It’s Never too Early to Start Planning your Next Outdoor Living Project

November 30, 2020

Text by Kristin Amico

The first snowfall of the season has hit, but we New Englanders know that our weather can swing from wintery to white-hot in a flash. The best way to get your outdoor living space ready for that first marvelous day in March and beyond is to start planning now.

We’ve turned to local specialists at Martignetti Enterprises and Unilock for tips on how to optimize your outdoor living spaces. Transform your existing space with patios, pool decks, outdoor kitchens, and more to create a tranquil retreat for the whole family.

Create a Backyard Patio Oasis

Outdoor kitchen with gray pavers

Bristol

Open up new possibilities for how you work, relax, and play on a patio. With a little design planning based on how you want to use the space, it’s possible to double your living room or dining room square footage in these outdoor habitats.

Reimagine open-air living with comfy seating, cooking spaces, play areas, or even a quiet reading nook. Patios can be so much more than a few lounge chairs and a barbecue.

Add architectural drama and a little safeguard from the elements with a pergola. Options like the solid-wood canopies from Martignetti let homeowners create al-fresco living spaces underneath protective arches for cozy outdoor hideaways that extend the backyard to a three-season escape.

Design a Resort-Inspired Pool Deck

Pool with Unilock pavers

Umbriano

Dreaming of a quiet place to sit and read a book overlooking turquoise waters or a meditative water feature? The addition of a pool deck can make your home, whether in Marblehead, Melrose, or any place in between, feel like a resort in the Maldives.

When planning the pool deck, don’t forget to think about form, function, and feel. Ensure that the materials hold up to New England weather patterns and that they can equally withstand everything from chlorine to routine cleaning. Unilock pavers offer barefoot-friendly, non-slip surfaces that add a layer of safety, whether you opt for the pebble-like beach theme of Umbriano Pavers, or the chic urban look of the Beacon Hill Smooth paver.

Get Gourmet in an Outdoor Kitchen

Gourmet outdoor kitchen with gray stone work

Umbriano and Rivercrest

What’s better than a kitchen that looks out into the garden? One that’s nestled amid your garden or patio. The surge in demand for outdoor kitchens means that the equipment and design in recent years have evolved from simple grilling to Top Chef-level gourmet goods.

With stay-at-home luxury top of mind, it’s possible to move beyond Fenway Franks on the grill to a fully functioning outdoor kitchen. Blaze Appliances, available at Martignetti Enterprises, offers a full range of weather-resistant appliances, from stovetops and sinks, to refrigerators and dishwashers.

The hardest part may be deciding how to layout the workspace. When you work with designers at Martignetti Enterprises and easy-to-customize pieces like Unilock’s U-Cara Modular the process is a breeze. The Unilock system can be used to create cooking areas, bars, dividing walls, and just about any outdoor amenity you can dream up.

Dial-Up the Design Drama with a Retaining Wall

Gray retaining wall

U-Cara

A sloped landscape doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. Ditch the utilitarian (and drab) concrete, and look to modern materials to address uneven yards or create a stunning structural focal point.

Whether the landscape requires angular walls or curved designs, Unilock wall systems are made to specifically withstand the pressure of the raised earthen wall, while also resisting buckling and bulging—a common problem given New England’s dramatic freeze-thaw cycle.

While home renovation television shows might make it seem like a retaining wall can be tackled as a DIY project, it is best handled by the pros. Retaining walls do require structural engineering and design-savvy but they are often the perfect solution to upgrading your outdoor living space.

Create Envy-Inducing Curb Appeal with Driveway and Front Entrance Makeovers

Driveway with brick pavers

Townhall

Driveway as design icon? Heavy-duty pavers were created to stand up to the compression of vehicle traffic while also extending the design aesthetic of the home from the front steps to the front curb.

Unilock pavers can withstand snow plowing, shoveling, and ice treatments, but if your budget allows, ask about heated driveway options. New technology, including electric mats, can be installed beneath select pavers to ensure a snow-free driveway—without the back pain.

Wondering how to get started?

Talk to an expert. Martignetti Enterprises, with showrooms in Amesbury and Woburn, offers hardscape design services that can help you plan your dream space. Talk to their in house designer about what you would like to see in your outdoor living space, and they can help by suggesting layouts, lighting, appliance, sounds systems, stone, and many other products. In addition, they can also recommend trusted local contractors and landscapers best suited to your specific needs.

Reach out to Martignetti Enterprises today! They are just a phone call away.

Follow Martignetti Enterprises for more outdoor living inspiration:

Instagram: @martignettienterprises

Facebook: @martignettienterprises

Martignetti Enterprises, Woburn and Amesbury, Massachusetts, martignetti.us

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