Fences are often treated as strictly utilitarian objects, but we've often wondered why we don't see artful ones more often. After all, a fence is a highly public feature of a home, sometimes the first thing a guest will see upon arriving. We love the idea of a well-designed, beautiful fence that also serves a practical purpose, like this one from Studio Ellsworth, which hides an unsightly water pump in the yard of the architect's family home. Take a look at the details after the jump...

Seth Ellsworth, the architect who designed and built the fence, wanted to help his parents disguise the eyesore of the water pump, and this is what he came up with. We think the use of contrasting materials works beautifully; the brick has an aged look, almost like the ruins of a building, while the wood fencing looks modern and clean.

Check out the Studio Ellsworth website to see photos of more inspiring projects, including some of Seth's furniture designs.

(Via NotCot.org)

(Images: Studio Ellsworth)