Bahler Brothers | Elegant Outdoor Living

Testimonials

“If you are in the market for the type of work Bahler Brothers offers, you simply cannot do better than this contractor and I'd doubt you would do as well. Frankly, it is both a pleasure and a continuing astonishment as an example of perfection. There is enormous peace of mind when you are confident that your own level of accepted performance mirrors the contractor's.”

George
North Branford

“Beauiful... just beautiful... what more can I say! What an amazing crew you have, kudos to Juan and his son, JC... We are so pleased to have all of you at our home; my sister, who has a "cement" patio, is in awe... she was here today and came back again tonight to show her husband... maybe she's re-thinking her cement... Anyways, that's her fault for not asking my advice! We just love it, totally!”

Mike & Nancy
Ellington

“Bahler Brothers had laid my original patio 9 years ago. It still looked fabulous but we outgrew it and asked them to give us ideas on how to best utilize the backyard. We tripled the size added a grill area, bar, sitting wall and waterfall. BEST move ever. They are professional, informative, engaged throughout the entire process. highly recommend them!”

Mary
South Windsor

George
North Branford

Mike & Nancy
Ellington

Mary
South Windsor

George
North Branford

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How to Create Multi-Level Outdoor Living Spaces Blending Decks and Hardscapes

Decks and Hardscapes in Harmony: How to Create Multi-Level Outdoor Living Spaces When designing the perfect outdoor living area, many homeowners wonder if their existing deck will interfere with the vision of a beautifully integrated hardscape. Good news! Not only can decks and hardscapes work together, but they can also create dynamic, multi-level spaces that enhance both the functionality and aesthetics of your yard. This guide will walk you through how to make the most of your deck and hardscape combination, offering practical solutions for integrating these elements seamlessly into your outdoor living space. Resurface or Build New: Cost-Effective Deck Solutions If you already have a deck, you don't necessarily need to tear it down to make room for a hardscape. Resurfacing your existing deck is an excellent way to update its appearance, improve durability, and save on the cost of constructing entirely new outdoor platforms. Resurfacing involves replacing the surface boards, which can give your deck a fresh look while keeping the existing structure intact. For homeowners looking for a brand-new feel, building a new deck allows you to tailor the design to fit your outdoor vision. This includes choosing materials that complement your hardscape and creating a layout that enhances the natural flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Benefits of Multi-Level Designs Decks offer the unique advantage of elevation. This gives you the ability to work with multi-level designs that connect different areas of your yard. For instance, a deck attached to your home can lead down to a hardscaped patio or pathway, creating distinct outdoor zones for relaxation, dining, or entertainment. These levels can help define spaces, making your backyard feel larger and more versatile without requiring significant changes to the landscape. Stepping down from a deck into a cozy patio or garden not only provides visual interest but also creates functional separation between areas, making the space feel more dynamic and inviting. Choosing Deck Materials That Complement Your Hardscape One of the keys to seamlessly integrating a deck with your hardscape is selecting complementary materials. Modern decking materials come in a variety of styles, colors, and finishes that can match or contrast with your chosen pavers or natural stone. Here are some material options to consider: Wood: A classic choice for decks, wood offers a natural look that can beautifully complement stone or brick hardscapes. Cedar and redwood are popular for their durability and resistance to decay. Composite: These low-maintenance materials mimic the look of wood while offering greater resistance to fading, scratching, and moisture damage. Composite decks come in a range of colors and textures, making them an excellent option for long-lasting beauty. PVC: Known for being highly durable and resistant to weather, PVC decking requires minimal maintenance and comes in a wide array of colors. Selecting materials that align with the tones and textures of your hardscape can create a cohesive design that feels unified, no matter which section of your outdoor space you’re enjoying. Maximizing the Functionality of Your Deck Your deck can be much more than a platform—it’s a functional space that can be customized to suit your lifestyle. Here are some ways to expand its use: Outdoor Kitchens: Incorporating a built-in grill or full kitchen on your deck makes it easier to entertain and enjoy outdoor dining without having to go back inside. Lighting: Adding ambient lighting can enhance the atmosphere and allow you to use your deck in the evenings, creating a welcoming glow for nighttime gatherings. Pergolas or Shade Structures: These features provide shelter from the sun while adding architectural interest to your deck. They can also serve as support for climbing plants, adding greenery and charm to the space. Water Features: A small fountain or waterfall incorporated near your deck can bring a sense of calm and relaxation to your outdoor living area. Harmonizing Decks with Other Hardscape Features To ensure a cohesive design, think about how your deck interacts with other elements in your landscape. Patios, walkways, retaining walls, and garden beds can all be part of the same design language. A well-thought-out plan can make your yard feel like a unified, functional space rather than a collection of disconnected areas. For example: Patios and Decks: A hardscaped patio at ground level can complement an elevated deck, offering a natural transition between spaces. You can use similar pavers or natural stone to tie the two together, creating a seamless flow from one level to the next. Retaining Walls: If your yard has slopes, a deck combined with retaining walls can help manage the landscape while providing additional usable space. The walls can be built with materials that harmonize with your decking, adding a structural element that’s both practical and attractive. Walkways: Connecting different levels of your yard with hardscaped paths—whether made from gravel, stone, or pavers—helps create a sense of continuity. These walkways guide movement through the space while blending with the overall design. Planning Your Multi-Level Outdoor Space When planning a multi-level outdoor space, it’s essential to think about both aesthetics and functionality. Consider how you want to use each area and how the flow between spaces will work. For example, if your deck is used for outdoor dining, you might place a hardscaped fire pit or seating area on a lower level, creating distinct zones for different activities. You may also want to think about accessibility—adding wide steps or a ramp can ensure that all levels of your outdoor space are easy to navigate. Creating a Seamless Outdoor Experience By thoughtfully combining decks and hardscapes, you can create an outdoor living space that feels both expansive and cohesive. Whether you choose to resurface an existing deck or build a new one, integrating it with hardscaped patios, walkways, and other features can add depth and functionality to your yard. Bahler Brothers can help carefully plan your outdoor space to become a multi-level haven that serves as an extension of your home, offering comfort, beauty, and a connection to nature.

