Which Indoor Fountain is Right for You?

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Installing a water feature in your home makes for a substantial improvement. The presence of a steady flow of water in an artistic setting is inspiring, calming, and therapeutic. With all of the options that are present in the realm of indoor water features, it can be hard to decide just which type of water feature is appropriate for you. When considering your purchase, consider three main possible location options: the wall, floor, or tabletop.

Wall Fountains

If you are looking to transform the style and feeling of a room in your home, you are probably considering purchasing a wall fountain. Water walls are popular choices for interior decorating, and for good reason. With their many styles and sizes, they can accent a room or create a major scene. A small water wall can hang near a bed to help with sleep and relaxation, while one of the more grand options can take up an entire wall in your house, creating a truly magnificent visual. Wall fountains require the most installation of all the indoor options, but they are well worth the labor.

Floor Options

One of the more overlooked and underrated options for decorating your home or office is the floor fountain. These versatile pieces are the perfect option if you’re trying to decorate a space that has no room on the walls or tables. They serve as perfect accent pieces in your foyer, dining room, or even your bedroom. They aren’t the best option for small rooms, but they are a great way to make a large room more welcoming and comfortable. You can use them as sculptures to add to the artistic energy in your home, and as tools for relaxation and concentration.

Tabletop Fountains

A different option comes in the form of tabletop fountains. These small, unique pieces offer plenty of possibilities to those who have no room on their walls and would like to conserve floor space. They are a great tool for decorating the spaces where you entertain guests and enjoy family time. You can use one as a perfect centerpiece for a table in your living room, providing aesthetic appeal and conversational inspiration.

There are a wide array of options when it comes to adding a water feature to your home or other indoor environment. Even when you narrow it down, the choices can seem to keep appearing. Choose the room you would like to enhance with a water feature and go from there. Decide what type of mood or look you are searching for, and choose the best feature to accomplish those goals.

Enhance Your Workday with a Desk Fountain

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Sitting at your desk all day can sometimes feel draining and monotonous. Staring at the computer screen can make you forget all about the beautiful world that is out there. Bring a little bit of that beautiful world into your workspace with a small tabletop fountain for your desk. Having your own little fountain can help with concentration, reduce stress, and improve air quality. You can improve the daily grind with a simple touch.

Concentration

When you’re hard at work, your efficiency and productivity are two very important factors of your success. With a small tabletop fountain for your desk, you can create an atmosphere that is relaxing, allowing your mind to work at maximum efficiency. White noise has been known to help people focus and work faster. The steady flowing sounds will be a perfect natural contrast to the rigid, electronic world in which you work.

Stress

The white noise that is produced by those steady sounds has also been known to help reduce stress levels and anxiety. At work, you can find yourself in some of the most stressful and frustrating situations. Taking small, conscious efforts to combat that stress is something you must do, and having a desk fountain can help you more than you know. The sounds are soothing, therapeutic, and relaxing. When work becomes to feel overwhelming, you can take a deep breath and listen to the sounds of your desk fountain.

Air Quality

With a fountain for your desk, those relieving deep breaths will feel even more refreshing. The quality of your air is something that affects you, no matter where you are. With work being a place where you spend a large portion of your time, you should be proactive about making those conditions healthy for you. An indoor fountain helps with air humidity during the dry, brutal winter months, and also serves as an air purifier, removing dirt and debris from the air.

Your job is like another home, and it should be a comfortable and healthy environment. Adding a small tabletop fountain to your desk or workspace is a great way to improve your daily life. With its benefits with concentration, stress, and air quality, you’ll wonder why you never had a desk fountain before!

Create a Garden Fountain Oasis

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Having a garden area or beautiful outdoor space to spend your time is a priceless thing to experience. You can experience the beauty of the outdoors and make the most of your home’s landscape. Many people who live on dry land or in desert climates feel like that just is not an option for them, but that is actually not the case. If you live in an area that isn’t very welcoming to wildlife and greenery, you can still have your own little oasis. With the proper usage of non-living décor, various cacti, and a well-placed water feature, you’ll escape the lifeless desert feeling in no time.

