Milestone > Zen

Backyards have become a true expansion of the home. When properly landscaped and designed, your backyard will provide additional outdoor living space where you can spend time entertaining family and friends.

Pergolas are architectural garden hardscapes that became popular during the Italian Renaissance. They can be a welcome reprieve from the midday summer sun while creating a lovely visual for your space.

At its heart, the pergola is simple: crafted from sturdy boards and crossbeams, and accented with lattice and sometimes vines. With the right materials and guidance, they are a welcome addition to your garden retreat.

Play to Your Landscape’s Best Features

Where you place your pergola is almost as important as the pergola design itself! Pergolas and similar hardscapes work great placed directly in the landscape or right next to your home.

When located within the landscape, a pergola is visible from indoors, creating a beautiful scene. When deciding where to place your pergola, you should play to your landscape’s best features.

Think about where you will be spending most of your time. What area of the landscape have the greatest views? Are there any spots that need to be sheltered from the wind? What time of day do you want to sit under your pergola?

Which areas of the landscape are most pleasant at that time? How big a structure you want ? Minimum distance of 1-1.5 m is recommended from boundary lines to build a pergola.

Bring Shade to Your Backyard Retreat

One of the most charming benefits of adding a pergola to your backyard design is the shade they offer to your backyard retreat. When building your pergola, you have the option to place smaller slats on top of the main beams, oriented in the opposite direction.

These shorter slats are placed only two inches apart, offering exceptional shade cover to your outdoor space. Remember that a pergola is not designed to give you shade all day, as the sun will be moving.

So consider your lifestyle and schedule when planning where to place any outdoor structures to make sure you design the best setting/space for the time of day you’re likely to spend time there.

Curtains can be added to pergola for extra shade and sail shade fabric can bring shade too when combined with wood to create a cosy feeling.

Create Boundaries for Your Outdoor Space

You can easily create boundaries within your backyard by adding a pergola. This covering can designate space dedicated to eating and entertaining, especially when built in combination with a patio and outdoor kitchen.

Additionally, pergolas offer a covering for your outdoor furniture or outdoor dining area, amping up the functionality of your space. You can even add climbing plants, including flowering plants, ivy, and vines that will thrive with a pergola offering them support.

You can even hang beautiful planters from the slats of your pergola to showcase additional plant life.

Spa Covers & Patio Partitions

A pergola is a perfect addition for those looking to enjoy a little shade with the bonus of a nice breeze. A pergola is a great addition to for your hot tub or plunge pool.

A meranti wood pergola or aluminum pergola featuring louver panels that open for air or close for more privacy. If you don’t want to wait for the decorative vines to grow, you can add a thin shade cloth that will cut the UV by up to 65%.

Not only are these pergolas decorative and functional, but they also create the feeling of a separate area for your backyard spa.

As a home construction project, a pergola is far less intimidating than a covered patio. Whether your patio is directly outside your door or deep in your backyard, a pergola creates a separate space for entertaining and relaxing in the shade.

Pergolas and patio covers let you spend time in your landscape even on the most sweltering of summer days. They are also great for defining spaces within the landscape and creating an inviting transition between indoors and out.

Waterproof pergolas

Milestone Builds waterproof pergolas with wood and gypsum combination, wood covered by polycarbonate sheet, aluminum louvered pergola. Concrete structure can be combined with wooden roof to add character to the backyard.

Choose your theme to decide what kind of pergola will suit you the best.

If you are a homeowner working with Milestone to design a backyard retreat, you have countless options for customizing your space. Homeowners always have the choice to include a pergola in their backyard.

These beautiful, wooden structures offer countless benefits, including dramatically improving the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space.

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Modern Landscape Design Ideas for the Minimalists

By Sejal Nagjee on

October 1, 2016

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I absolutely love incorporating modern and minimalist themes to enhance landscaping. Personally, it truly is my favorite choice for landscape design.

I am attracted to the simplicity of lines, linear structure, neutral color pallet, innovative materials and focus on sculptural details. All of these aspects combine with simple shapes creating an elegant and charming design that is very appealing.

Typically, the combination of grey, white, beige, brown, and black form the color pallet that serves as the foundation for modern gardens. These colors come together exceptionally, allowing other accents of colors and accessories to stand out against the background.

Grass, plants, and pebbles also provide additional colors, enhancing your minimalist design. These little accents look beautiful against the neutral base found in your landscape design flooring and exterior walls. The result is awe-inspiring!

