How a Retaining Wall Can Serve as Additional Seating Near an Outdoor Fireplace in Carson City, NV
If you are thinking about building a Carson City, NV, outdoor fireplace or have one in your backyard, consider adding a retaining wall to add privacy and additional seating for your friends and family. While retaining walls are most often regarded as excellent solutions to erosion problems in a landscape, they can function in other significant ways, too.
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Outdoor Fireplace
There can be nothing quite like curling up outside on a starry night to enjoy the delightful breeze by a warm fire. A gorgeous stone masonry outdoor fireplace can bring focus to your landscape with the crackling fire that brings an ambient glow and a cozy feeling, a space that can quickly become the best seat in the house.
Those who already have an outdoor fireplace can attest to the fact that guests gravitate to this space more often than any other. Gathering around the fire can become a family tradition on special occasions as well as the outdoor space that guests congregate around during a large party.
Retaining Wall as Seating
Just like every landscape is unique, a retaining wall can complement this with a one-of-a-kind space for people to sit to chat, snack on goodies, or sip on a drink.
Single Wall Seating: Some building codes can require a railing for certain height stone walls and a low retaining wall can satisfy this regulation while looking amazing and offering extra seating. Why not build something useful instead of a railing?
A single stone wall can be composed of the same paving stone as the patio that graces the front of the fireplace or it can be a complete contrast. You can incorporate pretty ceramic tiles that you favor or you could choose to add some glass blocks for a see through spot. Any low retaining wall that is to be used for seating should have a wide, flat stone to cap the top to provide a comfortable space to rest.
Double Wall Seating: If there is space, adding a double wall can give you twice as much seating while bringing visual interest and weight to your landscape. Think of it as elegant stadium seating!
If you really want to go all out, add some planting space into the exterior wall where you can grow vines that tumble over the side to bring color and beauty to the backside of the retaining wall. You can alternate stones for a patchwork look or give your stone mason free range to design an original wall.
Lighting
While landscape lighting would not be essential when your retaining wall is near the fireplace, added lighting can always bring extra beauty to your nighttime landscape. A stone mason can hide lights on the underside of the seating cap to illuminate the wall, making it easier to get up and down. When you look out at the eye-catching fireplace, think how much prettier it could be with a durable, lighted retaining wall for your guests to enjoy.
If locating a landscape architect and designer to build a Carson City, NV, outdoor fireplace is on your to-do list, discuss the option of adding a low retaining wall to the project. With more seating and subtle lighting, you can entertain as often as you like.