The Wicked Yard

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.

From the moment she saw the historic Greek Revival home, built in the mid-1800s and set on an acre of property in charming Westport, Connecticut, actress, entrepreneur and lifestyle blogger Eva Amurri could see the potential. “We loved it from the second we saw it,” explained the mom of two young children with a third on the way, “but felt like its space was not utilized well and it lacked the grandness it deserved, given its historic location in town.

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.

From granite countertops to natural stone veneer, your local Swenson Granite Works’ store can provide you with a range of products to create a timeless outdoor kitchen that makes a bold statement of unmatched durability.

There is no better place to spend a hot summer day than poolside. By combining reinvented summer essentials with timeless granite and stone features from Swenson Granite Works, a backyard pool can become a favorite hangout spot for parties all summer long.

When it comes to designing the perfect outdoor retreat, few factors are more important than livability. A balance of comfort, warmth and functionality can make a step into your backyard feel like the start of a vacation.

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.

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.