THAT FINAL TOUCH

Where you live, how much you entertain, and how you like to relax will help guide your decision on what to include in your backyard landscaping plans. The key to great outdoor entertaining is making sure you, and your guests, feel just as comfortable as they would be indoors.

Turn your backyard into an entertainment retreat with a lounging and eating area, a refreshment bar along with a spa or hot tub. Add a pergola or gazebo for extra shade and privacy, a trickling waterfall, and a patio area complete with bar and grill, and you'll never have to leave your home for an exotic winter vacation.

		Barbeque Islands Not too long ago, if you wanted to entertain outdoors without leaving the comfort of your home, you would break out the charcoal, the lighter fluid, the hibachi or the old three-legged grill. Today the line between indoor and outdoor entertaining has become increasingly blurred. Outdoor entertaining truly has the potential to be the ultimate in luxury and convenience. Outdoor barbeque island designs are varied enough to range from meeting the most sparse demands to gourmet islands fit for the most discerning chefs. These high end barbeque islands can house a wide range of appliances like drop-in or slide-in gas grills, refrigerators, ice makers, sinks, wet bars, warmers, and ovens as well as provide ample space for preparing food and storing dinnerware. These kitchen islands are now designed for outdoor installation so that meals can be prepared, served and cleaned up without ever leaving the comfort of your own "outdoor room". With the latest products on the market for outdoor entertaining, there is barely any need to take a single step inside your home.
		Water Features Stress is a fact of life in today's hectic society. With the demands of work, school, families and a never-ending list of hobbies and activities, many find it nearly impossible to find a moment to relax, whether alone or with friends and family. That's why it's so important to create a tranquil environment to combat the effects of everyday tension on your mind, body and soul. Imagine floating in the ocean, lazily drifting down a river or simply enjoying the warmth of a bathtub. Listen to the sounds of water, and think about how it feels. Water is the most nurturing of all the elements, yet we frequently take its restorative properties for granted. By incorporating a few simple water elements into your backyard landscape, you can create a tranquil oasis to soothe frayed nerves at the end of the day. Water is an integral element in creating a peaceful home environment. By utilizing water features creatively with pools, spas, water gardens and fountains, homeowners can create an individual and inviting sanctuary in their outdoor living space.
		Pool Slides There is no better way to celebrate the times of your life than right at home. Try to imagine a private water park in your backyard, a centerpiece for summer holiday celebrations, entertaining friends, and enjoying the warmer months to the fullest! While limited space and sloping landscapes require special design solutions, this same landscape provides an ideal opportunity to easily incorporate fun and excitement into your backyard paradise. Zoom, twist, and turn your way into more fun and excitement in your pool this summer by adding a water slide to your swimming pool design. Whether a gentle, sloping slide into your refreshing water retreat, or a twisting slide through a rocky mountainside, entering your swimming pool will be an experience in itself. Your pool becomes a private paradise, where you only travel as far as your backyard to enjoy it.
		Outdoor Fireplaces When it comes to outdoor fireplaces, the only limits are those of the imagination. If you've never heard of outdoor fireplaces before, you're not alone. We all know about barbecues, grills, and good old-fashioned bonfires ... but fireplaces? The fact is that, from Mexican chimineas, to vent less faux fireplaces, to tabletop burners, the fireplace has indeed come outdoors. Wanting to enjoy the great outdoors but can't because of the cold? Backyard fireplaces are the answer! Backyard fireplaces add warmth and a cozy ambience to your outdoor experience and can extend your entertaining hours into the night. You can sit on your teak chairs, by your pool and watch the fire going in your outdoor fireplace. The fireplace should match your backyard in theme and style. This is an addition to your patio or deck that guarantees the success of every party you throw. When you and your family want quiet time, an outdoor fireplace will give you the ambiance and romance you've only dreamed of; and it will keep the dream alive through all seasons.