I’ve put together a few tips to help you take your modern and minimalist landscape to the next level!

Create Clearly Defined Areas

A key trait of modern landscaping lies in creating clearly defined spaces. The geometry of modern garden is sleek, unique, and pristine. We’re not talking about a boring, and stuffy space, though. Keeping things interesting is essential!

You can create a defined space using gravel or pebble to create rectangles to break up the lawn, creating a stunning stepping stone effect.

Or you can create many distinct areas, using a pool, water features, or an abundance of simple flower beds to create fun and different areas in your backyard.

When placed properly, the right combination of gravel, tile, water and lush plants will combine to form your perfectly planned modern landscape.

Match Exterior Design with Your Architecture

Usually, a modern garden places more focus on the architecture and materials than on the plants and greenery. Landscape should always be designed keeping in mind the architecture style of your villa.

When designing your landscape, be sure to use the style and theme of your home and then incorporate those ideas into your landscape. Remember that you will often be looking from the inside of your home to the outside.

So it’s important to connect the color theme and styles so that your home effortlessly extends into your exterior landscape, creating a peaceful transition from one space to the other.

Use Linear Form and Geometric Shapes

A modern garden is typically characterized by a sleek, streamlined and sophisticated style. Modern garden designs also draw on the simplicity of minimalist Asian design practices.

Usually, a modern garden places more focus on the architecture and materials than on the plants and greenery. Geometric shapes and repeating patterns are commonly incorporated in modern outdoor spaces.

The main idea is to design a garden that has a managed and organized presentation.

Use Innovative Shade Structures

Modern designs use shade structures that are simple and functional. Whether they are concrete, white in color or shades of brown, they are always simple. Steer away from gazebos designed with thatched roofs and Mediterranean roof tiles.

These ornate structures don’t mix well with a modern theme. Instead, keep your shade structures simple and sleek.

Focus on Accessories and Outdoor Furniture

Modern gardens often rely on structural accessories to achieve their minimalist look, with plants used as accents rather than focal points to provide contrast and color.

Enhance your minimalist design with modern outdoor furniture crafted from natural elements such as wood, metal, wicker, concrete, and marble. Use weatherproof geometrically inspired cushions and pillows to further enhance your outdoor furniture.

When creating a modern design, it’s important that your accessories incorporate innovative shapes for planters, modern sculptures, vertical gardens, and sleek benches. For an added touch, be sure to include modern and easy to maintain water features.

Its contemporary linear form combined with the soothing sound of water can insert the culminating finish to your design. You can even get creative and make things on your own, adding a distinct personal touch to your modern landscape design.

Remember Less is More!

One of the most important aspects of creating a modern garden is creating a space that is clean and clutter free. Stick to the minimal use of furniture and accessories, allowing enough space to move around.

Also, be sure to remember that plants are meant to be used sparingly. When you do incorporate plants, remember that repetition and groups of plants are crucial elements to modern style.

Use plants that are simple and make a statement, like an Olive tree. Steer clear of unruly and wild plants; they simply don’t belong in this clean and sleek design.

Modern minimalism is exactly that: minimalist! This is a style that focuses more on form, color, and abstract ideas. Remember that when it comes to modern themed gardens, less is always more.

Their refined forms, pure materials and the achievement of balance distinguish the quintessential aspects of modern garden designs from all others landscape designs. I just know that you will love this style as much as I do!

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Garden Designs Inspired by Your Travels

By Sejal Nagjee on

September 3, 2016

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Would you like to turn your home into a holiday destination?

Traveling creates lasting memories, where even the smallest memento can take us back in time to the sights, sounds, smells and emotions we experienced during our adventures.

For all those other busy times of the year when we are unable to travel, experiencing those memories can bring great joy and happiness into our day.

Every summer, we travel as a family to different destinations around the world. Over the years I have experienced over 50 international destinations and 160 Indian cities, each destination offering a unique experience.

Along the way I have collected so many interesting artifacts, art works and other souvenirs. Each destination left a lasting memory and an imprint in my mind and heart.

Each new location offered its own unique geography, landscape, vegetation, architecture, monuments and infrastructure. My travels offered me such amazing learning opportunities.

I’ve used these experiences to enhance my design ideas, creating homes that feel like not only feel like a resort, but also homes that serve as a reminder of your favorite travel destinations.

