We like to keep you up to date on the latest trends. Here's something from MSN real estate news, by way of
http://www.johncmartin.com/, Tyler Texas real estate:
Although the use of stone, concrete and crushed gravel on residential properties isn't new, the switch from landscaping to "hardscaping" has started to gain traction in the past few years, as more homeowners have begun to think of their gardens and backyards as outdoor rooms. David Watkins, the general manager of Merrifield Gardening Center in Merrifield, Va., says that a decade ago, the company rarely had requests to do hardscaping.
But now, many customers say they would rather spend their weekends relaxing and entertaining in these tricked-out spaces -- complete with weather-resistant rugs, kitchens and built-in televisions -- than pushing around lawn mowers and pulling weeds. In the past year, the company's hardscaping sales have increased 20%, even though the cost for paving is around $25 a square foot installed, more than 10 times the cost of sod. Customers want a low-maintenance yard, Watkins says.
Some want no maintenance at all. Last spring, businessman Kim Melrose spent $25,000 having the yard of his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., torn up so it could be paved with cream-colored concrete, textured to look like travertine stone. His yard has a pool, a covered barbecue, a kitchen with a dishwasher, a two-burner cooktop, a stainless-steel sink and a bar with granite countertop -- and not a blade of grass."
An outdoor room! How 'bout that!
