This region's cold weather leaves many pining for the days of relaxing out in the sun. For some this means a walk around the nearest park, for others it means heading down the Shore for a day on the beach—and for the lucky ones, it means taking a trip somewhere much warmer. For many however, this often means hosting friends and family within the comfort of your own backyard.

While much of the home improvement space focuses on the indoors, the exterior space of the home can be transformed into an oasis capable of entertaining family and friends, or even a relaxing getaway to escape from the world for a while.

Eliminating Pests
The first step toward creating an enjoyable outdoor space is reducing irritants, and there is little more annoying than trying to enjoy the nice weather while being bombarded by bugs. In addition to spiders and beetles, pesty insects like mosquitoes are often relentless in their need to harass humans.

According to Mike Lescas, owner of Lescas Enterprises, a deck is a great way to get off the ground and away from mosquitoes and other insects. Enclosing your deck takes things a step further by physically blocking any pests from entering your space—with an added benefit of protection from the elements.

"I have a covering to stop the sun, the rain and all that stuff," says Lescas. "I am protected all year long so I get to use my space all year."

Beyond physical structures, landscaping can serve a dual purpose as a pest repellent and a way to beautify the area.

"Incorporating plants, which have mosquito-repelling properties, into the landscape or in container gardens surrounding outdoor living spaces can lead to much more enjoyable summer evenings and ward off those uninvited guests," says Michael Pasquarello, a degreed landscape architect at Elite Landscaping. "Plants such as geranium, citronella, basil, rosemary and lemon balm are all great choices [that] will not only beat the bugs but will also add to the visual interest of your space."

Outdoor Kitchens
One way to capitalize on the beauty of your backyard is to incorporate indoor components into your outdoor design.

One rising trend in outdoor living blends practicality with spectacle, delighting friends and families alike—the pizza oven. Pizza ovens are a unique and fun way to provide customizable food with an amazing taste. There are four options of pizza ovens available to meet the needs of each individual homeowner: electric, propane, natural gas and wood fire.

A wood fire oven is often considered the best tasting option, allowing you to utilize and maximize the flavors of burning cherry or apple wood. However, it may not be the best option for those with young kids or those on the go as these ovens take time to heat up.

Natural gas and electric ovens will come to temperature much quicker, but may require running a branch line from the home. If neither is available or desired, propane ovens offer the most accessible option to homeowners, but requires the occasional changing and refilling of the tanks.

In addition to the pizza oven itself, you'll want a preparation area to enhance that outdoor experience.

"You always want to make sure you have the appropriate counter space," says Nick Erman, co-owner of Evergreen Pros. "That way they have enough room for the fixings and to be able to spread out."

In addition, common outdoor cooking instruments like grills and smokers can be incorporated into an outdoor design creating a cohesive and classy look. The grill no longer needs to sit awkwardly against the side of the house waiting to be used. It can be deconstructed and sit within an outdoor island.

But outdoor food preparation goes beyond specialty items like the pizza oven or grill.

Adding in components like sinks, trash cans or refrigerators can eliminate the need to keep running in and out of the house—leaving you with more time to interact with your guests and decreasing the amount of bugs and heating and air conditioning entering and exiting your home.

"A full operational outdoor kitchen allows customers to have everything at the tip of their fingers in their outdoor oasis," says Erman. "We want them to have the same features they have inside so that when they're cooking all they have to do is bring their food out."

Having a fully functional outdoor kitchen elevates the backyard experience by allowing the cook to stay present with family and friends. It eliminates the need to leave one or two people inside to cook while everyone else has fun and makes it easier to keep an eye on little ones while food is prepared.

"Food has the capability to make families friendlier and turn friends into family," says Pasquarello. "So put away those frozen hotdog and hamburger packets and prepare a spread worthy of a five-star restaurant."

Water Features
Water features are an excellent way to add zen and spectacle to your backyard. From koi ponds to fountains there are a ton of options available, although one has risen in popularity for its elegance, safety and ease: the pondless water feature.

"The most popular water feature we do is called a pondless water feature, meaning there's a stream and you've got all these nice little waterfalls, and it's beautiful. You get the sound of water, you get sunshine, you get birds, your dogs can go in and your kids can play in it. But, it disappears into a gravel bed; it doesn't go into a pond and therefore it's totally safe," says Rich Cording Sr., owner of CLC Landscape Design.

Water is recycled through the system, with the basin stored under the gravel bed (and away from breeding insects), this system remains a low-maintenance addition.

Bring home the luxury of a high-end lobby with a pondless waterfall or the grandeur of Gatsby with a pondless fountain—either is an excellent way to liven up your backyard space.

RESOURCES
CLC Landscape Design
Ringwood, N.J.
(973) 839-6026
CLCDesign.com

Elite Landscaping
Berlin, N.J.
(856) 753-1944
EliteLandscaping.com

Evergreen Pros
Cologne, N.J.
609-214-8552
EvergreenPros.com

Lescas Enterprises
Turnersville, N.J.
(856) 805-0849
LescasEnterprises.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 25, Issue 1 (Spring 2025)
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