letting the stone be what it is

we’re continuing on with our glen ellyn landscape project, and this week we’re working on two smaller seating areas tucked into a beautiful wooded backyard. we’re using irregular, non-mitered bluestone, and i have to say, this is exactly the kind of landscape construction i love.

there’s just something about working with natural stone. every piece is different. the shapes are imperfect, the edges wander a little, and nothing feels overly manufactured or predictable. rather than forcing the stone into perfectly straight lines, we get to work with what it gives us—turning pieces, fitting them together, and letting the natural character of the bluestone become part of the design.

in a wooded backyard like this one, that feels especially important. there are mature trees overhead, filtered light coming through the canopy, and an established landscape surrounding us. a perfectly square, overly polished patio would almost feel out of place. the irregular bluestone feels quieter and a little more relaxed, like it has slowly found its way into the garden rather than being dropped on top of it.

i also love creating smaller outdoor seating areas within a larger landscape design. not every outdoor living space needs to be one big patio. sometimes a little stone terrace tucked beneath the trees or a quiet place for two chairs can completely change the way someone uses their backyard. these smaller garden rooms give you a reason to wander out into the landscape instead of always staying right next to the house.

this is something we think about a lot when designing landscapes throughout glen ellyn, wheaton, naperville, aurora, plainfield, yorkville, batavia, geneva, downers grove, lisle, and the western suburbs of chicago. whether we’re working with natural stone patios, bluestone walkways, garden seating areas, retaining walls, plantings, or larger outdoor living spaces, the goal isn’t to make every project look the same. it’s to pay attention to the house, the existing trees, the land, and the way our clients actually want to live outside.

for this glen ellyn backyard, the natural stone and wooded setting are doing a lot of the talking for us. sometimes good landscape design really is that simple—work with what’s already beautiful, add what feels like it belongs, and don’t try too hard to make everything perfect.