Material Matters
Take the samples into the backyard
Turn a visual preference into a documented choice, including installed edges, care, and substitutions.
Gardens & living
Good ideas take root.
Gardens through the seasons, places to gather, and practical ideas for making yourself at home outside.
Material Matters
Material Matters
A quieter palette, a stronger garden
Use repetition to connect the house, paving, structure, and planting.
Material Matters
Gravel or paving: compare the way you will use it
A surface decision begins with movement, furniture, and maintenance.
Material Matters
Large slabs or small pavers? Read the pattern first
The scale of the paving changes the visual pace of an outdoor room.
Material Matters
Horizontal or vertical: the rhythm of a fence
Read the boundary beside the house before deciding how its boards should run.
Material Matters
Wood or metal for the pergola frame?
Compare the visual weight and care of the complete structure.
Material Matters
How much variation should a wood-look deck have?
Read several boards together before choosing the character of the whole surface.
Material Matters
Choose the pool coping with the terrace
The edge around the water connects the pool, steps, and surrounding materials.
Material Matters
Choose the outdoor counter around the work it will do
The best-looking sample still needs to suit the location and cooking routine.
Material Matters
Permeable paving starts below the surface
Compare the complete pavement system, its drainage assumptions, and the maintenance it will require.