Non-Living Décor

When decorating outside, the options are virtually limitless; you have the world at your fingertips. But, if your climate is harsh, you’ll have to be smart about what decisions you make. Implementing the use of non-living décor is a great way to add energy and flair to your plain outdoor environment. Consider what decorative stones can do for the look of your patio or garden area. You can find stones in a wide range of colors, giving you the option to bring life to your space with a simple color pop. There are also a wide range of beautifully crafted benches and tables to elevate your outdoor area. Plants aren’t your only choice.

Cacti

But, if you want a garden space, you need some kind of greenery. In those dry, harsh climates, people are often suggested to try growing cacti at home. One of the biggest problem is their lack of aesthetic value. People tend to picture a basic, thorny cactus with no redeeming qualities other than to survive with little upkeep. But, there are actually many cacti that grow to be much more than just an eyesore. Some cacti will flower, producing a beautiful visual containing a plethora of brilliant colors. Don’t write off the cacti based on what you thought you knew. They can be truly beautiful plants, and the highlight of your outdoor space.

Garden Fountain

The cacti will bring a new level of color and energy to a dreary outdoor space, but not much movement. Steady movement is one of the most effective ways to refresh and revitalize a space, and a garden fountain can be just the final touch you’ve been needing. When you’re living life in a dry, unforgiving climate, water is always a symbol of refuge. Complete your outdoor scene with a constant source of water flow. It will transform your desert-like space to a private oasis full of live and movement.

The dry heat doesn’t have to be miserable. There are ways to alleviate those harsh climate conditions, and make your yard a place where you enjoy spending time outdoors. With some colorful decorative stones, or hand crafted benches and tables, you can create a stunning scene. With the additions of the cacti and the water features, your scene will have life, and the climate will hardly matter.

 

How to Redecorate Your Patio Space

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Patio spaces come in many different variations. Some patios comprise a small quarter of a large rustic lawn. Others are alongside a downtown street or on a rooftop. In either case, we understand that a patio is meant for outdoor entertainment, in whatever environment you find yourself in.

We at Water Feature Pros have some recommendations to make your patio space an exceptional place to be. Here are the steps to redoing your patio space.

Have a theme and stick to it

A single overarching theme is the simplest way to focus your ideas and efforts. A theme of sorts will really polish the overall tone of the area. While adding nice furniture will make guests comfortable, a single idea governing the decoration will make the space more than just comfortable. It will have a certain style that others will consciously or unconscious pick up on. And when guests go home or indoors they will remember a particular feeling of your patio space because of that style.

Themes do not need to be kitschy or obvious, written in red ink. While an East Asian or American Western style will give you plenty of obvious décor options, subtle themes work too. Examples might be ‘playful yet mature’, where you highlight bright colors but use contemporary shapes. Or maybe ‘rustic sepia’, where no white or blacks are allowed, only browns and stones with rounded or distressed textures. Make up your own!

Have a center piece

The center piece needs to fit into your theme and into your space. But what can actually act as a center piece? Here are some ideas. An outdoor fountain would be prefect. Fountains use multiple elements such as stone and water, they are well constructed art pieces, make subtle interesting sounds and they have an interactive quality because of the flowing water. The best part about fountains is that there are so many to choose from. You can have a small or large fountain, classical or contemporary. You will have no troubles finding a piece that suits your space and themed inspiration. Peruse our online catalog and search by the categories that would best suit your needs.

Patio Furniture

Patio furniture is essential, you probably already have a full set too. However, an old set will probably not work for a new patio. Here are some things to consider when buying patio furniture. The style should obviously match your theme. The easiest way to kill your new patio is by buying furniture that might have the right color scheme but is made of a weird material. Iron patio furniture is a very versatile what to go, but if you have a playful centerpiece or a modern theme, then the cast iron will seem out of date comparatively. Explore your options thoroughly before settling on a furniture set. If everything else is in place, when you see a full furniture set that will compliment your space, it should be obvious. Don’t settle for less.

Attracting Wildlife with Your Garden Fountain

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There are many benefits to installing a water feature in your backyard. It transforms your visual setting, and creates a brand new atmosphere in your outdoor space. One benefit that people overlook is the ability to attract beautiful wildlife. Whether it is a small tiered stone fountain and a birdbath, or a pond and waterfall, your favorite animals will love to come and visit. If you are the type of person who loves observing birds, frogs, deer, or rabbits, installing a water feature in your outdoor area is a great way of bringing some of your favorite animal friends to your own home.

