Category Archives: Tips

Step up your outdoor entertaining this fall with these great ideas from CasaSugar! From making a recycled glass chandelier to making use out of your pool during the fall months, these end-of-season décor  ideas will have your guests talking about your party well into winter.

From CasaSugar

What better way to serve your drinks than with this great drink dispenser.

From Interior and food stylist Paul Lowe. Source: Photo by Frances Janisch

Interior and food stylist Paul Lowe advises, “When you work with flowers you will always have some flower heads that fall of the stems. Don’t throw them away. Fill eggcups with water and place the flower heads in them. ” Thanks for the tip Paul, we love the look!

From Alison Events

We love the floral arrangements displayed in this pool. Although most of you are closing your pools in anticipation for the winter months, this is a perfect way to highlight the area one last time before you close it.

From CasaSugar

Exercise your three R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle) this month with this outdoor chandelier. Visit casasugar.com for details on how to make this incredible outdoor light.

For more ways on how to entertain your guests this fall check out the article on Casasugar.com.

We are aware that summer is almost over and we might be a little late introducing our new favorite product, but it’s better late than never. Recently we stumbled across the UVSunSense wristband on Good Housekeeping and we wanted to share the good find with you. The UVSunSense wristband was developed by a nuclear physicist and lets you know when your sunscreen has worn off.  How many of us forget to reapply the sunscreen while at the beach or pool only to later realize that we’ve been sunburned.

This product uses photochromatic dyes to indicate whether you are protected or not with your sunscreen. First you apply the sunscreen (you must use a SPF of 15 or higher) to your skin and the band. The color of the wristband will turn a lavender shade to let you know when it is time to reapply. If the band becomes a pale yellow, than your skin is in trouble. The great thing about this product is that it works in both salt and chlorinated water.

So spend the rest of the summer secure in knowing that you and your loved ones are protected from the sun.

Hot tubs are gaining popularity. Unlike the pool, a hot tub can stay open year round. But before you purchase your hot tub, there are a couple of things you need to consider.  Let our list below help you make a more informed decision on buying a hot tub.

1. Make sure you properly measure the space available for the hot tub to determine the size you need. Whether you are looking to accommodate 2 or 10 people, you need to calculate the area first.
2. Contact your insurer to find out how much space you need between the hot tub and the home as well as the edge of the property.
3. The shell of the hot tub, usually made of acrylic, fiberglass and resin, must be at least 5 millimeters thick. Microban technology is used in certain finishes to prevent the spread of bacteria.
4. Make sure all four panels of the hot tub are well insulated.
5. Choose which type of skirt, a wooden structure surrounding the hot tub, you’d like for the hot tub. The skirt is usually made of cedar or resin. You’ll need to preserve the skirt with a water-repellent treatment. You’ll want to make sure that parts of the skirt can be removed in case you need to get to a part in the hot tub.
6. Choose a pump that best suits your needs. If you want a more therapeutic massage two pumps might be necessary. The more jets in a hot tub, the more powerful the pump needs to be.
7. You’ll want to make sure the light and control panel for the hot tub are within easy access once you are sitting in the tub.
8. The cover of the hot tub must be at strong enough to support the weight of a small child and we recommend getting one with a lock.
9. The filtration system should be closely monitored and we recommend purchasing two filters so you can rotate them during cleaning.
10. The water heater must have an output of at least 5.5 kilowatts.

Below are some of our hot tub enclosures, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Rocking chairs, porch swings, tables and recliners, Southern Living shows you how to arrange your porch seating to make the most of the space allotted.  Jennifer Kopf, Home Editor at Southern Living, walks you through the different types of porches and suggests the best layout for the best views.  Whether you are looking for a place to entertain or a quiet place to read a book, your porch can accommodate whatever mood you are in!

We are definitely advocates of spending time outdoors at Outdoor Environments, but with the summer heat reaching high numbers we want you to take certain precautions.  Below are some tips on how to stay safe and cool this summer season from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1. You need to regulate your time spent outdoors, especially for infants, young children and people over the age of 65.  Try avoid being outside during the extreme high temperatures of the day.
2. Constantly stay hydrated with proper liquids, this does not include soda or alcohol.
3. Take precautions when exercising or working outdoors in extreme heat.  You are more likely to experience heat sickness.

Don’t forget to wear sunscreen when outdoors!  Visit the CDC website for more tips on having a healthy outdoor lifestyle this summer.

