Cranberry Residence

Date Published: 2011-05-24

HOW TO REALLY ENTERTAIN:    
Rosetta fireplace, retaining walls and steps gave owners
‘everything we wanted’ in outdoor living area



News articles point to a trend in landscaping—that home owners are moving away from wooden decks and towards more intricate hardscapes for outdoor entertaining and relaxing. The finished result of this Pittsburgh-area project is a perfect example of why.

THE CHALLENGE
When the owners of this Cranberry, PA home decided they wanted to renovate their backyard, they had several objectives in mind: adequate space for entertaining large groups, a fireplace to gather around and a grill/dining area for eating.

To create the landscape of their dreams, the owners sought the expertise of OmniPro Pittsburgh, a local firm specializing in hardscape solutions and installation.

"Their creativity and knowledge of their craft are incredible," homeowner Dan Smith, Jr. told a local newspaper. "If it weren't for them, this would not have happened.”

THE SOLUTION
For the design of the project, OmniPro owner Tony Sluka suggested a gently curving retaining wall at the back of the 70- by 35-foot patio, and presented the owners with several options for block materials for constructing the hardscapes—including a weathered dry cast block option, and the Rosetta Belvedere Collection.

The Belvedere Collection is a hand-set line of wall products that captures the look and feel of nature in every wall. The stones are made of architectural-grade wet-cast concrete in multiple unit sizes, along with an industry-leading 64 unique stone textures. Belvedere blocks look like natural stone, but install faster and have consistent dimensions that allow walls to be engineered.

After seeing both options, the decision was clear: “The owners liked the looks of the Belvedere more,” Sluka explained.

 OmniPro got to work on designing the project, which included four major components:

•    Fireplace:  The fireplace for this project was a custom design. The beauty of the Belvedere product line lies in its versatility; the design possibilities are limitless, and this gorgeous fireplace is an outstanding example of the elegant results that are possible when creativity and Belvedere are combined.

•    Patio:  To surround the fireplace and the patio, OmniPro designed and installed curving Belvedere retaining walls. The standard Belvedere blocks can build inside and outside curves without requiring saw cutting blocks, making it fast and easy to install. To finish this portion of the project, the walls were capped with coordinating Rosetta coping to provide extra seating.

•    Stairway:   Rosetta Irregular Steps, modeled after natural outcropping stone but with consistent rise, provided access to a grassy area of the yard which will be turned into a pool in the second phase of this project. The consistent rise of each Rosetta step makes for safe and secure staircases that are also fast to install.

•    Grill and Dining Island:  As part of the project, OmniPro also designed and installed a grill enclosure plus dining island using the Belvedere Collection and granite countertops. In addition to seating for dining outside, the island included a stainless-steel, 75,000-Btu Cal Flame gas grill. "It's an annex of our house," Smith said. "We plan to use it year-round. I know we will be out grilling this winter."

In total, the hardscape portion of the project took one month to complete. “It was faster to install than natural stone,” Tony Sluka explained.

THE OUTCOME
To show off their new landscape, the owners hosted an open house with 110 guests who filled the patio. "It really is perfect for entertaining," owner Don Megahan said. "We got everything we both wanted."

With Rosetta, you can create stunning, functional landscapes that will stand the test of time. Visit www.DiscoverRosetta.com today to learn more about Rosetta Belvedere and Step Collection as well as to find your local manufacturer! 

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette published an article about this project; to learn even more and to view more photos of the project, click here.