Watch Birds

If you are an avid advocate of our avian friends, installing a stone fountain in your garden is the perfect choice for you. Be on the hunt for something with obvious water flow. Animals are very attracted to running water. Choosing something with multiple levels and cascading streams of water is an optimum choice. Birds will have a lot of difficulty trying to resist this oasis you have designed for them. When you go out to your garden or courtyard to relax and enjoy yourself, your new bird visitors will be there for the very same reason.

Attract Deer

If you live in a location that is farther from the city life, you have even more options for attracting wildlife to your property. In areas that are separate from the city activity, it is not uncommon to attract a few deer to your home. Imagine peeking out into your backyard to see these beautiful creatures enjoying themselves in full view. Installing a beautiful pond or waterfall in your landscape is the perfect addition, and the perfect drinking fountain for your visitors. They will be very grateful for the drinking water, and you’ll love to observe them.

Keep Clean Water

If you do expect animals to visit you for a drink, be sure that the quality of your water is appropriate. Animals will naturally want to drink from, or splash around in, a source of fresh water. Make sure that water is actually fresh and clean. There are a lot of ways to keep your pond and fountain clean, but they are not all safe for your pets and animals. If you are in the market for a product to combat algae and other unwanted growth, be sure to opt for a product that is safe for animals. Choose products that are specifically designed to clean ponds and fountains. They are generally not toxic to wildlife.

Your home can be the oasis you always wanted it to be with the addition of a well-placed water feature. The scene will be a beautiful sight to behold, and the mood created by the steady flow of water will be welcoming and relaxing. You will enjoy all of your time there, and you’ll find that some of the wildlife will enjoy the space, too.

Designing a Kid-Friendly Backyard

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Your backyard is the frame for many of your family’s most cherished memories. When you step out of your back door, you are transported through a timeline of unforgettable experiences and a joy that never fades. You have had countless cookouts, birthday parties, and summer celebrations in this space, and it is the backdrop for a large chunk of your family photo album. As such an important space, it’s important that it’s in its best condition. If you have kids, there are a certain few qualities that you should consider when coming up with the design of your backyard. Be sure to leave lots of open space, designate a shaded location, and install a water feature.

Big, Open Spaces

One of the most important things you can do for your children is to simply give them space. Children are easily amused, and are often entertained by their own movements and actions. When you are designing your space, be sure to give your kids lots of space to run around and enjoy themselves. If you give them room, they’ll figure out how to make fun of it. Your kids will love the chance to run around aimlessly, and you’ll love to see them burning up their deep well of energy.

Shade

While open space is important, so is your child’s protection. Hours spent in the hot sun can take a serious toll on the health of your child’s body. If you are considering installing something along the lines of a sandbox or playpen, be sure to install it in a shaded location. A great option is utilizing the trees. They are a great source of natural shade, and you can even take it to the next level by building a tree house for your kids. It will provide protection from UV rays, while providing your child with a new world where they can play.

Outdoor Fountain

Another way to transform the world outside of your house is by installing a water feature. A well-placed water fountain will bring your setting to an all new level that both you and your children will appreciate. Children are dazzled by the flowing water and moving parts, and they will love to observe the energy. Water features also attract beautiful wildlife, exposing your children to the great outdoors in the safety of their own backyard. Installing a bird-feeder will make this experience even more valuable.

When you and your children go out into your backyard, you’re bound to make priceless memories. You’ll love to see your children running around, climbing trees, playing in the dirt, and interacting with nature. With a few specific choices, you can be sure that you and your family will enjoy all your time outside.

What’s That Smell? What to do About It

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One of the worst ways to ruin a beautiful setting and a relaxing moment is with a foul odor. The smell of stagnant water is an odor that is overwhelming and terribly unpleasant. If you have a fountain, pond, or other water feature installed at your home, it is important to keep the water clean and fresh, so you can avoid unwanted odors. The main culprits when it comes to these smells are algae, decaying organic matter, and anaerobic bacteria. With proper use of your pump, regular cleaning, and proper use of fountain chemicals, you can avoid that smelly annoyance.

