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What Other Bloggers are Saying About the Belgard Outdoor Spaces of the HGTV® Dream Home 2019

The HGTV® Dream Home 2019 in Whitefish, Montana, has been getting lots of interest from design bloggers around the country. As the exclusive hardscape sponsor, Belgard is excited to be part of all the buzz. Even though it’s too late to enter to win this stunning mountainside retreat, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get inspiration from the design ideas to create your own beautiful spaces. Take a look at what some of the most influential design bloggers are saying:

Southern State of Mind

HGTV® Dream Home 2019 in Whitefish, Montana
This southern blogger looks right at home on the fabulous doorstep of the mountainside retreat. (Photo credit: Southern State of Mind)

Heather is an Atlanta blogger who has been featured in regional and national magazines and specializes in Southern style and living. Read this southern girl’s take on the exterior and interior design of the HGTV Dream Home 2019.

Run to Radiance

Obsessed with DIY projects, blogger Tania lives in Dallas with her real estate agent husband, Scott. The couple regularly relocates from fixer-upper to fixer-upper with Tania blogging about each renovation project along the way. Together, they took a trek to the HGTV Dream Home 2019 to get ideas for renovating their current home.

Belgard Design Studio Outdoor Living Space Rendering
Design rendering of Tiana’s and Steve’s current home. (Image credit: Belgard Design Studio)

During their visit to Montana, Tania and Scott viewed the Belgard Design Studio’s virtual reality design renderings of the backyard of this year’s HGTV Dream Home and were blown away by the realism. They then worked with the Design Studio to develop outdoor makeover ideas for their current fixer-upper. Read about it in the blog below.

Wit & Delight

HGTV® Dream Home 2019 Outdoor Fireplace Patio Living Space
Kate Arends writes about how outdoor fireplaces make the perfect venue for meaningful memories. (Photo credit: Wit & Delight)

An award-winning marketing consultant for the design industry, Kate Arends is a St. Paul-based blogger renowned for working with brands like Target and Fossil. See what this design expert had to say about the experience of visiting the HGTV Dream Home 2019.

Coco Kelley

HGTV® Dream Home 2019 Outdoor Fireplace in Winter
Coco Kelley blogger Cassandra LaValle writes about how the design focuses on the view and the expansive outdoor living spaces. (Photo credit: Coco Kelley)

Based in Seattle, Coco Kelley is a platform dedicated to a “well-styled life” from design and entertaining to food and travel. So, traveling to scenic Whitefish, Montana, was right up founder Cassandra LaValle’s alley. Get her take on the home’s indoor/outdoor living concept.

Gardening Know How

Shelley writes about how the Belgard outdoor spaces make the perfect setting for enjoying the outdoors during every season. (Photo Credit: Shelley Pierce)

Of course, no blog about outdoor design bloggers would be complete without a foray into the world of gardening. Despite the snowy landscape during the December launch of the HGTV Dream Home 2019 Giveaway, gardening guru Shelley Pierce found a lot to blog about, thanks to the home’s ample natural light and indoor/outdoor living concept. Not only did she cover the topics of bringing the outdoors in, but also offered sage advice on tackling Montana’s challenging gardening season — from plant choices to protecting your garden from hungry elk.

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HGTV, HGTV Dream Home, HGTV Dream Home Giveaway and their associated logos are trademarks of Scripps Networks, LLC. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

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Introducing New ‘Collections by Belgard’ for Coordinated Outdoor Design

Designing well-coordinated outdoor living spaces just got easier! Say hello to Collections by Belgard, launching in the Southwest, Midwest, and Southeast regions for this year’s building season with a nationwide rollout to follow. Collections combines complementary products in a way to more effortlessly pair hardscapes with a home’s style or design aesthetic, simplifying the design and planning process. Collections by Belgard features six unique looks, which each relate to architecture trends and styles across North America.

Legacy Collection

Belgard Legacy Collection

Perfect for evoking old-world charm or providing a timeless accent, the Legacy Collection represents the traditional aesthetic and classic spirit of Belgard. With soft edges and ground or split-face textures, the Legacy Collection creates a time-honored look that never goes out of style. You can also look here for border inspiration and accents to enhance the look of any design.