We were recently on House and Home and discovered some great tips on how to select the perfect outdoor furniture set for your backyard.  When choosing an outdoor furniture set you need to consider all the options and your climate.  Do you want something that is more durable than most?  Do you want to purchase furniture that is easy to care for?  Are you looking for something that if more cost effective?

Check out the article on House and Home and see for yourself which of the types of materials mentioned would work best for you!

One big mistake that homeowners often commit is over-looking their decks and patios.  Decks are very important to the design of a home.  You should think of your deck or patio as another room in your home, just outdoors.  Adding some visual appeal to your deck can tremendously increase your backyard experience!

Midwest Living created “10 Ideas to Dress Up Your Deck.”  The list of ideas provide you with great inspiration to get started on your home’s deck.

Here are a few tips from the list provided by Midwest Living.

1. Focus on Furniture

When decorating your deck, start with the furniture.  These pieces will take up the most space and should be used as focal points.  Using a minimal amount of furniture  is a great way to maximize your outdoor living space.  The idea is to design, not clutter, your backyard escape.

2. Get Creative with Cushions

Pillows are a great addition to your outdoor living spaces.  Choosing multi-purpose pillows that are suitable for chairs or for sitting on the deck itself can stretch your dollars very far!  Use your cushions to tie in the design elements of your deck.

3. Add Some Greenery

Not only do plants add a splash of color to your deck, they provide privacy from your nearby neighbors.  Getting plants that are at least 5 ft. tall can act as a privacy screen for your deck.  Place the plants on the edge of your deck to get the full privacy affect.

4. Splash Some Color

There are several ways to add color to your deck.  The patterns and fabrics in your furniture are great starts for color.  The color scheme can be tied in through plants, painted terra-cotta plant pots, and wall art.  Personalize your deck with beautiful splashes of color.

Don’t let your deck or patio go unnoticed.  A little bit of design can go a long way!

Click here for more ideas on how you can decorate your deck.

Every outdoor living space is unique to its environment.  When we design an outdoor living area, we not only incorporate the materials used on the project, but we are also bringing in the home’s natural setting.

Jonathan Parks’ recently wrote an article called Five Pillars of Design for Outdoor Living for Residential Design & Build magazine.  Take a look below and see if your outdoor living space is  following the rules.

Pillar 1:
Invent within the rules

• Does the outdoor living space demonstrate style, proportion and consistency?
• When viewed from any angle, is it a unified solution?
• Does it give evidence of its quality and care over detail?
• Is it inviting?

Pillar 2:
Respect, complement nature

• Is the design responsible to the environment?
• Does the outdoor living space respect and complement views from within the yard and from within the dwelling?
• Does the new ground plane show careful integration of natural and manmade elements?
• Is existing landscape material utilized?
• Is new material sensitive to the natural terrain?
• Are colors, styles and materials comfortably distinct — ensuring individuality without offending the senses?

Pillar 3:
Build for the ages

• Is the solution long-lasting?
• Will the design date the house or will it appear as appropriate tomorrow as today?
• Does the design follow through to the smallest detail?

Pillar 4:
Detail for authenticity

• Does the outdoor space respond to the individual intimately?
• Does the design process follow through to the smallest detail?
• Does the construction involve a need for craftsmanship?

Pillar 5:
Incorporate convenience

• Does the plan encourage a quality of lifestyle?
• Does the design capitalize on features of volume, scale and functional relationships?
• Is it technically “state-of-the-art” to ensure gracious outdoor living?

What do you think of Parks’ pillars?

It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend, so start up the grill and invite some friends and family over to celebrate Memorial Day!  Todd Childs, Assistant Home Editor of Southern Living has some great tips on outdoor entertaining.  Click here to learn a few pointers for throwing a fabulous Memorial Day party!

Outdoor lighting can turn your backyard into a beautiful moon lit night every night.   Below are some useful tips from Ligthing.com to help you recreate the romantic glow of a perfect evening.

Down Lighting: Place spotlights high up in trees, positioned out of sight. These fixtures shine down to illuminate interesting tree details while lighting the area closely surrounding the tree.

Shadow Lighting: Lights are placed to cast shadows produced from trees, sculpture or other landscape details. These shadows are reminiscent of the contrasting light play the full moon creates.

Up Lighting: Placing lights at the base of structures or trees provides dramatic illumination that captures attention.

Mood Lighting: Working with a mix of lighting intensities, you can set the mood and sculpt your surroundings with light. Layers of soft-washed light, blended with stark shadows and bright spots, captivate the eye.

Moon Lighting: Hide flood lights high up in trees to wash larger areas with light, replicating the shine of the full moon. Angle lights from a series of locations to achieve the best effect.