Landscape Newsletter Issue 23


Print Document
Print/Download

AB Courtyard Collection™ - Outdoor Living At Its Best
Over the last several years, outdoor living has become a huge part of our lives. In fact, it is so big now that people are bringing the indoors outside by turning their porches, decks, and patios, into kitchens, dining rooms, and living room areas that are perfect for entertaining.

With the dawn of this outdoor living trend has come the need for new and innovative ideas and products to enhance these outdoor spaces and create an attractive and inviting extension to our outdoor enjoyment. Hardscapes have become a large part of this style, giving so much more to a yard than just a barbecue grill and a lawn chair.

One of the top innovative products is the AB Courtyard Collection by Allan Block. This versatile two-sided free standing system can enhance the beauty of any backyard landscape. The walls and posts/pillars can be used in a wide variety of features that are sure to dazzle the landscape.

AB Courtyard Kitchen

What are some of the hottest trends in outdoor living?

 AB Courtyard Bar

  • Outdoor Kitchens
  • BBQ Grilling Stations
  • Outdoor Bars
  • Entertaining/Seating Areas
  • Patios and Lighting
  • Fire Pits and Fireplaces
  • Water Features

Outdoor Kitchens

 AB Courtyard Outdoor Kitchen

The outdoors is no longer a place just for the grill. The outdoor kitchen can incorporate so much more. Use AB Courtyard to create a custom kitchen or grilling station to fit the design and style of your space. Keep it simple with an attractive and functional area for all your basic cooking and grilling needs, or add appliances like a refrigerator, sink and oven to give your outdoor kitchen a more elaborate design.

BBQ Grilling Stations
No room for an elaborate outdoor kitchen, but still want to enhance your space? Try a BBQ Grilling station using the AB Courtyard Collection. Dress up a grill of any size and shape with a custom surround. Most can be built in just a weekend and can provide more useable space around your grill for cooking up all those tasty summertime outdoor treats.

Outdoor Bars

 AB Courtyard Bar

Whether you live in an area where you can enjoy the great outdoors all year long or perhaps only for a few summer months, entertaining on your porch or patio can be a snap when you have the right setup. An outdoor bar is a great addition to any backyard landscape. Choose a design that fits your style. Does your space need a large formal bar or a more casual feel? What amenities does your bar need? Use the AB Courtyard Collection to build to your needs, then sit back and relax with family and friends.

Entertaining And Seating Areas

 AB Courtyard Couch

Whether you are dining out, entertaining or just plain relaxing, patio seating areas are fun places to spend your free time. Using the AB Courtyard Collection, you can create a variety of seating options depending on where and how you want to use the space. There are many great locations for relaxing, think beyond the porch – consider the entire yard. Use a patio wall to create an outdoor room with built-in seating, add an outdoor couch or secluded garden bench. Find the best spot in your yard and create your refuge.

Patios & Lighting

 AB Courtyard Pergola

Welcome your guests into the outdoors with a beautiful patio surround. Frame in your patio to create additional seating and a backyard oasis that everyone will enjoy. Lighting sets the mood for every occasion, so be sure to incorporate lighting into your outdoor patio and soak up the ambiance of a night time retreat.

Fire Pits and Fireplaces

 AB Courtyard Firepit
Enjoy summer nights with a fire feature in your own backyard. Bring back the childhood memories of sitting around the campfire, roasting marshmallows and telling stories with friends and family in your very own backyard with a fire pit made with the AB Courtyard Collection. This outdoor feature is easy to construct and can be built in a weekend. Looking for a little more? How about an outdoor fireplace? With proper planning and the right materials a fireplace can be a stunning focal point for any yard, an AB Courtyard fireplace is a thing of beauty.

Water Features

 AB Courtyard Pond

Fire not your game? Then just add water. Enhance your yard with the tranquility of an AB Courtyard water feature. Create a relaxing sanctuary of flowing fountains, ponds or even waterfalls. The peaceful sounds are sure to calm and soothe daily stress away.

Endless Possibilities

 AB Courtyard Fireplace

The possibilities are endless. AB Courtyard Collection is a versatile product that can be used to create beautiful and creative outdoor living areas. With such a wide variety of ways to build with AB Courtyard you can be sure to find the right project or application to incorporate into any outdoor living space. With the continued trend in enhancing and expanding our outdoor living, the need for new and innovated ideas is ever growing. The AB Courtyard Collection is a product that will continue to grow and adapt to these continued trends. Contractors and DIY homeowners all across the country are finding new and innovative ways to use Allan Block Products.

How can you use AB Courtyard to create beautiful and creative outdoor living spaces?

Building Green with Allan Block

What is Green?

 AB Green Tree
What does it mean to be Green? A lot of emphasis has been put on being "green" or environmentally friendly, as we all look for ways to conserve, replenish and otherwise help the environment we live in. Allan Block has been building "green" for over 20 years and is geared up to bring more "green" solutions to the table.

How Allan Block Builds Green
  • Erosion Control Allan Block retaining walls help prevent soil erosion which is a serious threat to the environment. Keeping the soil where it should be and out of our waterways and roadways.


  • Environmentally Friendly No toxins to harm the environment. Unlike treated timbers, concrete has no toxic chemicals to harm the earth.


  • Durable Made of concrete, Allan Block's lifespan far surpasses that of any other retaining wall material. Its resistance to weathering, and time make it the most environmental choice. It won't rot or degrade.


  • Plantable Allan Block Retaining Wall products have a hollow core that allows the blocks in the top course of the wall to be filled with soil and planted, adding more usable space and beautification to the project.


  • Reusing Materials Allan Block Products may be manufactured using recycled materials. The concrete waste that is made during production of Allan Block products can be crushed up and re-used as well, effectively reducing our impact on local landfills.


  • Other Green Ideas Allan Block Products can be used in a variety of ways to make your life more “green”. Build a compost bin to recycle your yard waste, a fence to add privacy that won’t rot away, or a pond to collect rain water. The possibilities are extraordinary - what “green” Allan Block projects can you think up?
 Before Picture - Timber wall

After Picture - Allan Block Retaining wall

AB Compost Bin