Outdoor Environments Blog

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 love to share with you the latest outdoor trends hitting the market.  This week we are highlighting a company that is well known to our neighbors to the north.  No not Iowa, think farther north, our friends in Canada.  We are in love with these pillows from the Canadian company Manor12.  The fabrics definitely have a coastal feel that reminds me of summers spent on the shore.

Manor 12

With names like Drift, Cabana and Barnacle its easy to see their maritime influence.

Manor 12

We also love their napkins.  They are perfect complement for those summer al fresco dinners.

Manor 12

If you want to add some nautical design to your outdoor environment, you can purchase these products on the Canadian store Modern Karibou, and yes they do ship to the States.

We love creating innovative outdoor spaces for our clients that exceeds their expectations.  Currently we are working on constructing a deck that when completed will be the perfect outdoor living space for our clients.  Below is a photo of the original deck.

Homeowner's Original Deck

The below photo is the removal of the original deck.  As you can see nothing remains of the original structure.

Removal of Old Deck

The below photo shows the new lower deck and the framing for the upper deck.

Building of new lower deck

The photo below shows the concrete board underlayment for tile floor.  We made the upper deck tile flooring waterproof to protect the dry deck below.

Floor of Upper Deck

The photo below lets you see the installation of the spiral staircase .  Yes, we added a spiral staircase to allow the homeowners easier access to the lower deck from their master bedroom.

Installation of spiral staircase

The lower level dry deck will be equipped with can lighting, an overhand fan and a flat screen TV.  The columns and the outdoor cooking area will be dressed with stone.  Overlooking the deck from the front will be a full patio, water feature, sitting wall and firepit that will be accessed from the wide open front staircase.

Take a look at the below rendering of the final project.

Final Rendering of project

We are proud to support our local Stilwell 4^th of July parade.  Can you think of anything more American that a parade?  The parade is from 6pm to 7pm followed by a pot luck dinner and the grand finale will be the fireworks at 9pm.  Please join us in celebrating July 4^th!

Below are some photos from last year’s parade.

The fun doesn’t end after the fireworks, later we head over to a friend’s house where we partake in a good old fashioned bonfire.

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.

Today, June 21st, officially kicks off the first day of summer, which is also known as Summer Solstice.  Summer Solstice is the longest day and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.  Our daylight hours will be getting shorter and shorter, so make sure you spend some quality time outdoors tonight!

See below how others are celebrating the first day of summer.  New Yorkers practiced some yoga moves in Times Square as they celebrated Summer Solstice with the eighth annual “Solstice in Times Square”.

How will you be celebrating Summer?

Hopefully you have already picked out Dad’s gift this year for Father’s Day, which is this Sunday, June 20th.  But if you haven’t, we have the perfect present for the perfect dad.  This year give Dad a gift the whole family can enjoy, a grill.

For the rest of the summer the family can enjoy the delicious tastes of grilled food.  And Mom, you can even have a night off from cooking from time to time while Dad grills up some dinner for the family.

At Outdoor Environments we can even turn Dad’s grill into an outdoor kitchen with our custom-built grill enclosures.

Happy Father’s Day!!

We are heading into prime outdoor living time.  Pools are now officially open and everyone is spending more time outdoors.  We recently came across  Good Things for Outdoor Living on marthastewart.com and we decided to share a few of our favorite ideas with you.

One of my favorite tips on marthastewart.com is to collect a few apothecary bottles and fill them with lamp oil and wicks, then arrange the bottles under a large hurricane for protection.

In typical Martha Stewart fashion, a gardening center is created using a carpenter’s nail belt.  I love the bucket in the center, perfect for storing larger items or even debris.

Marthastewart.com recommends using tiki torches to bring a little of the islands to  your home.  For a path that is a little less paved you can anchor the torches in a bucket filled with gravel.

For more ideas on sprucing up your outdoors click here.

Participate this year in the 2^nd annual National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, June 12^th by heading outdoors.  National Get Outdoors Day hopes to promote healthy living by having America take part in outdoor activities.  Whether you go fishing or biking, make sure you encourage the family to turn off the television set and enjoy nature.

There is a slight chance of a thunderstorms on Saturday so make sure you check the weather before you venture outdoors.