Surround Yourself with the Great Outdoors

My visits to Switzerland, Rome, Rhodes, Sorrento and Mykonos in June and July 2014 were extremely memorable. Here, I discovered the neutral beauty of nature.

These soft colors in nature almost spring to life against area vegetation and plants, creating an artistically inspired array that dazzles the eye. There are so many beautiful shades of green, each shade adding to the interesting depth of landscape.

Regardless of where you travel, weather it’s snowy mountains, or a rushing river, nature creates of a rainbow of neutral colors! Within the neutral colors of beige, brown, black, white and grey, the various shades of greenery stand out.

Nature is playful, meandering and harmonious. Adding these natural elements into our surroundings creates the feeling of total relaxation and bliss.

I love natural landscape and try to incorporate nature into my design. This featured garden we designed is so natural, serene and peaceful. Notice the calming water feature, where the lovely Lilly pads add a pop of green against the various beige rocks.

The structured pathway seems to disappear, melting into its surrounding natural topography of greenery, pebbles and rocks. Add to that the soothing sound of the water and you really have created your own slice of heaven!

Theme Gardens Inspired by Your Favorite Destination

One of my favorite holidays was to Rhodes, Greece where we stayed immersed in the heart of the old town. The architecture was stunning, with very interesting places to eat and shop. It was a very old historical place surrounded by castles.

Drawing upon the inspirations of Old World charm, the roads were crafted of pebbles, inserted throughout the cement in intricately designed patterns that came to life with each and every step. It was extraordinary!

Crazy cut pavings also highlighted the streets, creating intriguing patterns. You simply couldn’t look away! Pink Bougainvillea looked absolutely stunning set against the neutral grey and white road.

I have incorporated all of those delightful ideas in my design. Here are a few of my favorite patterns that were inspired from my visit to Greece

Natural Memories: Adorning Your Garden with Travel Artifacts

When I traveled to St Moritz, Switzerland I fell in love with the local sights and sounds, and with a particular log of wood planter. It was so unique, I simply had to have it but it proved impossible to carry.

When I arrived home I was determined to find a replica. I searched high and low and managed to find one here in Dubai! Placing it in the midst of the pebbles in my garden design added the culminating touch to the very minimal Zen design.

Bets of all, it will always serves as a reminder of Switzerland and my quest to find the memorable piece that left such a lasting impression.

In this particular design, I incorporated many pots and garden artifacts. The client loves to collect art pieces, sculptures, and candles.

Adding these elements into their garden space is not only aesthetically appealing but it also serves as a constant reminder of their world travels. Each artifact provides the snippet of a memory from its associated destination.

Incorporate Design Trends Into Your Home

All hotels incorporate the latest materials, accessories, artworks and designs in their indoor and outdoor spaces. Vertical gardens, firepots, outdoor murals, and investment in custom LED lighting fixtures are among the latest trends.

Though expensive, they create more than just a space. These accents create an elegant and glamorous environment.

While traveling in France I came across this stunning vertical wall (pictured below). Vertical gardens create a vertical green wall that has a far more dramatic impact than tradition trees and bushes.

It’s an enormous mass of lush plants, resulting in an awe-inspiring detail that leaves a lasting impression. As you can see in the featured design below, I use vertical gardens in my designs, adding the culminating finish to an extraordinary space.

When it comes to incorporating your travels into your design, the possibilities are endless! As you embark on your next holiday, I encourage you to take pictures. Create a travel log to capture ideas that you love along your adventure.

Collect art pieces and artifacts that will evoke memories for years to come. When you return home from your travels, we will help you design an extraordinary space that incorporates those memoires into your home.

You may not always have the time to travel, but at least now you can have a space that serves as a constant reminder of your great adventures and the adventures yet to come!

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Pergola Design Tips for Your Outdoor Retreat

Play to Your Landscape’s Best Features

Bring Shade to Your Backyard Retreat

Create Boundaries for Your Outdoor Space

Spa Covers & Patio Partitions

Waterproof pergolas

blog

Modern Landscape Design Ideas for the Minimalists

Create Clearly Defined Areas

Match Exterior Design with Your Architecture

Use Linear Form and Geometric Shapes

Use Innovative Shade Structures

Focus on Accessories and Outdoor Furniture

Remember Less is More!

blog

Garden Designs Inspired by Your Travels

Surround Yourself with the Great Outdoors

Theme Gardens Inspired by Your Favorite Destination

Natural Memories: Adorning Your Garden with Travel Artifacts

Incorporate Design Trends Into Your Home