The Wicked Yard

Virginia-based interiors stylist Sarah Raak of SKG Designs had been planning a project to redo her backyard patio for a while. But if ever there was an impetus to finally get it going it was this thing called 2020. Although this year brought challenges, it taught us to learn to appreciate the nature, air and space around us. It also allowed us to think outside the box and to innovate — challenges that have always informed Raak’s approach to design.

As pandemic must-haves go, first there were vegetable gardens to keep us busy outside this spring and then in the summer, pools — from the blow up kiddie pool variety to the in-ground sort — helped us stay out of the house while in the safety of our backyard.

As we move into fall, fire pits are trending for homeowners who want to extend their outdoor living season as long as possible because like it or not: winter is coming.

Long before sheltering-in-place went into effect — before masks, social distancing and hand sanitizer were de rigueur — outdoor living was a thing. Over the last 10 years, homeowners have embraced the concept and created refuges that feature outdoor kitchens, patios, fire pits and fireplace features.

As the end of the summer neared, Robbin Mangano, the lifestyle blogger behind The New England Life, and her husband, Jeff, were eager to spend the last few days of the season outside. A DIY granite fire pit from Swenson Granite Works was the perfect end-of-the-summer project and a great way to extend the livability of their backyard into the cooler months.

Since 1883, the Swenson Granite Works team has been helping homeowners and design professionals across New England select the stone products needed to bring exterior and interior projects to life. At our newest location in South Hadley, Massachusetts, Swenson Granite works with local customers on projects from outdoor kitchens and backyard patio retreats to granite steps and walkways, while making them feel like part of the family.

Over the past several years, outdoor living has become a top priority for homeowners. Backyards are turning into entertaining spaces, outdoor eating spaces and outdoor living rooms. To make this possible, homeowners are incorporating features like patios, outdoor kitchens, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces into their yard designs. For evening entertaining, more and more homeowners are installing lights to illuminate their granite and natural stone hardscape designs.

Adding a fire pit to your backyard is one of the simplest ways to transform it into a four-season outdoor living space. For Jen Migonis, home design blogger, real estate investor and mother of four, a DIY Woodbury Gray granite fire pit from Swenson Granite Works was the perfect addition to the Nantucket style backyard retreat at her newly renovated Cape-style home in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.

Bringing the outside in and the inside out has been a key home trend in recent years. Greenery, neutral colors and natural stone featured inside the home bring about calmness, serenity and a sense of connection to the beauty beyond its doors.. And, at the same time, outdoor structures, such as fireplaces, outdoor kitchens and pergolas, can transform your backyard into what feels like an extension of the home’s interior. With durable stone features styled by Swenson Granite Works, as well as stylish furniture, comfortable fabrics, outdoor appliances, you can create a functional outdoor space perfect for both a personal retreat and space for entertaining.

Ready for some exciting news? Swenson Granite Works is opening two new locations this May in Shrewsbury and South Hadley, Massachusetts. Now there are nine convenient locations in the New England area, each with a dedicated team who is ready to help you complete your next home project.

It’s the little touches that make a house a home, and the same holds true for your yard. A well planned garden will improve the appearance of your landscape and give you a peaceful place to retreat outdoors. Whether in your front yard or backyard, granite ornamental elements can beautifully accent your garden and add the finishing touch to make it picture-perfect.