Category: Garden Design

Stay Cool Outdoors: How the Alizé Umbrella Combines Shade and Airflow

Modern Architecture Concept

As someone who designs outdoor spaces for a living, I’ve seen my share of patio umbrellas — but nothing prepared me for the innovation behind the Alizé Umbrella!

A Smarter Take on Outdoor Comfort

Let’s be honest — traditional umbrellas are great for blocking sunlight, but they don’t do much when the air turns still and sticky. That’s where the Alizé Umbrella changes everything. It’s the first fan-integrated patio umbrella designed to deliver both shade and airflow in one elegant, cordless design.

The built-in dual brushless DC fans circulate up to 4,200 CFM of air, which means you get a cool, quiet breeze even on those breathless summer afternoons. What I love most is how seamlessly it all works — no bulky add-ons, no cords dangling from the pole, and no noise. The operation is smooth and effortless, controlled with a simple push-button system that keeps the experience as easy as it is refreshing.

And yes — it even has built-in USB ports for phone charging, which is a total game-changer when I’m working on my patio mood boards or checking emails outdoors.

Built for the Real World, Not Just Fair Weather

As a designer, I always look for products that balance style with durability — and the Alizé Umbrella delivers both in spades. This isn’t just another pretty outdoor accessory; it’s built to handle whatever nature throws its way. Each umbrella is wind tunnel tested to withstand up to 41 MPH winds, proving it can stand strong through real-world conditions.

The frame is crafted from marine-grade aluminum, the hardware from stainless steel, and the canopy is made from Olefin fabric, known for being fade-resistant, weatherproof, and offering UPF 50+ UV protection. I’ve seen plenty of patio fabrics lose color and shape after a single season — but Olefin stays crisp and vibrant year after year.

It’s no surprise the design was inspired by the Caribbean trade winds — the creator of Alizé is a former sailor who knows what true wind and weather can do. That nautical influence shows in every detail, from the sturdy construction to the effortless function.

Effortless Design Meets Coastal Style

When I first saw the Alizé Umbrella, it wasn’t just the engineering that caught my eye — it was the look. Available in Caribbean-inspired finishes like Cast Mist and Sandstone, it instantly adds a refined, coastal vibe to any outdoor setting. The tones are timeless, soft, and versatile, which makes them perfect for layering into modern patios, pool decks, or even boutique hotel lounges.

I recently placed one on my own patio — positioned perfectly between the dining table and the pool. The effect was instant. The color echoed the light tones of my stone pavers, the sleek frame matched my aluminum seating, and that gentle built-in breeze created a subtle movement that brought the space to life. It felt like the kind of design moment you only get at a Caribbean resort, except it was right at home.

Seamless Comfort, No Compromise

What really stands out about the Alizé Umbrella is how effortless it is to live with. There’s no separate fan to install, no cords to manage, and no complicated setup. The fans and shade are fully integrated into a single design — just open the umbrella, press a button, and enjoy. It’s one of those rare products where form and function exist in perfect balance.

It’s become my go-to setup for entertaining clients outdoors or enjoying quiet evenings with friends. The built-in breeze keeps the air comfortable, while the sleek silhouette adds polish to the space. It’s modern, practical, and just feels good to be around.

The New Standard in Outdoor Living

The word Alizé literally means “the breeze” — and it’s such a fitting name. This umbrella truly captures that easy, luxurious feeling of air moving softly around you on a perfect summer day. With its smart design, premium materials, and quiet, built-in airflow, the Alizé Umbrella sets a whole new standard for outdoor comfort.

For me, it’s more than a shade solution — it’s a design statement that turns any patio into a retreat. Whether you’re styling a private backyard, a restaurant terrace, or a hotel poolside, the Alizé Umbrella brings together innovation, beauty, and lasting comfort. Once you experience that gentle breeze paired with elegant shade, it’s hard to imagine your outdoor space without it.

Adding Vertical Gardens: Maximizing Space in Small Yards with Climbers and Vines

Modern Architecture Concept
Our homes will continue to be affected by modern highways

Homeowners with a small yard space often have a lot of misconceptions. For example, most of them feel that they don’t have many options when it comes to landscaping!

