Here at The Style File we love the idea of living in a beach house where each day ends with the sound of waves lapping at the shore. We also agree that the work commute is a little too far for most of us. But it got us thinking about what could be done to transform ordinary land-locked patios and yards into to therapeutic refuges that look and sound miles away from home.

As we sat around rattling off varying degrees of uninspired ideas – someone actually suggested a pet seagull (is that even legal?) – a cup of water was knocked over, and just like that we found our inspiration. A water fountain! Brilliant!

Depending on your personal style, taste and available garden space (not to mention budget!), there are a number of different ways to extend the personality of your home beyond the walls and into the great outdoors. Some people like a placid pond where plant life and koi (fancy goldfish) can live. Others prefer the structured look of a granite obelisk or copper reflecting pool. The possibilities are really only limited by the number of ideas in your head or garden regulations in your neighborhood.

If you’re looking a unique and stylish idea, why not try something that would look (and sound) natural sitting in your yard? Our suggestion? Consider using the aesthetic perfection of basalt columns as a focal point. These volcanic stones come in an endless range of sizes, shapes and lengths, so it’s easy to customize a fountain that matches your personal style and fits seamlessly into your available space. Plus, when sunlight hits the wet columns, the colors and natural beauty of the stone creates a showcase in the garden. Even better, it can be a fairly simple and inexpensive process to create a one-of-a-kind fountain. The featured project costs about $300 and takes less than a day to complete. Here’s how to do it:

Find a stone company in your area. More than likely, they’ll have basalt columns in an infinite range of widths and lengths. (You can also buy them online, but watch the shipping charges!) Pick out a grouping of columns that will fit into the space you’re creating for your fountain. Stagger the heights and vary the shapes of your chosen columns. Have the stone place core one or more of the columns for you. They’ll bore a hole from top to bottom, and then you’ll be ready for a trip to Lowes or Home Depot. Here’s what you’ll need to pick up:

• A submersible water pump
• A heavy-duty plastic bucket deep and wide enough to accommodate your columns (or a section of rubberized landscape pond liner)
• Plastic tubing to match the diameter of the hole cored in your column
• A bag or two of river rocks
• An outdoor extension cord

Then, here’s all you need to do:

1. Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the bucket in which your columns will stand.
2. Place and level the bucket (or pond liner) into the hole and backfill dirt around the edges, leaving two or three inches of the top of the bucket exposed above the ground.
3. Connect the plastic tubing from the pump to the bottom of the cored column.
4. Fill the bucket with enough water to test the pump. Plug it in and adjust the flow of water. Most pumps will have various settings that let you control the amount of water pumped thru the column.
5. Once you’re satisfied with the flow, place the pump and basalt columns into the bucket or pond liner, and arrange them into a configuration that makes you happy.
6. Then, dump river rocks into the bucket to fill the void and hold the columns in place. The river rocks can overflow the top of the bucket and cascade into your surrounding landscape. The idea is to completely conceal the bucket.
7. Now, just plug in the pump (you can bury the outdoor extension cord if you wish), fill the bucket with water, and you’ve got a babbling backyard brook to call your own.

After completing this project, you may come to realize, as we have, that having a really nice patio, garden or deck offers many of the same stress-relieving pleasures of a quick getaway to a favorite beach. Now, with just a little imagination, the right cocktail and a comfy chair, you’ll be able to sit back, relax and pretend that your sink full of dishes and briefcase full of work is far, far away.

Hmmm… This basalt fountain idea is such a fun and easy project, we’re wondering about the possibility of doing something similar inside… maybe next to a fireplace or window. Instead of a bucket, the columns could go in a colorful flowerpot surrounded with plants. What do you think? Are we going overboard?