Outdoor Environments Blog

Hopefully you read our post from earlier this week about the features you should be thinking about adding to your backyard this spring. Just in case you needed some more inspiration, we’ve rounded up five more ideas to take your outdoor living space from drab to fab!

Outdoor flooring is one of the best ways to add value to your home. Even with a deck or patio already installed, accenting it with concrete pavers, a brick walkway or other hardscapes products adds a nice touch to any backyard.

What backyard is complete without a grilling area? It may be a bit nippy outdoors, but a grill, open faced brick oven and a wet bar are all great ways to enhance outdoor entertaining once the weather warms up.

The right lighting can make or break your home’s outdoor living area. Be creative with walkway lighting, candles or customized landscape lanterns.

Finally, there are many ways to accessorize once you added all the right outdoor living elements and features. Have you thought about statues or sculptures? What about picket fencing or a booming sound system?

For assistance getting your outdoor living area up to par for spring, call Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706 today!

Photo courtesy of Outdoor Environments

Photo Credit: Flickr.com/MattLuckins (Creative Commons)

Annuals: plants that produce seed, then die after just one life cycle or growing season.

Compost: a mixture of organic matter (vegetation or manure) that is (or has) decayed and is used for enriching soil’s health.

Edging: Bordering, separating or trimming sections of a lawn, often with concrete pavers or bricks, to create visual interest.

Fertilizer: liquid or granular plant food (organic or inorganic) used to improve soil, which then supports and increases plant growth.

Germinate: the act of seeds growing, budding or shooting above soil level.

Horticulture: the art or skill of gardening whether it be commercial (fruit, flowers and vegetables) or agriculture and farming.

Inorganic: chemical or fertilizer that did not come from a living or formerly living source.

Insecticide: chemical used to kill or deter insects around plants or people.

Mulch: leaves, straw or peat (all organic) used to cover soil, maintain its temperature and prevent moisture, freezing and weed growth.

Organic: fertilizers or chemicals created from a living or formerly live source.

Perennials: plants that grow repeatedly each season, usually for a few years in appropriate conditions.

Pesticide: a method used to deter or kill pests including insects, weeds, birds, mammals or fish.

Spring will be here before we know it. Contact Outdoor Environments today to discuss your backyard deck and patio options!

Photo Credit: Flickr.com/Steve Parker (Creative Commons)

Gas heaters are a good choice if you need to heat a rather large patio area (up to about 20 ft. wide). If you’re likely to plan large family gatherings and need to keep everyone warm, this may be your best option. Gas heaters operate on either propane or natural gas, which comes with many stipulations on how and where they should be stored.

Electric heaters are a choice many people prefer because they don’t require the purchase or storage of fuel or wood. However, these heaters are not as efficient when it comes to heating larger areas or groups of family and friends. Electric heaters are best for smaller patios or decks utilized by only a few people.

Wood heaters are usually nicer looking than the other two options. Wood heaters look like tables with a large groove or pit in the middle for
fire flames. These are a definite plus for homeowners living in a woody area with access to plenty of free firewood.

If you’re not sure which patio heating option is best for you, give Outdoor Environments a call at 913-897-2706.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has named their top 12 remodeling trends for 2011 and we are happy to see outdoor living spaces as number 4. It doesn’t come as a surprise to us here at Outdoor Environments that homeowners are looking for more ways to enjoy their backyards.

Outdoor Environments

Whether you are looking for a new deck, gazebo, arbor, hot tub and spa enclosure, a screened patio or a 4-season room we can help fulfill your outdoor living needs for 2011.

Give Outdoor Environments a call at 913.897.2706 for more information.

We have a great gift option for your loved one this holiday season, the Borella Screen. Great for those of you who love to spend your time outdoors, the Borella Screen is the perfect parasol by day and a projection screen at night. This mult-functional sunshade is made in stainless steel with marine fabric to withstand the elements outdoors.

Borella Design

Borella Design

Does the winter blues have you day dreaming about warmer weather?  If so we have the perfect cure for you. No, not a trip to the Caribbean, a look at some beautiful outdoor living spaces courtesy of Adore Magazine. Adore Magazine is an Australian shelter magazine, its spring their now, and their latest issue is all about outdoor living.

Get inspired for spring with a peak inside some of the pages of Adore Magazine.

Courtesy of Adore Magazine

Courtesy of Adore Magazine

This holiday season give the gift the whole family can enjoy, a beautiful outdoor living space complete with a fireplace and outdoor kitchen. Give Outdoor Environments a call today at 913.897.2706 to schedule an appointment.

We love the look and design of the Spain-based outdoor furniture company Kettal. One of the world’s leading outdoor patio furniture manufacturers, their outdoor living room furniture is very lightweight and sophisticated. Although their products are not sold in the Kansas City area, their designs are available to the American market through their store in Miami.

Kettal Outdoor Furniture

Kettal Outdoor Furniture

Kettal Outdoor Furniture

For on Kettal’s outdoor living furniture visit their website at Kettal.es.

We’ve talked a lot about the benefits of building a four-season room, especially so you can enjoy the outdoors during the cooler winter months. Today we wanted to show you the work that goes into building a four-season room– Outdoor Environments’ style.

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

Here we are framing the four-season room and installing the roof for our clients.

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

Now onto the interior gable vault framing for the room.

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

Adding the finishing touches to the exterior of the room.

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

An interior shot of new four-season room. The door replaced an existing window.

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

The finished vaulted ceiling.

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

The four-season room was a great addition to our client’s existing home. If you’d like to add on to your home and live in either Kansas or Missouri then give Outdoor Environments a call at 913.897.2706.

You finally have the outdoor living area of your dreams now all you need to do is accessorize to add your own personal style to the space. We know that you probably aren’t enjoying the area as much as you’d like since the weather here in Kansas has turned colder, but that doesn’t mean that come spring you can have the perfect place to lounge outside. Now is a great time to buy outdoor furniture and accessories with all the holiday sales and discounts. We have pulled together a few of our favorite must have accessories for your outdoor environments.

If you haven’t already done so you’ll need to purchase your patio or deck furniture. We love the look of this room below from House Beautiful. This outdoor living room is like another extension of your home.

From House Beautiful

Add a pop of color to your outdoors with these below accessories. The pillow and rugs will surely bring some needed pizzazz to any neutral palette. And the candles and lanterns are also a must have for your outdoors.

via Shelterpop

We’d love to hear any deals you have seen on outdoor furniture.