Pumps are Necessary

One of the best ways you can avoid the smell of stagnant water is to use your pump properly and regularly. Using a pump aerates your water. This process dissolves oxygen into the water, and that keeps the growth of anaerobic bacteria at bay. It will also pump any cleaners or fountains chemicals you may be using throughout the entire fountain. Keeping your water moving and aerated is probably the most important factor to consider when it comes to keeping your water fresh. The only time you will want to turn the pump off is for a monthly deep cleaning. If it off for two or more days, you will want to replace the water in your fountain.

Remove Organic Debris

While paying attention to the pump is important, it isn’t the only thing that needs to be cleaned. In order to have fresh, clean water, it’s important to be aware of keeping the water itself free of debris. You will want to make sure there is no buildup of leaves, sticks, or other organic materials. When those materials begin to decompose, they release toxic gases that give off foul odors. Not only is a buildup of leaves and sticks unattractive, it poses several water quality and health threats.

Fountain Chemicals

Not only is debris buildup an issue, but so is the buildup of algae and white scale. There are several fountain chemicals available to keep these nuisances at bay. Adding a little to your water can provide stunning results. Vinegar and bleach can also be helpful, but only on certain materials and rocks. Regular cleaning with chemicals that combat the growth of unwanted materials is a sure way to keep your water clean and free of bacteria and algae.

The best way to keep you fountain from giving off a foul odor is simply to keep it clean. Regular maintenance is the key. The use of the pump is extremely important to water circulation and aeration. Physical cleaning is also a crucial part of the process. You want you fountain to be free of organic debris, and regularly using fountain chemicals keeps algae and white scale at bay. If you stay on top of things, you won’t have to worry about a bad smell creeping up to ruin your time.

Choosing the Right Garden Fountain

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Do you love spending time knelt in the dirt, hands in the soil, with the aroma of fresh plants and flowers filling your senses? Having a garden at home is a fun, therapeutic hobby, and a great way to produce your own flowers and vegetables. Installing a water feature in your home garden is perfect for enhancing the soothing and therapeutic qualities of your space, while contributing to the beauty of the scene. There are a wide range of outdoor water features. If you are considering adding one to your garden space, some of your best options are stone statuary fountains, small ponds, or spillways.

Stone Statuary Fountains

Do you have a large classic garden? A classy hand-crafted statuary fountain serves as the perfect accent or centerpiece. There are many different styles and designs of statuary fountains, available in many sizes and shapes. The classic tiered fountain is a popular choice for this type of application. There is nothing like watching the water flowing from a round or pineapple shaped finial, and raining over the edges of multiple tiers. Many of them feature sculptures and classic designs that evoke an old-world atmosphere. These fountains add new levels of life and energy to an already thriving space.

Small Ponds

Sometimes, you want a more subtle and natural look for your garden. If so, installing a small pond is likely to be your best bet. They are a great way of enhancing the landscape surrounding your garden space without being too visually overwhelming. They are also perfect for cultivating even more life in your space. You can add fish to your pond and take it to the next level. You will love the feeling of growing flowers and vegetables, while sustaining wildlife in your area. With these small changes, time spent in your yard and garden can become much more than just a hobby.

Spillways

If you would prefer to forgo the classic scene or the natural look, you might want to consider installing a spillway and basin near your garden. These are a great way of taking water’s natural soothing abilities, and giving it a modern and contemporary display. The stream flows out in a smooth sheet, splashing gently into the water below. If you are looking for ways to accent and enhance the style and class of your garden area, these are a great choice for you. Their sleek and minimal design is truly incomparable.

If you have a garden at home, take full advantage of your space. You will be truly surprised when you feel how much of an improvement installing a water feature can make. Stone statuary pieces complete your classic scene, small ponds enhance a natural look, and spillways brings your water display into a contemporary realm. For an extra touch, you can install LED lighting into any of these water features, accenting the beauty of your scene, even after the sun sets. The dazzling displays of water and soothing flowing sounds combined with the calming hands-on act of gardening makes for a truly blissful experience.

