped concrete are three options for a patio base. Stamped concrete is a versatile choice, that offers unlimited patterns and colors, and can be used in all climates. Gather around the fire. Bring your family together with a fire pit. Whether you build a fire to cooking dinner, roast marshmallows, or keep warm on a chilly evening, it will become a gathering place for your family, friends, and neighbors. Depending on your creativity and building skills, you can make your fire pit an elaborate congregational area with permanent benches and a decorative wood rack, or a simpler ring for cozy family cookouts. Set up seats for relaxation. Don’t forget the tables, chairs and decorative planters to encourage people to relax. Decide if you want permanent, builtin tables and chairs or benches on your Water features are popping up in backyards across the country. Families enjoy relaxing near the sound of trickling water and watching birds and other wildlife looking for a drink. Some homeowners install small fountains surrounded by landscaping to provide the water ambiance, while others build a full water garden. Self-contained water features are easy to install in less than a day, while kit ponds might take a weekend. But the larger water features give you more opportunities to be creative; for example installing a bridge, water wheel, waterfalls or tiny streams. Once you have your backyard sanctuary complete, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy your investment while relaxing. Landscape Maintenance Services ~ Since 1978 ~ ���������������������� ����������� �������������������� ���� ������������������������� �������������������� ������������������� ��������� ���������� ����������������������� ��������������������� Design Center ���������������������� �������������������� ������������������������������ 201-891-1199 LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES 413 Godwin Ave. • Midland Park, NJ ��������������������� ������������������ ����������������� ���������������� �������������������� �������������������� ��������������� ����������������� ������� ���������������� ��� ����������� ��� ����������� ��� ������������ Landscape Gallery www.jacobsenlandscape.com 201-825-4440 11 Barnstable Ct. • Saddle River, NJ ���������������������� ������������������ ����������� ������������������� � ������������������ � �������������������� � ���������� ��������������� ������������� ����������������� � �������� �������������������� ���������� � ������� ������������������ ������������� �������������� ������������� ��������������������������� ������������� ����������������������������� Total Design & Maintenance Service ������� 3-25-09----JacobsenMaintenance3x4BW3col x 4” Pat for PROOF... from Janine ������������������������������������������� �������������� ������������������� �������������������������� �����������������������������