At the risk of verifying a somewhat tired cliché, it is indeed possible to find yourself caught between a rock and a hard place. And sometimes, that’s not so bad.

While many Americans have taken to “nesting” at their homes over the past several years, the trend has become to enhance the living conditions in one’s home — evidenced by elaborate home entertainment centers, restaurant-quality kitchens and master bedrooms that include enough amenities that one could live a fairly comfortable existence without ever taking off his or her pajamas.

Nesting has also left its imprint outdoors, as many yards have become unroofed social clubs, replete with outdoor kitchens, koi ponds, intricate deck designs and landscaping designed to both enhance the aesthetic value and privacy allotted through hedges and tree lines.

Add stone to that mix.
“The Asian influences have really grabbed hold around here lately,” said Phil Oneschuk, of Michael McCarthy Stones in Millville. “People have taken to feng shui, koi ponds and incorporating natural products into the design of your yard. Hardscaping allows people to build meandering walkways and curves into their yard, and take advantage of the possibilities. Mother Nature has never made a straight line.”

Though McCarthy Stones does indeed sell, deliver and install their stone products — “The one-stop rock shop on the shore,” is a motto they enjoy — one of the pleasures of hardscaping is that nearly anything within the homeowner’s imagination is possible, and much of the work can be done by the individual, if one is so inclined.

“There really is no right or wrong when it comes to stone,” said Oneschuk. “It’s more a case of, ‘What do you hope to accomplish?’”

What is hardscaping?
Well, by definition, hardscaping is a form of landscaping that consists of inaninimate components — things like wood or stone that do not grow, eat or breathe. It can be found in the form of birdbaths, those orbs you see dotting so many lawns or patios and decks. There really is no limit to the possibilities.

While the beauty and elegance of hardscaping is obvious, there are also practical and efficient purposes — particularly when considering stone. Durability, vibrancy of color and lasting imprint are two obvious advantages, but one must consider maintenance, as well. There is no need to stain stone after a few years of use, or sand it down or buy expensive solvents to clean it after storms. In reality, rain and wind handles much of the cleanup required for stone.

No muddy holes in your yard, less area to mow, visually-pleasing pieces to enjoy and functional enough to invite friends over for that barbecue or bocce game.

No stone unturned
Since the materials for hardscaping are limitless, we’re going to focus our efforts here on stone. Used in architecture for thousands of years, stone stands the test of time. It will not be weathered down in a few years, the color you put down in your yard will stay the same for generations, the texture is one that’s unmistakable and the size of the pieces used in a project are strictly up to the homeowner. Those are the traditional strengths.

As the use of stone has enjoyed a recent upsurge in popularity, there have been more and more uses contrived to utilize its strengths. A walk through the showroom of McCarthy’s Stones, for instance, reveals a gas grill built into a stone structure, a waterfall wall and various walkways. Each display at the store also includes an individual touch, such as a sailboat built right into the design. In fact, Oneschuk was quick to point out that stone masons are steadily incorporating many other materials into stone designs, such as copper or iron — or other types of stone.

“It allows you a lot of flexibility with what you hope to design,” explained Oneschuk. “These materials will last forever, and you can really get creative with some of your ideas when you begin mixing in other products.”

Stone is currently being used in hardscaping for things like patios, walkways, birdbaths, benches, flower beds, outdoor bar tops, planters, in place of mulch or simply for overall landscaping design.

So, you want to hardscape, huh?
You’ve decided that you want to go ahead and get started on hardscaping your property, and you’re excited to just jump in and get going. But you’re not entirely sure how to go about doing that. What now?

Get help.
Call your contractor or visit a place like McCarthy’s and tell that person exactly what it is you’re thinking about doing. If you’re not entirely sure about a plan yet, that’s fine. It’s what they do for a living. Tell them what you like, they’ll give you some options and ideas based on their knowledge, and you’re ready to roll.

“We pride ourselves on being able to work with people based on their individual needs,” said Oneschuk. “When we do a project, we want to do what the person wants. We want to make it a positive experience for them.”

Personalize
The joy of doing work on your property is that it’s … well, your property. As long as what you have in mind fits in with the regulations of your homeowners association or municipality, the sky is the limit.

Another item to consider is your house itself. For instance, if you have a brick home, a driveway of gravel or oyster shells might not work as well as it would for a beach-style cottage or Cape Cod. One could consider pavers to allow a flow from your home to the street. If you feel your property just looks to flat, you can build up objects with stone with an elevated flower bed or a column to add a third dimension to your home. Like to entertain in the summer? Build a fancy stone patio with the built-in barbecue grill or pizza oven. It’s your home. Fit your project to fit your needs.

And, most importantly, build something you enjoy.

“Hey, if you can create it in your backyard, why go out or to the movies,” said Oneschuk. “You can build whatever it is you want for your lifestyle.”

Photos by Shaun Lambert
Coastal Point Art Director