The residents at this Bloomington home wanted to dress up their front entry and create a back yard entertainment area. The Villa Landscapes solution included an entry court in the front of the house and plenty of space for seating around a Ledgestone fire ring in the back. A paver border running around one side of the house, and separating the lawn from a bed of landscape rock, connects the front and back portions of this project.

Straight lines and right angles define this patio in Lakeland Shores. "The design fits the space and the customer's taste," said Villa Landscapes landscape designer Kelly O'Donahue. "It's a classic contemporary look."

The patio is the perfect size for a couch, table and two chairs. A short walkway connects the patio to a paver-covered stoop outside the home's front door. A seat wall provides additional informal seating, and a sharp double border frames the entire space.

With ample shade, this paver patio in White Bear Lake provides a perfect spot to settle in for a lazy afternoon. The project features Willow Creek concrete pavers, with random-pattern Cobblestone pavers making up the patio and Bullnose pavers used as stair treads on a landing outside the back door.

"The homeowner wanted a simple space for chairs and a table, so that's what I designed," said Villa Landscapes landscape designer Andy Lofboom. "But simple doesn't have to mean plain. The curving patio border and Bullnose treads add visual interest and give the space a finished look."

When a two-tiered timber retaining wall deteriorated at this residence in south Minneapolis, the homeowner called in Villa Landscapes to replace the failing wall with a two-tiered segmental retaining wall.  Our designer specified a 4-foot-tall VERSA-LOK weathered Mosaic wall for the lower tier and another 4-foot-tall wall for the upper tier, built from a mix of weathered VERSA-LOK Standard and Cobble units. “We were able to build columns, steps, walls, and a double-faced wall all from the same solid wall units,” explained Josh Peterson, field supevisor. The result is a stunning, coordinated total solution to this homeowner's soil erosion problems.

When many people think of landscaping, they think of back yards. But front entry makeovers are one of the most popular requests Villa designers get these days. You can give your home a fresh look with something as simple as a paver sidewalk or patio in front.

Covering a traditional concrete front stoop with pavers eliminates the labor-intensive task of removing it. Adding broad scalloped steps to this renovated front stoop gave the home an elegant new look.

Or you can go with a more elaborate design that includes retaining walls and columns. The owners of this new front entry patio say it never takes long when they're sitting out there before someone in the neighborhood stops by to chat.

Stop in and talk with a Villa landscape designer this fall. There's still time to get your project going, or you can work up a plan over the winter and be at the top of our installation list next spring.

Summer is in full swing, and Minnesotans are enjoying the outdoors while they can. Villa Landscapes created this spacious new patio in North Oaks that features bluestone pavers with inlays. Tall grass plantings and flowers provide a nice accent in the corner.

Tasteful plantings and massive stone steps transformed this yard's slope into a functional space that's beautiful to look at. This Woodbury project also was designed by Villa's Peter Friend.

Villa Landscape Designer Andy Lofboom transformed this backyard from a tired wooden deck and stairs with run-down gardens to a stunning series of VERSA-LOK tiered walls, lighted stairs and elevated patio featuring Willow Creek pavers, a Harmony Stone fireplace, and outdoor kitchen.

The VERSA-LOK Standard walls are in the newest color, Bronze Blend, with a Weathered texture. The Willow Creek pavers are in Harvest Blend with a Weathered texture. You can see the transformation in the series of before-and-after pictures below.

Contact Villa Landscapes at one of our three offices in Oakdale, Burnsville and Brooklyn Park to schedule an appointment to design your own backyard paradise. Or use the handy “Request a Quote” link to the right.

AFTER

BEFORE

When these homeowners came to Villa Landscapes, they wanted a low- to no-maintenance front yard-and to be able to find their front door without walking through a jungle.