The Wicked Yard

Whether rustic or contemporary, minimal or intricate, all beautiful landscape designs have one thing in common: a well-balanced combination of hardscape and softscape.

Hardscape consists of the solid, heavy, unchanging parts of a landscape, such as stone paths, retaining walls, gravel and patios, while softscape describes the living, botanical elements of a landscape, including plants, soil, shrubs, and flowers Unlike hardscape, softscape is moveable and changes frequently—sometimes as often as several times per season. Your local Swenson Granite Works store can help with any hardscape design by supplying you with the natural stone and granite needed for your project.

From stunning architecture to lush grounds, New Hampshire boasts some of the most undeniably scenic campuses in the country. For most New England schools, quality and durability are just as important as appearance when it comes to designing long-lasting, inspiring spaces for students and visitors alike.

For years, schools and universities across New Hampshire have turned to Swenson Granite Works to elevate their campuses with granite masterpieces. When carefully designed and crafted, stonework can transform ordinary spaces into long-standing campus landmarks.

From elegant seaside estates to charming beach bungalows, coastal homes celebrate the natural beauty of their surroundings. Drawing inspiration from rocky coastlines, fresh ocean air, and the rich blues and grays of the water, these captivating homes can be designed to reflect the very best of the landscape around them.

Coastal homeowners know that durability is just as important as appearance when it comes to choosing materials for exterior design. These homes are typically exposed to much harsher conditions than their neighbors inland, requiring stronger and longer-lasting materials, including granite and natural stone from Swenson Granite Works.

Today, more than ever, natural stone is a favorite choice of material for designers, architects and homeowners — not only for exterior projects, but for interior design as well. Whether it’s thin stone veneer walls, granite kitchen shelves or bluestone floors, incorporating natural stone into your home’s interior design means a detailed and customized appearance that is unique to the space. 

Take a look at how these New England homeowners used thin veneer, granite and bluestone from Swenson Granite Works to decorate their home interiors.

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.

Accent pieces handcrafted from granite best suit outdoor spaces, as they seamlessly align with natural surroundings and add an element of lasting elegance that will never go out of style. Rather than give into fads and trends involving mass-produced products, consider the timeless, handcrafted granite ornamental treasures from Swenson Granite Works — chess tables, compasses, sundials, and millstones. Classic and enduring, these ageless decorative items bring antiquity and functional beauty to your yard.

Also consider the moon gate, a decorative dry stone walling feature, for your garden. This timeless architectural feature can actually be constructed with the Swenson Granite Works fire pit.

The inspiration for the re-imagining of Dartmouth College’s treasured Moosilauke Ravine Lodge in Warren, New Hampshire was all about bridging the past and present. Think: A new look with the same old soul. To keep in line with its North Country heritage, the historic lodge was outfitted with the same kind of rustic charm as its former structure, but it also had to meet Dartmouth’s standards for low maintenance and functional elegance.

To accomplish this ambitious, enviable goal, Dartmouth needed the perfect partner. Enter, Swenson Granite Works.

Every successful home project by Swenson Granite Works is a true testament to the power of teamwork. From the contractors to the skilled stonemasons to the homeowners themselves, no one part of the process is less important than the other. To create these masterful home designs, we are proud to work with professionals who create high-quality products and demonstrate the kind of expertise that is only developed through years of hands-on experience in the industry.

For most of us - and more often when the weather cooperates - a meal outside on the patio in the fresh air can be an enjoyable experience. Backyard chefs are packing up their old rolling barbecue cart, paper plates, and plastic utensils to make their outdoor dining spaces a bigger priority when planning home improvements. More and more, outdoor home entertaining is a gourmet affair, requiring easy access to equipment like sinks and stovetops and thoughtful seating areas. A well-designed and fully functional outdoor kitchen built with granite and natural stone from Swenson Granite Works guarantees a memorable outdoor dining experience and increases your home’s value.

A luxe pool and spa in your backyard can take relaxation and recreation to another level. There are so many designs to choose from – infinity edge, perimeter overflow, freeform, geometric, kidney shaped or classic rectangular. But only certain hardscape materials will give a resort-style poolscape that high-end look and unsurpassed quality. With granite and natural stone, you can create a luxurious poolside oasis that will last for generations.