 

Adding Water Features Indoors

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If one is to here talk of fountains, waterfalls, or other water features, there is a common visual that comes to mind. That visual almost always includes an outdoor setting. When it concerns flowing water, people tend to visualize grand, overwhelming landscapes with towering stone fountains and majestic waterfalls that can only be experienced in the great outdoors. People tend to overlook the many options and benefits that come along with bringing water features inside the home.

There is a wide variety of choices when it comes to applying a water feature to your indoor décor. There are many styles of water walls, floor fountains, indoor waterfalls, and more. Upon discovering the world of indoor water features, you will find a few main benefits to adding them to your own home: aesthetics, sound therapy, and air quality.

Aesthetics

The interior decorator in you will soon find that adding a water feature to your indoor space can be a great way to add a new flair to your environment. A free-standing indoor fountain can be placed against a large wall and bring a cozier feel to an oversized space. The movement of a small water wall can keep a small rooms energy refreshed and open. There are an endless amount of options, and a plethora of styles, that will allow you to not only create a look, but a full scene.

Sound Therapy

People love listening to the sounds of falling rain, flowing streams, and steady waterfalls. There is a reason for this. The white noise that is provided with these sounds is a proven to calm people, help them concentrate, and even help them sleep. Installing a well-placed indoor feature can also mitigate any unwanted noise, like city streets or noisy neighbors.

Air Quality

Did you know that an indoor fountain can serve as a humidifier and an ionic air purifier? The constant flow of water gives the air in your home a continuous source of moisture. When you have appliances or weather drying out your air, you’ll be especially pleased with this.

There are also many appliances in your home (microwave oven, TV, computer, refrigerator) that produce positive ions. When a person breathes in these positive ions, it compromises their energy and health. An indoor water feature will provide the same negative ions that are present in flowing rivers and mountain air. Breathing these in will increase serotonin and mood.

If you’re in the market for a new water feature, don’t confine your options to your outdoor spaces. A beautiful free-standing indoor fountain can serve as the perfect accent or conversation piece in your living room; an elegant water wall in your bedroom can make your rest much more valuable. If you’re doing some interior decorating, consider what a water feature can do for your space.

Health Benefits of Indoor Water Features

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If you are considering installing a water feature in your home or business, you are probably already well aware of a few of the many benefits that come along with it. They can provide beautiful visuals and the steady water sounds help to relax you and mitigate unwanted noise. But, did you know that indoor water features benefit your health as well. An indoor fountain serves as an air purifier, humidifier, and ionic air purifier.

Air Purifier

Clean air is extremely important, especially in the home you share with your family. If you would like an air purifier with other benefit and capabilities, you may actually need to consider an indoor fountain. It will be much more aesthetically appealing, and, believe it or not, will clean your air just as well. A test on an 84 inch fountain in a 2700 square foot roomed concluded that the fountain removed the same amount of dirt and debris as a HEPA air purifier, and a larger fountain would clean your air even more efficiently.

Humidifier

Another important factor of your home’s air quality is the humidity (or lack thereof). In those bitter winter months when your furnace is drying up all the air in your house, your skin, hair, and respiratory system start to really experience the consequences. Installing an indoor water feature can turn your humidity troubles around. A fountain or water wall is a much more attractive alternative to a machine designed solely for air humidifying. They provide a constant source of water for your air, allowing your home to remain comfortable and keeping your body from suffering.

Ionic Air Purifier

There is another important issue when it comes to your home’s air quality, and that is positive and negative ions. Some people are familiar with this, many aren’t. The air in your home is constantly being electrically charged by positive and negative ions. The positive ions are produced by common appliances in your home, like or television or microwave. When you breathe in that air, the positive ions are able to take a toll on your mood and energy. Indoor water features provide negative ions to combat this phenomenon. These are the same negative ions produced in natural settings, like rivers, forests, and mountains. The negative ions will increase your production of serotonin, improving your mood and energy.

Indoor fountains and water walls are amazing pieces of machinery and art. Not only will an indoor water feature improve the style and class of your indoor setting, but it will also contribute to your health. Serving to clean, humidify, and purify your air, the benefits, like the water, seem to never stop flowing.

