Category Archives: Outdoor Design Ideas

1. You’d like to spend more time outside. A yard doesn’t seem to do much good if it’s unused. A deck or patio can maximize existing space and allow for more cook-outs, games, and outdoor fireplaces.

Completed patio by Outdoor Environments

2. You need more room for guests. A general rule of thumb is that an outdoor seating area should have as many places to sit as your living room. This way, the party can move outside before or after dinner.

3. You are longing for a water element. It’s not always possible to live near a lake or river, but a pool or fountain provides soothing sounds and a spa-like environment.

4. There are no places to lay out. A deck or patio provides room for chaises and makes stay-cations more fun.

5. Maintenance issues. Many homeowners refresh their deck or patio to eliminate damaged wood, cracked concrete, and the like.

Outdoor Environments has been featured in national and local publications including Qualified Remodeler, Today’s Homeowner, Executive Real Estate and Kansas City Homes & Gardens. To learn more, visit www.outdoorenvironments.com

National design magazines have been writing about patios more than ever this spring. It’s easy to see why–patios increase living space and add to a home’s resale value. Let’s take a look at what patio styles are on the newsstands:

• Better Homes and Gardens suggests softening the edges of a patio with a border of flowers. Taller shrubs are suggested for privacy.

Better Homes and Gardens

• House Beautiful shows plush patios that are made into outdoor rooms. The magazine suggests that furniture be not only fashionable but also weather resistant, portable comfortable, and easy to maintain.

House Beautiful (Photo: Trevor Tondro)

• Architectural Digest showed the pool patio of designer Michael Schaible’s Mexican home. The outdoor area is designed to accommodate entertaining and reflect the home’s international style architecture.

Architectural Digest

For a pool patio or deck beautiful enough to be in a magazine, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Kansas City. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

National design magazines have been buzzing about outdoor kitchens this month. And for good reason–outdoor kitchens are more distinctive than ever. Let’s take a look at what outdoor kitchen styles are on the newstands:

• House Beautiful showed this large outdoor kitchen in Nantucket. Natural stone and calm lines help it blend gracefully into the landscape.

House Beautiful shows outdoor kitchen by Kris Horiuchi (Photo: Trevor Tondro)

• Elle Decor covered the creative outdoor kitchens that are seen in the book The New Outdoor Kitchen (Tauton Press).

• Coastal Living wrote about an outdoor kitchen with a deck, which provides both a natural look and slip-resistance.

Coastal Living kitchen shows off decking. (Photo:Brian Vanden Brink)

• Better Homes and Gardens celebrated stacked stone with this homey outdoor kitchen.

Better Homes and Gardens shows built-in entertaining area.

Outdoor Environments is the certified contractor you need for custom outdoor kitchens in Kansas City. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

Outdoor grilling is one of America’s favorite pastimes during the warmer months of the year. And recently, a new trend has hit backyards everywhere: custom stone or brick pizza ovens.

Best of all, a customized outdoor pizza maker won’t cramp your style if grilling is a priority. These ovens make for a great complement to more traditional grilling stations.

Now for the fun part… how the heck to you make a pizza outside? These recipes should provide all the inspiration you need.

• Brick oven pizza – Brooklyn Style
• Multiple wood-fire recipes
• Emilia’s sausage, mushroom and red pepper pizza
• Ginger chicken pizza
• Pizza margherita

Outdoor Environments is the certified contractor you need for custom outdoor kitchens in Kansas City. Contact us today to get started on yours!

Image from This Old House

From patios and decks to porches and sunrooms, there’s much decorating to be done this season.

But wait! You don’t have to run out and spend hundreds of dollars on new decor. First, take a look around your home. What items can do double duty outside?

Do you have a large collection of magazines or books? Bring them outside to make your outdoor space more of a living space.

Nice place settings were meant to be shown off. Bring decorative plates, bowls, silverware and glasses out for outdoor dining.

Plant lovers tend to keep plants year-round. But spring and summer are the perfect time to bring them outside and add a little (or a lot) of color to your outdoor space.

Pillows are rugs are the easiest way to add a touch of style outside.

Pillows and rugs are also the perfect solutions for adding pops of color.