The elements that go into a successful landscape design

A look at the elements involved in good landscape design and installation and what it means for your property long term. Your home is not just a place to live; it's an extension of your personality, a sanctuary of comfort, and an expression of your style. One of the most effective ways to enhance your home's beauty and value is through expert landscape design. We understand the profound impact that a well-planned landscape can have on your property. In this blog, we'll delve into the importance of landscape design, and touch upon the importance of good installation techniques. Also, responsible plant selection, consideration of year-round color and textures, soil amendments, transplant expertise, and proper drainage – all elements that make the Bahler Brothers Landscape Design team your trusted partner in creating the perfect outdoor space. Plant Specimen Selection: The Art of Natural Beauty and Lifestyle New England's changing seasons offer an opportunity to create a dynamic and visually appealing landscape year-round. Selecting the right plants for your landscape is truly an art form. Our experts on the Landscape Design team consider factors like climate, soil type, sun exposure, and your personal preferences when curating the perfect plant palette for your property. Not to mention the importance of showcasing plants that carry colors, textures and forms during different seasons. By choosing the ideal specimens, sourced from reputable growers, we ensure that your landscape thrives, providing both beauty and sustainability with each passing season. We also take into account your lifestyle, recommending low-maintenance specimens that suit your preferences, so you can enjoy your outdoor space without excessive upkeep. Plan your garden to showcase plants with varying colors, textures, and forms during different seasons. From the vibrant blooms of spring to the rich foliage of autumn, a well-planned landscape will always have something new to offer. Proper Drainage: Ensuring Functionality and Beauty Every well-designed landscape takes proper drainage into consideration. We understand the importance of managing water flow to prevent erosion, flooding, and plant stress. Proper drainage benefits extend beyond your landscape by also preventing foundation damage and flooding basements. Our designs incorporate effective drainage solutions by recommending all downspouts be run underground to keep water away from established plant beds and foundations as well. Practices like this minimize the chances of plants having issues with disease, fungus and root rot. Appropriate designs not only protect your landscape but also add to its overall functionality and long-term beauty. Soil Amendment: Nurturing New Life Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving landscape. We understand that soil quality varies from one property to another. This is why we prioritize soil testing and amendment to ensure that your new plantings receive the nutrients and structure they need to flourish. The proper soil and organic supplements will allow plants to naturally thrive as opposed to chemically enhancing plant life that will become dependent to such practices to maintain their success and growth over time. Our commitment to soil health is a testament to our dedication to the long-term success of your landscape. Installation Techniques: The Foundation of a Beautiful Landscape Effective landscape design begins with meticulous installation techniques that go beyond considering plant maturity, but also water and light requirements so that long term growth does not cause property damage. We prioritize precision and quality in every step of the process. Partnering with trusted growers and nurseries, we ensure that your landscape provides beauty and enjoyment for years to come. From proper grading to plant placement, we see to it that your landscape is built to last. Proper plant installation not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also contributes to the long-term health of your outdoor environment. We believe that it requires a certain level of mindfulness to craft extraordinary landscapes. Plant spacing and placement, both from each other and any existing architecture is vital. In addition, attention to planted specimen depth and root flare also plays a large factor in avoiding problems such as root rot and disease. Transplant Specialists: Preserving Mature Beauty We are proud to be transplant specialists. With years of experience, we have the expertise and equipment to relocate mature trees and plants, preserving their beauty and integrity. By using our skill sets we can add instant character to your new landscape with existing plant matter. We achieve this through creating root balls as big as possible and burlaping (with drum lacing techniques) to ensure the root system stays solid and tight during the relocating and planting. In addition, it is through that experience that we understand the right time to transplant, which is typically close to or during dormancy. Knowing that element and acting accordingly is crucial in plant survival. This unique capability sets us apart and allows us to create landscapes that feel established and timeless. Designing and installing a stunning and functional landscape in New England involves a blend of creativity, knowledge, practicality, and ecological awareness. By understanding the local climate, embracing native plants, and incorporating sustainable practices, you can create a garden that not only enhances your property but transforms your landscaping into a masterpiece. By focusing on installation techniques, plant selection, year-round color and texture, attention to detail, soil amendment, transplant expertise, and proper drainage, we create landscapes that not only enhance your home's value but also enrich your daily life. Whether you're aiming for a tranquil retreat for you and your family or an entertainment hub, the key lies in harmonizing your design with the natural beauty of the New England landscape, something we are proud to have mastered and love to share with our customers. While we only briefly touched on each of these topics, please look out for upcoming blogs which will go deeper into each topic to continue to inform our customers about ideal installation methods, improvements and tips. For more information about our Landscape Design services please follow the link below.