Pond Fountains and Your Pond’s Ecosystem

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Where there is water, you can generally assume there is life. The pond in your backyard is its own separate ecosystem, and its balance depends a lot on what you do to maintain it. One of the main factors of water health is the dissolving of oxygen into the water. The presence of dissolved oxygen in the water keeps the living things in the water healthy, and keeps the water itself clean. The main process used to maintain proper levels of oxygen in water is aeration. The various designs of pond fountains not only provide a visual statement, but they perform the necessary process of aeration.

Oxygen Levels

There are a few things that can cause a low level of dissolved oxygen in your pond. If there are too many fish and plants in your pond, or lots of organic waste, it can deplete the oxygen levels. When those levels are too low, there are a number of consequences. In deeper ponds, the water can begin to stratify, and make less room for life. The decaying process will slow, causing an unpleasant odor. Most importantly, the fish, and other animals, in your pond rely on the oxygen in the water for their own health. If there is not enough, the animals will eventually die. There are a couple of ways that aeration can combat these issues.

Aeration

The process of aeration uses a couple of different techniques to bring movement to the water, and dissolve more oxygen to the supply. When oxygen is constantly being dissolved, the water stays clean and healthy. There are two main ways to aerate your pond: floating pond fountains and diffused aeration systems.

Floating pond fountains are best for ponds without much depth. These units interact mostly with the top few feet of your pond. It pulls the water, and shoots it up into the air. When the water hits the surface again, the oxygen transfer occurs when gases are released.

Diffused aeration systems are more effective with deeper ponds. If you have a pond that is eight feet or deeper, this will be the better choice for you. Instead of pulling water upwards, these units push compressed air to the floor of the pond, creating a constant flow of air bubbles in the pond. As these bubbles reach the surface, they mix the water with the air, and increase the level of dissolved oxygen.

Once you have a little information on water aeration and your pond’s ecosystem, you’ll understand the need behind pond fountains. While they are beautiful, that isn’t their only use. The health and cleanliness of your water depends on your actions. You will find that installing a pond fountain is a major improvement.

Statuary Fountains and Other Components of an Italian Garden

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Building a garden and cultivating a collection of plant life is one of the most gratifying feelings a person can experience. There are so many choices for what you can do with your garden space that it can be hard to settle on a certain style or theme. The simple, classical Italian theme is one of the most beloved styles when it comes to garden design. The classic garden allows the visual and the atmosphere to speak for itself. To create a beautiful Italian scene, opt for shrubs and flowers, a classical tiered fountain, and hand-crafted stone outdoor furniture.

Flowers and Shrubbery

The composition of a classic garden scene is actually fairly simple. The intricacies and details come from how the plants and flowers are arranged. When choosing plants for your classic garden, keep your list fairly short. All you will need is a collection of shrubs and selection of a few of your favorite flowers to add a bit of color to your space. The main design of your garden should be determined by where your shrubs are placed. You can even design them in a way that your garden has deliberate pathways. You can then accent your setup with the colorful flowers and vines.

Classical Tiered Fountain

When it comes to choosing a fountain for your classical garden, there is one main option that overshadows the rest. This option is the classical tiered fountain. A classical garden will seem nearly incomplete without the presence of a grand tiered fountain to finalize the look and feel of your space. Taking nods from ancient Rome and on, these amazing structures evoke an old-world feel while creating a scene that is welcoming and soothing. There are a wide range of sizes and styles to choose from, some complete with sculptures and figurines. There is sure to be a fountain that is perfect for your scene.

Stone Outdoor Furniture

Your garden is a place of peace and serenity. To better enjoy your time there, it is important to choose some outdoor furniture so that you can have a place to sit and absorb the beauty of your space. While they are countless styles and materials used to produce outdoor furniture, one of the best options for a classic garden setup is the use of stone furniture. The right stone benches, stools, and tables are perfect for complementing your scene. There are options made from granite, jade, marble, and more. The designs, ranging from smooth and basic to textured and intricate, are all great accents to a natural scene.

With all of the styles and designs that are always becoming available, sometimes the most desirable option is the simple, classic one. When it comes to designing a garden, the classic look is always a good choice. With the right plants, a beautiful fountain, and some classic stone furniture, you can have a classic Italian scene in your own backyard.