2014 Outdoor Living Product Showcase

Top trends in outdoor living spaces, and products to help build the ideal space.

May 19, 2014

The rise of the outdoor chef has led to a surge in demand for outdoor kitchens. Photo courtesy of Landscape America in Wrentham, MA.

The rise of the outdoor chef has led to a surge in demand for outdoor kitchens. Photo courtesy of Landscape America in Wrentham, MA.

A variety of research has been published this year that all points to the same thing: Americans are loving their outdoor living spaces.

In case you'd missed it:

Highlights of the research. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), gardens and landscaped areas are still the most popular elements in a residential setting, but kitchens and entertainment spaces are just a nose behind now. Outdoor recreation is also gaining in popularity, coming in a fairly close third.

The most popular landscaping elements these days are:

Lighting
Terraces, patios and decks
Seating/dining areas
Fire pits and fireplaces
Grills
Installed seating like benches and walls
Fencing
Pergolas

According to Belgard Hardscapes, the rise of the outdoor chef is driving demand for outdoor kitchens, concrete pavers that are easier to clean, and even things like wine coolers and beer taps.

Additionally, homeowners are seeking contemporary designs that mix materials in their patios, walkways and garden areas, such as combining wood, natural stone or metal frames.

Hot Outdoor Living Products

Now take a look at some of the recent entries to our online Product Guide which lend themselves well to a trendy, relaxing outdoor living space.

Hunter landscape lighting control system

Vista Lighting accent features

Pavestone Eco-Venetian stone

Pine Hall Brick StormPave permeable pavers

Keystone Country Manor wall blocks

Belgard Style File design tool

Belgard Dublin Cobble Circle Kits

Little Giant water feature

Argentinian-style grill from Kalamazoo Outdoor

11-foot linear kitchen from Eldorado Stone

Advanced Environmental MoistureShield decking

All Element Cabinetry for outdoor grill islands

ProVia veneer like natural stone

The Apple Daybed from Select Furnishings

ProVia

All Element Cabinetry/Nowood Polymer Group

Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies

Eldorado Stone

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet

Little Giant Outdoor Living

Pine Hall Brick

Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting

Belgard

Pavestone Company

Keystone Retaining Wall Systems LLC

Hunter Industries

Tracked excavators are used for shorter distances.

When to Use Machines with Wheels Versus Tracks

Here are some tips and reasons for whether to use wheeled or track machines and why.

Doosan Rebrands as Develon

The construction equipment brand Doosan has rebranded and will now be known as Develon, effective immediately.

Kubota's new KX030-4 compact excavator will replace the KX71-3S in the 2- to 3-ton segment. .

Kubota unveils new compact excavator and attachments

Kubota's new KX030-4 compact excavator replaces the KX71-3S in the 2- to 3-ton segment, rounding out Kubota's KX Series lineup. A larger cab, auto-downshift, easy access to the diverter valve and third-line hydraulic return are among the key updates.

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Unilock Releases EcoTerra Pavers

Unilock has unveiled EcoTerra, meant to replace traditional Portland Cement with a carbon-neutral alkali-activated mineral binder that results in a 100 percent cement-free face mix.

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Stihl Adds Battery-Powered Cutoff Saw

Stihl introduced the TSA 300 Stihl Cutquik, a battery-powered cutoff machine designed to be used by professionals in construction and landscaping.

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Bobcat Co. Brings Large Compact Wheel Loader to Market

Bobcat Co. rolled out its largest and most powerful compact wheel loader yet: the Bobcat L95.

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Going Beyond the Standard Bucket: Maximize Productivity with the Right Attachment Mix

How design-build professionals can select the correct attachment mix when completing hardscaping projects.

Gravely Axis 100 Series Compact Utility Loader

Gravely Intros Axis 100 Series Compact Utility Loaders

Gravely rolled out its Axis 100 series of gasoline-powered compact utility loaders, designed to provide a low-barrier-of-entry opportunity to landscape contractors and lawn maintenance professionals ready to grow their businesses.

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Vectorworks Unveils First Update to 2024 Product Line

Vectorworks released its first update for the Vectorworks 2024 product line, unveiling a new partnership with NCS Colour, a provider of color communication solutions, and delivering updates designed to enhance user experience and introduce improvements.