Heritage Collection

Belgard Heritage Collection

Where traditional style meets modern convenience, the Heritage Collection allows for a time-worn aesthetic without the wait. Antiqued and tumbled so that every piece is unique, this collection adds charm and warmth to neutral palettes.

Natural Collection

Belgard Natural Collection

The Natural Collection embraces the casual spirit of life without borders, featuring natural stone textures with organic warmth. With laid-back, design-forward products, this collection is perfect for combining old and new, living in harmony with its natural surroundings.

Metropolitan Collection

Belgard Metropolitan Collection

Strong lines paired with smooth textures give the Metropolitan Collection a bold, modern look. This streamlined, contemporary aesthetic emphasizes natural light and neutral tones with wood accents to give a modern flair that is cozy, not cold.

Porcelain Collection

Belgard Porcelain Collection

Versatile and ultra-contemporary, the Porcelain Collection is stunning with a streamlined, upscale appearance and superior performance. Compact, resistant and virtually non-porous, this collection provides a modern aesthetic best complemented by blacks, whites and other pale neutrals.

Environmental Collection

Belgard Environmental Collection

A true marriage of form and function, the Environmental Collection ensures that homeowners can be water wise and house proud. Classic lines and smooth finishes complement the traditional and the modern, providing a stunning solution to standing water and irrigation needs.

To find more information on Collections by Belgard, visit Belgard.com/locator to find a Belgard Authorized Contractor near you.

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A Bird’s Eye View into Three Stunning Belgard Backyards

(Cue Music) Drones…HUH! What are they good for? Giving backyard enthusiasts the optimal ocular experience needed to start planning their dream backyard. Okay, maybe the original song was better. But luckily, we’re not in the music business. We’re in the business of creating beautiful outdoor living spaces. In today’s blog, we’re letting the drones do the talking (singing) with three majestic videos that capture inspirational designs from every angle.

This Backyard is a Hole-In-One

This golf lover’s patio features the natural cut flagstone look of Lafitt® pavers complemented by a semicircular ashlar Tandem® Wall, which features the appearance of natural chiseled stone and borders a rustic fire pit. Sweeping arches throughout the design provide the perfect complement to a private backyard putting green that offers three different holes to help improve your short game. Contrasting paver borders and alternating paver patterns help create the illusion of separate outdoor rooms. Grab your putter and check it out!


Installer: Articulate Landscaping, Cedar Grove, WI

Warning! This Backyard is Too Hot (Almost)

This backyard design is anchored on one end by a hot tub pergola and by a fire pit patio on the other. And in the center, a beautifully constructed built-in grill island accommodates two different types of grills. Now that’s hot! The open pergola sits on the stone pillars of a landscape wall and slightly shrouds the multi-person hot tub. A u-shaped stone seat wall surrounds the fire pit, defining the space and providing extra seating. The design is all accentuated by Lafitt® and Mega-Arbel® pavers laid in patterns that define each entertaining area and feature an artistic inlaid triple-diamond mosaic. Take a look!


Installer: Central Services Co., Waukesha, WA

Take a Trip to Belgard’s Grill Island

This trip begins with a peek at a cozy outdoor living room, featuring a Bordeaux™ Series Fireplace that gives the space a nice rustic feel to it. The stacked stone fireplace is accented by two matching wood storage boxes. The outdoor living room is covered by an open-air pavilion that ties in with the look of the home’s roofline. An inlaid paver pattern creates a faux paver area rug to complete the “living room” look. Next stop is a contemporary Lafitt™ Grana Slab patio that features a multi-purpose L-shaped grill island and bar, outfitted with both a stainless gas grill and a charcoal kamado grill. The island includes an expansive stone countertop for all food prep and serving needs. The best part about this trip? It’s only one click away.

Installer: Celtic Landscaping, Channahon, IL
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PROJECT PROFILE: Old Town Oasis

The welcoming outdoor spaces of this old town oasis in Fort Collins, Colorado, incorporates an eclectic mix of concrete pavers and natural elements. This striking project features the timeless look of Cambridge Cobble® pavers and garnered first place in the “Concrete Paver” (less than 3,000 SF) category at the annual Hardscape North America awards. Take a virtual walk-through of the award-winning design.

