When a brand new home goes up, the outdoor space is a blank canvas — and getting it right from the very beginning makes all the difference. This new construction project in Glencoe, Illinois gave National Brick and Stone Co. the opportunity to design and build a complete outdoor living environment from the ground up, working from full landscaping and hardscape grading plans to deliver a finished property that is as functional as it is beautiful.
The centerpiece of the backyard is a stunning round patio built with Whitacre Greer clay pavers in the Northshore Blend — a premium American-made clay paver with rich, natural color variation that only gets better with age. Unlike concrete pavers that can fade and look manufactured, clay pavers are fired at extreme temperatures, giving them a depth of color and durability that lasts a lifetime. The round patio design was intentional and elegant, flowing naturally around a built-in Unilock fire pit structure positioned at the center — creating a true outdoor gathering space designed for how people actually live. The fire pit was finished with a stainless steel insert and custom bluestone coping, tying the natural stone theme of the property together beautifully.
Access from the home to the patio was built with the same attention to detail we brought to our recent Highland Park bluestone project. We poured concrete structural steps and applied custom cut thermal bluestone veneer with fully mortared joints — set in mortar for permanence, finished to perfection. Bluestone slab steppers were then installed along the side of the home, creating a natural stone pathway connecting the front of the property to the back patio — a seamless flow from arrival to outdoor living.
Every element of the property was graded correctly from the start. Full site grading was completed to ensure proper drainage away from the foundation and across the entire yard before anything else was installed. Fresh sod was laid across all lawn areas, giving the property a finished, polished look from day one. This is what new construction hardscape done right looks like — not an afterthought, but a fully engineered outdoor environment planned alongside the home itself.
For lighting, we installed a complete Kichler low voltage landscape lighting system. As certified Kichler installers, National Brick and Stone Co. is proud to offer a lifetime warranty on select Kichler products — a level of quality and coverage that most lighting contractors simply cannot provide. The lighting was designed to highlight the patio, fire pit, steps, and pathways, creating a property that looks as impressive at night as it does during the day.
To complete the outdoor kitchen vision, we ran a dedicated gas line to the grill island pad, stubbed and ready for the built-in grill island installation. Every detail of this project was thought through and executed with the next 30 years in mind.
This is exactly the kind of full-scope new construction hardscape and landscape project that National Brick and Stone Co. was built for. From grading plans to gas lines, clay pavers to custom bluestone, fire pits to Kichler lighting — we handle everything. Whether you're searching for a hardscape contractor near me, new construction landscape design Illinois, clay paver patio installation North Shore, Kichler certified lighting installer, or a fire pit contractor Glencoe IL, we are ready to bring your vision to life. We proudly serve Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Deerfield, Northbrook, Winnetka, Wilmette, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, and all surrounding Illinois communities. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.