Our homes will continue to be affected by modern highways

That is not true. In fact, with the rise of the popularity of vertical gardens for small yards, you have far greater options for enhancing the look of your small yard. Specialist landscape contractors like Way to Go Builders San Diego, offer innovative solutions for such spaces. Here are some of the ideas that you can try out for your home.

But before we explore the things that you can do, let us first understand what makes a vertical garden ideal for your small yard.

Why Choose Vertical Gardens for Small Yards?

So, what makes vertical gardens an ideal option for small yard spaces? For starters, it helps you to maximize greenery without taking up a lot of ground space. When used in the right way, they can make your small space feel more spacious and attractive. 

What are the Benefits of Using the Idea?

Here are some of the major advantages of setting up vertical gardens for small yards:

  1. Maximizing Space Utilization– This design idea makes it possible for you to grow a variety of plants in a limited space. You can then use the unused space for seating areas, patios and walkways, getting the complete outdoor experience.
  2. Improved Visual Appeal – Climbing plants and vines create a lush, natural look that adds to the beauty of a small yard. They add texture, color, and a bit of dynamism to your outdoor spaces.
  3. Improved Air Quality – It’s no secret that plants act as natural air purifiers. So, in cities where people often struggle with pollution, these gardens absorb pollutants, give shade and add a cooling effect.

The Different Climbers and Vines to Choose from

Climbers and vines can grow easily, and they also occupy significantly less space. This makes them popular choices for vertical gardens. Here are some of the popular choices that you can consider. 

  • Climbing Roses – These classic blooms add elegance and fragrance to vertical structures.
  • Bougainvillea – They are a vibrant and drought-resistant choice. This makes them perfect for warm climates like San Diego.
  • Ivy – It is a hardy and low-maintenance option that can be used for covering walls and fences.
  • Clematis – This is a versatile flowering vine that gives a touch of color in seasons.
  • Jasmine – These have beautiful flowers and a delightful fragrance.
  • Vegetables and Herbs – You can incorporate climbing vegetables like beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers or herbs like rosemary and mint to your vertical gardens as well.

How to Design a Vertical Garden?

When you are planning to set up a vertical gardens for small yards, here are few tips that you should consider: 

  • Choose the Right Support Structures – You can use trellises, pergolas, arbors, and wall-mounted planters to provide sturdy support for climbing plants.
  • Mix and Match Different Varieties of Plants – You can combine flowering vines with leafy climbers to create a visually dynamic effect.
  • Use Containers and Hanging Planters – They are popular choices for vertical gardens as they help in easy rearrangement and maintenance.
  • Ensure Proper Drainage and Irrigation – Vertical gardens require a good deal of water to prevent drying out. It is recommended that you set up drip irrigation systems or self-watering planters.
  • Incorporate Lighting – You should also install lighting at the right locations. This will increase the beauty of your vertical garden.

These are some of the important things that you should be aware of when you are considering setting up vertical gardens for small yards. Get professional help and transform your small backyard into a truly stunning and relaxing space.

The Best Drought Tolerant Trees for Your Backyard

Modern Architecture Concept

Do you live in a dry climate? Planting trees that don’t need a lot of water is a great idea for your landscaping!

If you are living in an area that is very dry and doesn’t receive a lot of rainfall, it is only natural to look for plants that can survive this type of climate. Areas that have long, dry, and hot summers also need to have gardens suited to withstand these type of conditions. It is always exciting to see trees online that look beautiful but we have to be realistic. Can these types of trees survive in the conditions we live in? After asking for help from a lawn care specialist, I’ve put together a list of some drought tolerant trees that not only look great but don’t need a lot of water!

Evergreen Trees

Photos By: Unsplash

Cedar, oak, and pine all fall into the evergreen tree category. These trees are all deep-rooted and can handle long summers with little or no water. If you live in a climate that has little precipitation, evergreen trees are a good choice to plant around your home. They are fast growers, and can quickly become shade trees in just a few years of being planted. One of my favorite things about evergreen trees is that they remain green and functional through more than one growing season. This means that even in the winter time they will remain green without loosing their leaves. Most trees with completely lose their foliage during the winter and dry season, which is something you also want to keep in mind when choosing trees for your yard.