Cambridge Cobble stone paver walkway and patio
WELCOMING ENTRYWAY: A reclaimed wooden gate and terraced landing create a charming entrance to the home. Lush potted plants and shabby-chic wicker furnishings create a sense of casual elegance.
SPRAWLING VIEW: This overhead view of the backyard outdoor living spaces showcases how all of the concrete, wood and natural stone design elements work together and coordinate with the native landscaping.
ZEN FIRE PIT PATIO: A stone garden wall defines the perimeter of the fire pit area, incorporates ample seating for large groups, and includes a built-in planter to emulate the look of a vertical garden. Anchored and detached wooden benching help soften the look of the stone elements to create a more relaxed, casual atmosphere. A Cambridge Circle breaks up the modular paver pattern to add visual interest to the paver field.
outdoor living space with fire pit area
CASUAL FAMILY-STYLE DINING: The fire pit area looks over into the dining area, which functions as a separate entertaining zone. Multiple picnic tables provide seating for feeding large groups, with bonus built-in seating to accommodate larger gatherings. A built-in grill area includes oversized countertops for meal prep and serving. Low-voltage hardscape lighting is incorporated throughout the fire pit and dining areas for both safety and ambiance.
paver hardscape design and backyard patio with dual arbors
MULTI-ROOM LIVING AREA: Dual arbors and a terraced level help create the look of distinct rooms to create multiple conversation areas, ideal for large parties.

Design and installation by Lindgeren Landscape of Fort Collins, Colorado. To view a flythrough video of the project, visit their website at LindgrenLandscape.com.

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CONTRACTOR’S CORNER: Create your own virtual project tour with free professional photography!

Do you have an outstanding project that you’d like to showcase with free professional photography? Belgard’s professional hardscape photographers know the exact angles, lighting techniques and staging strategies to properly capture the beauty and workmanship of a quality installation. These professional photographs can help elevate your company image and can be used for a wide variety of marketing efforts. Belgard contractors who would like to apply to have free professional photography can submit their projects for consideration by visiting OldcastleAPG.com/submit.

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Introducing the Weston Stone® Line
of Outdoor Living Kits

The antiqued tumbled-stone appearance of Weston Stone® instantly transforms a simple patio or back yard into a welcoming outdoor living space that compliments any architectural style. With a look that coordinates well with both classic and contemporary design themes, Weston Stone is a versatile wall product that can be used to construct retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, built-in seating and a variety of outdoor living structures and accents.

Now, it’s easier than ever to create beautifully coordinated outdoor living designs with Belgard’s new Weston Stone® line of outdoor living kits (availability varies by market). Each kit features an average build time of four hours or less and includes all the needed materials to construct each element, including the required number and sizes of Weston Stone wall blocks, Structure Bond™ masonry adhesive and an applicator gun. Because of the reduced number of masonry cuts required and the step-by-step contractor instructions, these convenient kits add beauty and function to outdoor living spaces for less time and with less waste, which translates to lower overall costs.

Weston Stone® Grill Island Kit

Weston Stone Outdoor Living Grill Island Kit

Whether part of an outdoor kitchen or as a stand-alone feature, the Weston Stone Grill Island Kit offers both style and performance with a Napoleon® Prestige 500 grill and matching stainless doors. The efficient design of the Grill Island Kit requires a total of only eight masonry cuts, ensuring quick and efficient installation.

Weston Stone® Linear Fireplace

Weston Stone Linear Outdoor Living Fireplace Kit

Transform a patio into a charming outdoor living room with the stylish Weston Stone Linear Fireplace Kit. Featuring open-air European styling, the Linear Fireplace Kit includes a burner kit. With only three cuts required during installation, the marshmallows will be roasting in no time!

Weston Stone® Linear Fire Pit

Weston Stone Linear Outdoor Living Kits Fire Pit

The ideal centerpiece for a sitting area, the rectangular Weston Stone Linear Fire Pit Kit offers ample surface area for resting drinks or propping up feet to relax. The Linear Fire Pit kit includes a burner kit and requires only 14 cuts during installation.

Classic Weston Stone® Fire Pit Kits

Weston Stone Outdoor Living Fire Pit Kits

An affordable way to add beauty and functionality to any back yard outdoor living design, the classic wood-burning Weston Stone Fire Pit Kit is available in either a square or circular shape, depending upon the market. Kits include a metal insert that adds durability and provides a finished look. Upgrade options include a variety of coping and wall caps to add an elegant touch.