What other ways can you use what you already have to decorate outside?

Images from BHG

When a backyard is nothing but endless square feet of grass, it’s quite clear that some pizzazz is necessary. But what type of structure is right for you and your home? Tons of magazines, websites and blogs provide an endless amount of inspiration. But first, you need to know what the possibilities are and how they’ll affect your outdoor space.

Decks

• Made from: Usually made from wood or composite wood although some are vinyl or fiberglass
• Best for: Above-ground backyard living areas
• Pros: Warm, traditional, provides plenty of storage space
• Cons: Maintenance might be too much for some homeowners, depending on the material; relatively quick installation

Patios

• Made from: Stone, pavers (composite or permeable) or concrete
• Best for: Functional, ground-level living areas
• Pros: Low-maintenance, durable and many materials (like permeable pavers) are eco-friendly
• Cons: Usually higher priced compared to decks and installation might take longer

Porches

• Made from: Wood, concrete or composite pavers
• Best for: Entrance areas
• Pros: Adds curb appeal and a functional outdoor space,  great source of natural sunlight
• Cons: Not always as much space as a homeowner might think

Which outdoor structure is best for your Kansas City home? Call Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706 to discuss your needs. Don’t forget that you can save $500 on certain projects until April 30th!

Information from Atlanta Home Improvement, April 2012

Click here to save $500 on your next outdoor project in Kansas City!

Pergolas are known to add a unique source of visual appeal and shade to a backyard. But don’t be fooled – there are plenty of other places to put a pergola… like above the garage!

Take a stroll down any suburban street and you’ll notice that, in fairly new neighborhoods and subdivisions, every single garage looks the same. How boring is that?

A pergola adds a beautifully crafted focal point that’ll boost your home’s curb appeal immediately. By adding a pergola, you can achieve many different things…

As we’ve mentioned before, pergolas also fit well as an entryway structure.

A car port can certainly benefit from a pergola structure.

Painting a pergola the same color as your home’s trim helps to add an extra layer of depth.

What do you think about garages adorned with pergolas?

Images from Houzz

An outdoor room can enhance the beauty of your home and help increase your property value. However, creating an outdoor room takes planning. So expense, design and functionality are all things you want to consider.

Budget – This will naturally be the first thing you think about when you’re planning an outdoor room. Unfortunately for most people, the sky is not the limit, so how much you have to spend will directly determine how elaborate your outdoor room will be.
Design – Take into consideration whether you want an open air room or an enclosed room. Open air rooms are terraces or decks with no cover. While this type of outdoor room is nice, it is limited as far as livability goes. You can increase livability in an open air room by adding a cover such as an awning, pitched roof or trellis. An enclosed seasonal room gives you more outdoor living options because it offers protection from the rain and other harsh conditions.

Planning an outdoor room can be overwhelming. Don’t worry, if you don’t know where to start, you can enlist the help of the experts at Outdoor Environments. Contact us today!

Don’t be fooled into thinking that outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are just a wintertime luxury. These heavenly features can be enjoyed during spring and summer too!

Glowing fireplaces and fire pits are great for outdoor spaces not only for the warmth they provide on cool nights, but also because of the beauty, uniqueness and personality they’ll provide.

Adding fire features to a patio will help to create a very calming and soothing atmosphere. Why waste money going out when your family and friends can gather in a space customized just for them?

Don’t wait another year to create the home of your dreams. The time is now! Contact Outdoor Environments and ask us how you can save $500 on select outdoor projects!

Image from Pinterest

 The Relaxing Nook

Curling up with a good book has never been so enjoyable - complete with outdoor views.

  The Dedicated Hobby Area

Whether you have a grand piano or not, a sunroom could be just what you need to really dive into whatever your favorite past time may be.

 The Quiet Play Room

A sunroom that acts as a playroom is the best of both worlds. Kids have a safe, separate area to play that's also fix for adults.

  The Formal Gathering Space

Spring time is ideal for gathering friends for tea and chatter... and a sunroom is the perfect spot for that!

  The Casual Entertaining Area

Sunrooms don't have to be super formal. They're a great space for entertaining large groups without the hassle of having too many people side the main rooms of your home.

 Images from Houzz.com