The Patio
The patio has become a
must for every family.
Here we do our entertaining on fine summer days and
evenings or have breakfast on a fine sunny
morning.
The patio needs careful designing and it should be an
attractive feature in its own right, but also blend in with the
house and garden.
The patio is often used as an
extra ‘room’, especially in the summer months – it is an
extension to the home with a good view of the
garden.
If your patio is in shade for most of the day or exposed
to the winds consider moving it away from the house to gain
shelter or sun.
There is no 11th commandment that says the patio has to
be adjacent to the house.
Choose a spot where you have privacy and a good view of
the garden.
Most patios seem to be
rectangular, following the lines of the
house.
However, you might want to choose a circular or
semi-circular shape in order to fit in with the rest of your
garden design.
You could also set the patio at an angle to the house,
this works particularly well on a corner of the
house.
You need to set the
patio boundaries and might want to consider a low wall
with a planting cavity to soften the hard line between
paving and wall.
Although high walls are not normally a feature of the
patio, these can be useful as windbreak or screen for extra
privacy.
A screen block wall would be more suitable than a solid
one and planting shrubs in front of it would soften the impact
and help to filter the wind.
If the garden slopes
towards the house a change of level turns the patio into
a feature.
Shallow steps work well and act like a doorway into the
rest of the garden.
If your garden slopes away from the house you might want
to consider a raised patio, thereby creating a terrace which is
an excellent vantage point to view the rest of the
garden.
Paving materials for
the patio are largely a matter of individual
taste.
Choose any combination of materials that is appropriate
for the setting.
If the patio is close to the house choose bricks or
paving that match those of the house.
The final look of the
patio is determined by the finishing
touches.
A pergola gives the patio an enclosed, integrated
appearance and make it very much part of the
house.
Growing climbers over the pergola will provide cool shade
and look beautiful.
Grapevines are excellent for climbing over pergolas and
as their leaves fall in the autumn you will still be able to
enjoy the winter sun.
You might want to
consider a built-in barbecue which again reinforces the
concept of the extra room.
Also, built in seats scattered with bright cushions will
turn the patio into a wonderful space for all the family to
enjoy.
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