Sample Color Options

Weston Stone Outdoor Living Kits Color Options

Weston Stone outdoor living kits are available in a variety of color options to coordinate beautifully with other Belgard pavers and retaining walls. Due to the use of local aggregates in the manufacturing process, however, exact color options vary by market. For more information, click here to find a Belgard Authorized Contractor or Dealer near you.

Product Availability

Weston Stone Classic Fire Pit Kits are available nationwide, but shape varies by region, with some areas offering the round fire pit kit and others offering the square kit. The Weston Stone Grill Island, Linear Fireplace and Linear Fire Pit kits are currently available in Florida, Nevada and California with availability planned for additional markets in the future.

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Regional Trends in Pavers and
Landscape Walls

Most people would agree that despite the old saying, things are not necessarily the same all over. Whether we’re talking about clothes, food or interior design, what’s popular in New York isn’t always as popular in the Colorado or Florida. The same is true for hardscapes. As the leading manufacturer of pavers and landscape wall products, Belgard knows this better than any other hardscapes brand. Looking at our regional sales over the last three years, we can offer insights on which styles and colors are rising in popularity in different areas of the country and which styles are currently less en vogue.

Trending Paver Styles

When looking at which styles of pavers are trending, we looked at regional preferences in face textures, pavers shapes and color families. Nationally, the trends lean towards smooth-faced pavers in large-format square or rectangular shapes in “greige” color families (mixture of grays and tans). However, regional preferences vary regarding these various style attributes.

Paver Face Trends

We examined preferences regarding paver face texture and divided the concrete pavers into three different categories: smooth, natural stone and antiqued (or tumbled). Belgard porcelain pavers are available in a various interpretations of stone and wood grains, but they have a very different look than concrete and so were placed in their own “face” category. Introduced in 2015, interest in Belgard porcelain pavers continues to rise nationally, but they are most popular in the Northeast and Central regions. Nationally, smooth-faced pavers are the hottest trend but are most popular in the Southeast and West. Natural stone textures and antiqued pavers are still popular in those regions, too, but are not the prevailing trend.

Paver Shape Trends

Nationally, the hottest trending paver shapes are larger format pavers in modular patterns. Regionally, we see some variations on those trends. Rectangular and plank style pavers are gaining ground — a trend that is likely to continue to grow — but modular shapes are still the prevailing trend in the Northeast and Southeast. Traditional brick and cobble pavers are still popular in most of the country, and there will likely always be those who prefer that classic, timeless look; however, this style is losing a bit of favor in the Central region. Irregular shapes were extremely popular just a few years ago, but that trend has declined a bit over the last couple of years.

Paver Color Trends

Gray color tones are definitely sweeping the nation as the most popular trend in hardscapes, especially when combined with tans to produce blended tones that pair well with both cool and warm color families. Black and dark charcoal are trending as hot accent colors, particularly in Northeast and Southeast. Reds are definitely losing favor across the board, but browns and tans are still popular in certain areas, particularly the Southeast and West. Gold tones are comparatively new to paver design and are rising in popularity in most regions. Another interesting trend is a spillover from the monochromatic white and light cream schemes of the interior design world. A popular outdoor living trend is to create designs that flow from the interior to the exterior of the home, a movement that has created an increase in the popularity of white and light cream pavers. This look is particularly easy to achieve with porcelain pavers, which are stain resistance (important for maintaining that crisp white look) and can mimic the look of interior flooring.

Trending Landscape Wall Styles

We divided wall styles into two categories: face texture and wall pattern. Nationally, the prevailing trends center on walls that are constructed using a contemporary modular pattern in color tones that complement the paver field. However, face texture preferences, in particular, vary widely by region.

Landscape Wall Face Trends

For many years, the prevailing trend in landscape walls was the rough-hewn split-stone look. This trend is still the most popular in the Southeast and Central regions. However, the more tailored chiseled-stone look is on the rise, especially in the West. Tumbled stone offers a more contemporary look and is rising in popularity, as well, especially in the Northeast.

Landscape Wall Pattern Trends

A random wall pattern offers the old-world look of a hand-built stone wall. For many years, this was the prevailing trend in landscape walls, and is still popular in the Central region. The tailored linear look had gained in popularity in recent years and is still very popular in the Central and West regions. However, the most popular trend, by far, is the modular pattern, which adds a more contemporary look to any face style.