Outdoor spa ideas for your lakeside landscape

Landscape Design · Uncategorized

Spas are one of our favorite features to incorporate into the landscapes we create at Stephens Landscaping Professionals. Not only do they add relaxation to your lakeside home, they can be a serene focal point that highlights the beauty of your outdoor space. Today, there are many different types of spas available, offering unique features and design styles.

Benefits of adding an outdoor spa to your lakeside landscape:

  • Year-round Enjoyment: The Lakes Region experiences all four seasons, each with its own charm. A spa allows you to enjoy your outdoor space regardless of the weather.
  • Scenic Views: Incorporating a spa into your landscape is one of the best ways to take in the beauty of the New Hampshire Lakes Region. Imagine soaking in your spa while admiring the changing foliage in the fall, or watching the snow fall on a winter day.
  • Entertainment and Socialization: A spa provides a great way to entertain family and friends. Whether hosting a summer barbecue or a cozy winter gathering, the addition of a spa offers a luxurious and inviting space for guests to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
  • Increased Property Value: A well-designed outdoor spa can enhance the overall appeal and value of your property. In the Lakes Region, where outdoor living is highly valued, a spa adds an attractive feature that can interest potential buyers should you decide to sell your home.

Top Outdoor Spa Designs

Below are some of the most popular spa styles that we install here in the New Hampshire Lakes Region.

Traditional Spa

Traditional spas feature a free form design that combines maximal comfort and space with a timeless appearance. Traditional spas are perfect for adding luxury to virtually any landscape design.

A collage shows photos of a luxurious in-ground spa with turquoise blue water situated on the patio of a large home on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.

Modern Minimalist Spa

Characterized by clean lines, geometric shapes, and contemporary materials like concrete, glass, and stainless steel, modern spas offer a sleek and sophisticated appeal. They often integrate seamlessly with modern architectural styles.

A collage shows photos and a video of an attractive minimalist modern spa and fire pit overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee in the New Hampshire Lakes Region

Naturalistic Spa 

Mimicking the feel of natural hot springs, these spas often feature stone or rockwork, surrounded by lush landscaping. They blend seamlessly into the outdoor environment, creating a serene and organic ambiance.

A collage featuring photos of a beautiful naturalistic outdoor spa surrounded by natural boulders and lush green ferns.

Interested in adding a spa to your landscape? The team at SLP is here to help you find the perfect spa design, customization options, and integration with the surrounding landscape. Contact us or give us a call at 603.707.0630 to discuss your outdoor spa ideas.

Building a Landscape on Lake Winnipesaukee’s Long Island

Landscape Construction · Uncategorized

Follow Along As Stephens Landscaping Professionals Creates a Stunning Lake Winnipesaukee Landscape

Winter has arrived but there’s no slowing down at Stephens Landscaping Professionals. Although the green season is behind us, we stay active during the colder months with a variety of services and projects, including plowing and snow removal, excavation and sitework, driveway installations, carpentry jobs, and landscape construction projects. One of our major landscape builds this winter is the South Point Project.

Located on Lake Winnipesaukee’s scenic Long Island, the South Point Project will feature an expansive bluestone patio complete with a fire boulder, in-ground spa, and reclaimed stone seating. We’ll also be adding a bluestone driveway, lake-friendly vegetation, and extensive outdoor lighting to accentuate the space during evening hours.

A collage of photos shows the construction of a stone patio by the masonry team at Stephens Landscaping Professionals.

The Process: How to Design and Develop a Lakes Region Landscape

The South Point property is a collaborative effort that has brought together the collective talents and specialties of several businesses and vendors to create a beautiful home for our client. The landscape design was conceptualized by Boston-based Michael D’Angelo Landscape Architecture, while the home is a new build by Jason Drouin Custom Homes of Meredith, New Hampshire. SLP Project Manager Taylor Sperry is overseeing the landscape’s construction.

Sitework for this lakeside landscape began in July of 2023, and flatwork, including the patio, driveway, and walkways, will be completed in the spring. SLP has begun phase one of the planting, and will finish phase two before Memorial Day, so that the outdoor space will be ready to enjoy this summer.

Building a Raised Stone Patio

One of the main features of the South Point landscape is a sizable raised bluestone patio. The patio stones are full color, natural cleft bluestone provided by Stone Curators of Massachusetts. The masonry team at Stephens Landscaping Professionals hand-set the stones to highlight the unique color shading in this stone collection.

Bluestone is a sedimentary sandstone that is softer than granite, making it easier to manipulate and incorporate into custom designs. It’s also durable and can handle the freeze-thaw cycles present in the New Hampshire Lakes Region. This, combined with its versatility and extensive style options, makes it a popular choice for patios, walkways, driveways, and other stone features in our area.

Sustainable Landscaping in New Hampshire

Creating an environmentally-friendly landscape is an essential goal with every project that we work on at Stephens Landscaping Professionals. This not only protects Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding eco-system, but ensures your waterfront property meets the permitting requirements that are in place in the Lakes Region.

Here are three key ways we are making The South Point project an eco-friendly landscape:

  • Permeable Patios and Walkways – The lakeside patio we built for the South Point Project is permeable, allowing stormwater and snow melt to filter through the pavers and be redirected to proper drainage systems. This also keeps slippery ice from building up on your patio, and protects the stone from moisture damage.
  • Lake-Friendly Drainage and Grading – An eco-friendly landscape starts from the ground up with careful planning and sitework. We specialize in effective grading and drainage systems that will improve the longevity of your landscape and prevent runoff from polluting the lake.
  • Sustainable Plants – To protect the shoreline, we’ll be planting vegetation that supports local pollinators and mitigates erosion, such as native blueberry bushes.

Ripe blueberries hang from a blueberry bush with green leaves.

Stay Tuned to See This Lakeside Landscape Come To Life

The SLP team will be working on the South Point project through the winter months until its completion in the summer. Follow along as we provide updates and photos of our progress!