Hackberry

If you are looking for a tree that needs little maintenance, the hackberry is a tree known to landscape professionals as “one tough tree”. The hackberry can tolerate all kinds of conditions and can be seen planted all the way from Canada to Florida. It can survive a wide variety of temperatures and can tolerate little to no rainfall, strong wind, and lots of air pollution. If you are looking for a hardy tree, the hackberry is a good landscape choice that doesn’t need watering.

Southwest Shade Trees

These leafy desert shade trees work very well in hot climates with little precipitation. Most southwest shade trees are easy maintenance trees that have few pest or tree disease issues. Some of these species are actually native to places like Arizona and Southern California. They have evolved to survive and thrive in drought conditions, so if you live in an area like this a southwest shade tree may be a great choice for you! Some southwest trees include acacia trees, mesquites, and palo verde trees. They can all survive with little moisture and in the driest conditions!

Kentucky Coffeetree

The Kentucky Coffeetree is a very drought-resistant tree that works in a wide variety of dry climates. It can easily adapt to a variety of soils, that is why it is a very popular option for homeowners across the United States. An interesting thing about the Kentucky Coffeetree is that is is very tolerant of pollution, and is a tough species that thrives in tough climates. It can be used as an ornamental or shade tree to plant on your front lawn or backyard.

Fruitless Olive Trees

Olive trees are one of my favorite trees, but unfortunately they are banned in many US states because of their fruits clogging up road drains and attracting wildlife. Fruitless olive trees on the other hand are exactly what they sound like, olive trees that bear no fruit! These trees need well-draining soil and most fruitless olive trees are drought tolerant but need regular water until a good root system has developed. So if you have the time to water these trees in your garden until they can live on their own, they make wonderful trees that not only look beautiful but also retain their foliage even in the winter time!

Live Oak

The live oak is one of my favorite trees and you may recognize it as being an iconic tree of the south. The live oak can be seen today in the south lining many driveways and roads, and it is a very impressive tree that can live to be hundreds of years old. The live oak is tolerant to drought and can adapt to various soil types, can tolerate soil compaction and also salt spray.

Northern Catalpa

Most of the trees that we have listed above are typical shade trees. The northerm catalpa is something quite different and makes a beautiful decorative tree. The catalpa blooms with white flowers and has giant heart-shaped leaves that hang like bean seed pods. The trunk and branches twist which give it a unique and exotic look, perfect for your backyard. This tree is a fast grower and is very drought tolerant. If you are looking for a tree that doesn’t need much watering but also blooms with beautiful flowers, the northern catalpa may be a good choice for you.

There are so many beautiful drought tolerant trees on the market today, so do your research before planting a tree in your yard. A few things you want to look for are low maintenance and drought tolerance. If you can find this combination you will have one a beautiful tree that you and your family will enjoy for many years to come!

Garden Rooms vs Traditional Conservatories

Modern Architecture Concept

Installing a conservatory is a fun project that your family will enjoy, here is why you should build one!

Photo By: ACNN Decor

When it comes to extending your home and creating some additional space, the most common choice amongst homeowners is to build an extension. However, this does require a lot of planning, time and most of all, money! All of which make home extensions something that isn’t quite achievable for many, especially if they want something that can be done quickly and affordably. The next option that homeowners have, is to install a conservatory. But with many known downsides, traditional conservatories have become less and less popular over recent years with more people opting for more modern-styled garden rooms instead. But why? In this article, we take a closer look at gardens rooms and some of the ways that make them different and sometimes a better choice than traditional conservatories when it comes to extending the space in your home.

The Differences Between a Garden Room & Conservatory

Practicality

The reason why many homeowners are now opting for modern garden rooms over traditional conservatories is that they present a much more practical solution. Conservatories are infamous for becoming unbearably hot during the peak of the summer and shiveringly cold throughout the winter due to their often poor design. Making them usable for only a certain period of the year. Garden rooms, on the other hand, are far more practical and can be used all year round. With high-quality insulation and air conditioning, garden rooms offer a space that you can enjoy no matter the weather.

Materials

The materials which are used to create both structures are another factor that sets them apart. Traditional conservatories are designed and produced using UPVC and glass windows, or a brick base and glass windows with a polycarbonate/glass roof. This means that you typically only benefit from the top half of the structure being made of glass. On the other hand, a garden room is often made up entirely of glass, from the panels to the conservatory roof. This offers an aesthetic that is much more visually appealing and a structure that offers increased protection from the sun.