A Pergola That Can Do It All!

A beautiful outdoor living space is usually a combination of both flat and vertical design elements. Sometimes pergolas are added to the checklist of installed items being a versitile structure in many applications . In most hardscape designs they are used to define a certain space on a patio or outdoor area, such as a lounging space or dining area. Traditionally when we think of adding a pergola to your outdoor living space, we all can agree that a white PVC structure is what comes to mind. As freestanding structures, they are beautiful, cost effective, and the long term maintenance is relatively low. However, the market is ever changing and now we have new options on the design table for your project to help you create that focal point. Ultimate Louvered Pergolas, a revolutionary powder coated aluminum pergola structure that has interlocking tongue and groove rafters is just want you may be looking for. With an all-weather, low maintenance construction and automated louvers that open quickly, either by a touch of a button or remote control, the interlocking louvers create an overhead seal to stop the elements from coming through. This allows for fast protection from a surprise summer shower. With the use of ball bearings, the mechanics of this structure are quiet. And once the louvers are closed the ceiling becomes water tight, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space when the weather conditions are less than ideal. Ultimate Louvered Pergolas also boast of many unique design features that allows customization to be a breeze. The structure itself is available in 2 styles to compliment any style whether its traditional New England or sleek and modern. The aluminum structure is also available in a variety of colors like Bronze, White, Black, and Adobe making it effortless to coordinate with all hardscape materials, whether they are manmade or natural. Another wonderful feature of this product is that multiple structures can be combined together to create larger structures allowing size and design to now fit your design needs rather than the other way around. With a list of accessories that can be designed into the structure, your imagination is the limit. Exterior light fixtures, overhead fans, retractable bug screens and shade screens are just some of the great features you may want to consider during the design process. These features allow for extended comfort during peak summer hours. It's the internal mechanics of this product that are also pretty unique. With a built in gutter system and internal downspouts this allows melting snow load and summer rain to be properly distributed and drained out and down one of the posts. This allows water to be directed away from finished hardscapes. This is a great feature that helps with the longevity of the product and project itself. And with multiple ways of installing the actual structure it helps with making customization simple. Ultimate Louvered Pergolas can be installed over patios using tradition concrete anchor points as well as on decks. Naturally with design features like this, it’s a simple decision to add an Ultimate Louvered Pergola as an architectural interest to any space. With a 10 year manufacturers warranty on the structure and a 5 year a warranty on all mechanics, this is a product we can feel good standing behind. Talk to your Designer about how to incorporate one in your next project. Follow this link below to learn more about Bahler Brothers and the design process to include a pergola in your next project!

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Get Insights and Tips on Outdoor Living Instantly

How to Create Multi-Level Outdoor Living Spaces Blending Decks and Hardscapes

The elements that go into a successful landscape design

A Pergola That Can Do It All!

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