Balance Form and Function in Your Backyard
Who: Angela Kelly of Stepstone
Where: Los Angeles
In her own words: “Concrete is among the oldest building materials. Made from sand, rock and cement, it’s naturally occurring and found anywhere in the world. The possibilities of what you can accomplish with precast concrete are astounding.”
Whether you use your backyard primarily for pool parties, barbecues or basketball games, it’s important to balance good looks with functionality and durability. “Whether you lean toward a modern or traditional aesthetic, concrete can enhance a home’s quality and elegance,” Angela Kelly says.
Kelly works for Stepstone, a Los Angeles company that specializes in precast concrete. This means concrete is cast into finished pieces off-site, versus poured in place. “It’s a perfect balance between form, function and aesthetics,” she says. “And because it’s precast, it’s easy to install.”
Where: Los Angeles
In her own words: “Concrete is among the oldest building materials. Made from sand, rock and cement, it’s naturally occurring and found anywhere in the world. The possibilities of what you can accomplish with precast concrete are astounding.”
Whether you use your backyard primarily for pool parties, barbecues or basketball games, it’s important to balance good looks with functionality and durability. “Whether you lean toward a modern or traditional aesthetic, concrete can enhance a home’s quality and elegance,” Angela Kelly says.
Kelly works for Stepstone, a Los Angeles company that specializes in precast concrete. This means concrete is cast into finished pieces off-site, versus poured in place. “It’s a perfect balance between form, function and aesthetics,” she says. “And because it’s precast, it’s easy to install.”
Cementing the foundation.“It’s fascinating to think that the sidewalk in front of your house is made from the same materials as all of our products,” Kelly says. “How different they look! It’s such creative work we’re doing — making enduring, functional and beautiful concrete products that make people’s dreams a reality.”
So much to see. “Once you learn to recognize precast concrete, you’ll start to notice it everywhere,” Kelly says. “You’ll find it in a beautiful wall cap in your neighborhood, or maybe the risers in the museum steps. There are so many fabulous applications.”
Want an outdoor space that’s beautiful and durable? Below, Kelly explains the key benefits of precast concrete.
Want an outdoor space that’s beautiful and durable? Below, Kelly explains the key benefits of precast concrete.
1. It Looks Good
Because it lacks pockmarks and holes, precast concrete has a smoother surface and a more streamlined look than manufactured concrete. “Handmade, hand-finished precast concrete has an aesthetic that people are drawn to,” Kelly says. “It looks truly organic.”
The owners of the Irvine home seen here were aiming for a natural feel in their backyard. “Precast concrete was the ideal choice” for the pavers, Kelly says. “It complements the grass, the untreated wood and the stones. The whole garden is a beautiful study of textures.”
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Because it lacks pockmarks and holes, precast concrete has a smoother surface and a more streamlined look than manufactured concrete. “Handmade, hand-finished precast concrete has an aesthetic that people are drawn to,” Kelly says. “It looks truly organic.”
The owners of the Irvine home seen here were aiming for a natural feel in their backyard. “Precast concrete was the ideal choice” for the pavers, Kelly says. “It complements the grass, the untreated wood and the stones. The whole garden is a beautiful study of textures.”
See more of this project
2. It’s Durable
Precast concrete is made from sand, rock and cement, so it’s exceedingly durable. “It’s an ancient material — people built castles with it,” Kelly says. “When installed correctly, it’s meant to last generations.”
Because the Santa Barbara property seen here is nestled on a cliff overlooking the ocean, the homeowners wanted a durable material to use throughout their yard. “Precast concrete is strong enough to withstand the combination of pool use and the harsh salty air,” Kelly says.
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Precast concrete is made from sand, rock and cement, so it’s exceedingly durable. “It’s an ancient material — people built castles with it,” Kelly says. “When installed correctly, it’s meant to last generations.”
Because the Santa Barbara property seen here is nestled on a cliff overlooking the ocean, the homeowners wanted a durable material to use throughout their yard. “Precast concrete is strong enough to withstand the combination of pool use and the harsh salty air,” Kelly says.
See more of this project
3. It Provides Consistency
Because precast concrete has several applications — including wall caps, coping, pavers and stair risers — you can use it throughout your outdoor spaces to achieve a uniform palette. “Rather than create a hodgepodge of different materials, you can use the same beautiful material in various places,” Kelly says. “And because it’s so enduring, it will all age together beautifully.”
The owners of the home in Tucson, Arizona, seen here designed their backyard with the help of an architect, using precast concrete in various places to maintain a consistent look. “They selected pool-deck pavers, pool coping and open-riser stairs all in the same color and finish,” Kelly says. “The whole space looks tailored and succinct.”
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Because precast concrete has several applications — including wall caps, coping, pavers and stair risers — you can use it throughout your outdoor spaces to achieve a uniform palette. “Rather than create a hodgepodge of different materials, you can use the same beautiful material in various places,” Kelly says. “And because it’s so enduring, it will all age together beautifully.”
The owners of the home in Tucson, Arizona, seen here designed their backyard with the help of an architect, using precast concrete in various places to maintain a consistent look. “They selected pool-deck pavers, pool coping and open-riser stairs all in the same color and finish,” Kelly says. “The whole space looks tailored and succinct.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on Stepstone and examples of its work, visit the company’s Houzz profile.