DICA will feature SlatTrax, a Ground Protection Roadway, in addition to AlturnaMATS and VersaMATS Ground Protection Mats.

DICA to Exhibit Ground Protection Solutions at Equip

DICA is set to showcase ground protection solutions for landscapers, hardscapers and contractors. The family-owned and operated company will feature SlatTrax, a Ground Protection Roadway, in addition to AlturnaMATS and VersaMATS Ground Protection Mats.

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US DOL Launches Initiative to Protect Workers From Silica Dust

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched a new initiative focused on enhancing enforcement and providing compliance assistance to protect workers against silica dust exposure.

Powered by a 25-hp engine, the machine is compatible with New Holland Construction’s suite of 29 attachments due to its auxiliary flow rate of 15 gpm.

New Holland Adds C314 Mini Track Loader

New Holland Construction commercially released the C314 mini track loader, designed for maneuverability across jobsites and capable of handling a range of tasks, including loading, dumping and drilling.

C330 Super Boom Vertical Lift Compact Track Loader

New Holland Construction Intros C330 Super Boom Vertical Lift CTL

New Holland Construction has released the C330 Super Boom Vertical Lift Compact Track Loader in North America.

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Yanmar Releases TL100VS Compact Track Loader

Featuring self-leveling technology, the TL100VS comes equipped with a 103.5-hp Tier 4 Final Yanmar diesel engine and standard 40 gpm high flow for performance capacity on the jobsite.

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Project Profile: Bountiful and Beautiful

How Green Leaf Environmental Landscape Services transformed an unappealing turf-heavy backyard into a luscious vineyard oasis.

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Vectorworks Unveils 2024 Version

Vectorworks will release the 2024 version of its product line, designed with solutions that automate processes and let designers tackle more complex problems with less effort.

Joe Davis' new backyard space is revamped and ready for entertaining.

Project Profile: A Homerun Project

The story of how System Pavers transformed American Television Sportscaster Joe Davis' backyard and knocked the project out of the park.

Bring the indoors outside is a hot trend in 2023.

What’s Hot in Hardscapes: 2023 Design and Product Trends

Joe Raboine, vice president of Design, Oldcastle APG, lays out the top hardscaping and design trends of 2023.

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How To Select The Right Attachment

A look at how selecting the appropriate attachment can enable landscapers to work smarter, not harder, completing tasks in less time and with fewer crew members.

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Mecalac Debuts New Line of 6 Compact Loaders

Mecalac, a manufacturer of compact construction equipment, has launched a new product line of compact loaders to the North American market.

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Equip Expo, HNA Expand Exhibit Space for 2023 Trade Show

Equip Expo and Hardscape North America (HNA) are now offering exhibit space in the West Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center for the 2023 trade shows, which are co-located and set for Oct. 17-20 and Oct. 18-20, respectively.

2023 Vectorworks Design Scholarship Now Open

Vectorworks Opens Design Scholarship Submissions

Vectorworks has invited undergraduate and graduate students to submit their designs to the seventh Vectorworks Design Scholarship.

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New Holland Showcases C330 Vertical Lift Compact Track Loader at CONEXPO

New Holland Construction added the C330 vertical lift compact track loader: a medium frame, powerful machine with the ability to maneuver in tight spaces.

Residential jobs can be difficult because of all the potential surrounding hazards.

How Vacuum Excavation can Improve Installation Projects

Working on compact jobsites with winding utilities can make for a difficult environment. Vacuum excavators can help ease those constraints.

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Takeuchi Releases TB350R Short Tail Swing Excavator

Takeuchi has added the TBR50R short tail swing compact excavator to its TB300 Series excavator product line.

There are many different options when it comes to pavers to create a unique outdoor space.

Pavers and Edgers: Exploring Options and Techniques

A look at paver and edger options and the best ways to install them.

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Makita Releases Cordless Construction Tools

Makita, a manufacturer of power tools and accessories, has unveiled several new cordless products for construction work tools, designed to replace traditional equipment powered by cords and gasoline with battery-powered solutions with low noise.