Field Story: Natural Stone Patio in Wilmington, DE

Backyards often need more than just a surface to stand on - they need a space that feels like a natural extension of the home. For this Wilmington property, the goal was to create a gathering area with character: a stone patio that felt solid, comfortable, and tied into the house with thoughtful details.

We built this patio about two years ago. It’s 650 square feet of natural stone, with a large boulder set as a sitting stone right along the edge.

Coming out from the addition on the house, we added a cedar landing that steps down onto the patio and makes the transition feel natural.

The backyard had some uneven areas, so we brought in 20-30 tons of topsoil to re-grade everything and bring it up to level. That made the patio sit right with the house and created a smoother lawn grade around it.

Projects like this one in Wilmington show what guides every job at One Thousand Hands: combine structure with comfort, choose materials that belong, and shape the land so it works for the long run. With the stone underfoot, a cedar landing at the door, and a boulder that invites you to sit, the space doesn’t just look complete - it feels like it was always meant to be there.