Planning Permission & Assembly 

The final difference between a garden room and a conservatory relates to the ease in which they can be installed and erected on your property. If both exceed a particular size, then you may need to acquire planning permission from your local council before starting any work. However, a great way to avoid all of the drama that comes with planning permission is to choose a ready-built structure that can simply be installed without any fuss! This is where garden rooms trump traditional conservatories, with the majority offering the ability to be installed in three-to-four working day – incredible!

And there we have it; the major differences between garden room and conservatories. If you’re in limbo about which structure to add to your property, we definitely recommend opting for a garden room. With their practicality, customisation and simplicity when it comes to installation, these offer a hassle-free solution for you and your home.

Benefits of Smart-Outdoor Lighting Systems for your Home

Modern Architecture Concept

Install smart outdoor lighting for your home, you’ll thank us later!

Home automation systems have been around for many years. However, the costs of these systems have substantially decreased as devices themselves have become smart-devices that are able to connect to the internet and be controlled with Apps on your phone. Such items as smart-thermostats, garage door openers and light switches have made this technology available to more consumers in recent years. As a result of this technology becoming readily available there has been an increase in energy savings, automated processes in your home that save you time and money, and enhanced security features.   Recently, smart-outdoor lighting has joined this trend and enabled homeowners to benefit from incorporating automation into their outdoor lighting systems.

Energy Savings

Smart-devices and more energy efficient technologies have allowed for homeowners to reduce energy usage resulting in a product that is better for the planet and your wallet.  LED lighting technology has helped reduce the energy usage up to 80% when compared to the standard incandescent light bulb.   An additional benefit of the LED technology is the lifespan versus that of the traditional light bulb. This reduces the time, effort and costs of changing light bulbs.

The home automation features of smart-outdoor lighting enable even more energy savings by allowing for customized settings so the lights are on only when you need them.  Many of these systems allow for turning lights on at sunset and automatically shifting accordingly throughout the year. These systems will also automatically shift for daylight savings time changes.  This saves time and money by turning the lights on at exactly the right time year-round.

Home Automation

If you already have a smart-home or business, have an Alexa, or use Siri you already know some of the benefits of home automation.  While each lighting system on the market is unique, they come with a wide range of features.  At a minimum, typically the systems will allow you to schedule the on and off times of the lights and control them manually.  The more advanced systems will allow you to choose from a wide variety of whites and colors right from the App.  Some of these systems will also enable you to schedule the brightness and color options based on holiday schedules year-round creating the ultimate lighting experience.

Control from Anywhere

Have you ever made it to the office and wondered if you might have left the lights on? Perhaps you have been on vacation in another city when you remembered to turn on the pathway lighting for your pet sitter? Unlike standard outdoor lighting systems, which require you to be home to control your lights, smart-lighting uses WIFI. Some systems even use smart phone apps to manage lighting preferences. This means you can turn lights on, adjust the brightness, and more all from your phone or tablet, whether you are sitting in your living room, a conference room, or a beach in the Caribbean.

Safety and Security

The safety of your home or business is always paramount. Whether you want to brighten pathways at your business or you are a homeowner that would like to illuminate the dark corners of your yard, smart-outdoor lighting systems can do the job. It is simple to schedule the lighting at your business to turn on at dusk, allowing patrons to safely access steps and sidewalks. With bright outdoor lighting, you can also deter trespassers and unwanted activity, no matter the time of day or night. Some smart lighting systems even offer motion sensor lighting as an added layer of security for your home or business.

Smart Outdoor Lighting is the Smart Choice

We are in the midst of the smart device revolution that enables users to be in full control of everything. From energy savings to fun for the holidays, with the most advanced systems on the market, you are in control from anywhere in the world!  With smart-outdoor lighting, the possibilities are endless!

Author Bio:

Chris McCoy is the founder of Haven Lighting. Haven Lighting is a leading manufacturer of smart Wi-Fi enabled landscape lighting systems, featuring unique LED products with unparalleled brightness, vivid color and white temperature adjustment.