Client Innovation: Designing A Backyard For Entertaining
By Olivia Nott, Strategic PR/Marketing Advisor, Merlot Marketing
There’s a certain kind of homeowner who treats the backyard the way a designer treats a room: with intention. Not just a place to park the lawn furniture when summer rolls around, but a genuine extension of the home: one that reflects personal taste, welcomes guests well, and appreciates in value over time. That mindset is driving a real shift in how people invest in their outdoor spaces, and the brands we work with at Merlot Marketing are building products designed to meet that standard.
It starts with the lawn itself. For households with dogs, one of the most frustrating obstacles to a well-kept yard is the stubborn brown and yellow spots that urine leaves behind. NaturVet’s GrassSaver® Soft Chews address that problem at the source. Veterinarian-formulated with a blend of dl-Methionine, Yucca, cranberry fiber, and a proprietary B-complex vitamin blend, these daily supplements work by supporting a healthy urinary pH in dogs, reducing the impact of dog urine on a lawn. It’s a small daily habit – a soft chew your dog will want to eat – that over time yields a noticeably greener, more uniform lawn. For homeowners who have invested in landscaping and take pride in curb appeal, that matters.
Once the outdoor stage is set, the centerpiece of most backyard entertaining setups is the grill, and few products make the case for long-term investment more compellingly than the American Outdoor Grill® L-Series, a division of RH Peterson Co. Crafted in the USA by skilled fabricators, the L-Series is built around commercial-inspired engineering: 304 stainless steel tubular burners, Diamond Sear™ cooking grids for superior heat retention and bold sear marks, and an infrared backburner with rotisserie kit for slow-roasted results that rival any restaurant. What separates the L-Series from the crowded field of premium grills is its presence after dark: an external multi-color LED light bar with remote control, interior halogen cooking lights, and illuminated control knobs make the grill as much of a design statement as a performance tool. This is a grill built to anchor an outdoor kitchen for years, not seasons.
The longer view on outdoor investment is stone. Eldorado Stone’s architectural stone veneer and fireplace surrounds bring a level of materiality to the backyard (or the living room, for that matter) that no composite or manufactured alternative replicates. With over 150 colors and profiles to choose from, and each piece hand-painted to create authentic, nature-inspired detail, Eldorado Stone gives homeowners the ability to build an outdoor fireplace surround that looks like it was quarried, not ordered. Rated for both indoor and outdoor installation, including fireplaces, feature walls, columns, and facades, the product travels with your design vision wherever it leads. An outdoor fire feature built with Eldorado Stone doesn’t just extend the entertaining season into fall evenings; it becomes the architectural focal point that makes the entire backyard feel considered and complete.
When you step back and look at what all three of these products have in common, the throughline is pride of ownership. GrassSaver keeps the lawn looking like you care. An AOG L-Series grill tells every guest you’re an important part of the meal. And Eldorado Stone transforms a functional backyard into a space that looks like it belongs in a shelter magazine. None of these are impulse purchases: they’re investments in a home environment that pays dividends in everyday enjoyment and long-term property value.
At Merlot Marketing, we’ve built our practice around brands that enrich the places people live, gather, and grow. Our focus on the home and building space isn’t incidental, it’s intentional. We hand-select clients whose products carry real stories: functional innovation, American craftsmanship, design integrity. NaturVet, American Outdoor Grill, and Eldorado Stone each represent that standard. And the best backyard setups, in our experience, are built one thoughtful product at a time.