Tag Archives: custom decks in Kansas City

outdoor garden design

Mix Up Your Materials for a Beautiful Landscape Design

outdoor garden design

Source: Flickr

Outdoor spaces are quickly becoming a versatile extension of the home. Exterior remodeling ideas now include landscape design that incorporates outdoor kitchens, living and dining areas. This blending of the comforts of indoors with the great outdoors opens up a world of creative possibilities. Delve deeper into that creativity by mixing up the materials used in your landscaping design.

Gravel
Don’t underestimate the versatility of gravel in your landscape design. For a more natural look in a wooded property, line paths with larger stones and fill in with gravel. In a patio area, pea gravel makes an ideal base for furniture and a sturdy, pleasant surface to walk on.

Cut slabs
Whether new or salvaged, cut stone slabs are a bold way to add topography to your landscape. Define grassy-topped steps down a hill with these easy to install choice for exterior remodeling ideas.

Irregular stone
Using irregular stone in your landscaping provides a sturdy surface with a less defined feel than traditional patterned flagstone. Allowing grass to grow up between the stones makes it seem as if they’ve always been part of the property.

Discover more ways to mix materials in your exterior remodeling ideas by contacting Outdoor Environments.

Enjoy the Weather and Stay Comfortable Outside This Fall

When cold weather arrives in Fall, many people pack up their outdoor furniture and don’t venture out again until Spring arrives. However, there are ways to enjoy the outdoors even during the colder seasons.

Add an Outdoor Fireplace

When it starts to get cold, sitting outside bundled in a sweater and jacket likely doesn’t sound too appealing. However, if you add an outdoor fireplace to your outside living area, you can make the space much more comfortable, even for prolonged outings. You’ll be surprised how much people love gathering by your outdoor fireplace, especially if it’s near a comfortable sofa and a cozy throw blanket or two.

Try Sheepskins

Sheepskins make great outdoor coverings for chairs and seating areas in the fall. Best of all, you can easily throw them over chairs and benches to keep your warm and comfortable, then pack them quickly take them inside for the night so they don’t get dirty. As an alternative to sheepskins, try using faux-fur blankets. They’re soft to the touch, warm and luxurious.

Contact Outdoor Environments for more information on outdoor living rooms and kitchens for your home.

Create a Secret Enclave in Your Backyard for Privacy

A backyard is a great place to relax, but if you have close neighbors your backyard might feel a bit more like a public park than a private enclave. Don’t worry, there are a number of ways to make your backyard space more comfortable and even a bit more private.

Build a Retaining Wall
A retaining wall can be used to create separate areas within your garden, but it can also give your yard privacy from nearby neighbors and keep them out of view.  Retaining walls can be covered with low trees, shrubs and plants, so you can easily transform a less-than-ideal space into a secret garden where it feels like your nearest neighbors are miles away.

Add a Fire Pit
A fire pit can make spending time in your backyard in the autumn and winter months possible. It’s also a great way to gather with friends and family. Another benefit, at night, the light and the shadows from the fire pit make your yard feel like a secret space.

Source: Houzz

Visit OutdoorEnvironments, Inc. for more exterior remodeling ideas you can use to spruce up your home.

outdoor decks

Staircase Lighting is Vital to Safe Decks

outdoor decks

Source: Pinterest

When building a new deck for your home, don’t forget to install lighting as well. Lighting your deck is important for the safety of those who are using it, especially if you are using it at night! However, don’t just throw a couple of lights up and call it a day – plan your lighting so that you can also create a beautiful atmosphere for your deck. The following are just a few ideas that you can use to light your deck:

  • Pattern Lighting – Place lights behind your steps and carve out geometric designs in each of your risers to create beautifully illuminated designs.
  • Rope Lighting – String rope lighting along your deck’s fence for a more playful atmosphere, or if you have a roof over your deck, hang them from up above.
  • Downlights – If you have a fence that wraps around your deck, consider placing downlights onto the posts to provide lighting that provides a subtle or romantic mood.
  • Cap Lights – These fixtures attach to the top of your deck posts, thereby providing plenty of lighting around the deck area.

For everything you need in terms of decks in Kansas City, contact us at Outdoor Environments today.

outdoor living spaces

Keep Enjoying the Outdoors: Tips for Adding a Fire Pit

outdoor living spaces

Source: DecorPad

Although there are a lot of excellent exterior remodeling ideas out there, one of the most popular outdoor additions among homeowners is the fire pit. A fire pit can be used for social gatherings or more intimate moments and allows you and your family to enjoy your outdoor area even as the temperature drops. The following are a few tips that you should keeping mind when adding a fire pit.

  • The Wind – If you happen to live in an area that is subject to a lot of wind, then you may want to consider building a half wall around your fire pit. This will help prevent the flames from going everywhere and endangering surrounding guests.
  • Fire Safety – Make sure that you clear the area around the fire pit. You don’t want any nearby bushes or plant life that could accidentally catch fire.
  • Space – Choose an area for the fire pit that provides plenty of space to add seating.
  • Ventilation – Proper ventilation is important, since you don’t want to inhale any of the fumes. Whatever you do, don’t build the fire pit in an enclosed area.

For additional exterior remodeling ideas, be sure to contact us at Outdoor Environments.

outdoor living spaces

Have a Blank Slate Backyard? How to Plan an Incredible Design

outdoor living spaces

Source: Outdoor Environments

Yards are an extension of our homes.  They can be a haven—a beautiful place to spend time outdoors, or the perfect space to host an event.  If you’re backyard is a blank slate, here are some questions to ask yourself, and a few simple ideas and design inspirations to transform it into a sanctuary that extends beyond your walls.

Who is it for?
Make an assessment of your needs.  Who will benefit from the space you want to create?  Do you have kids, pets, or a lot of guests?  Make sure to add features everyone can enjoy.

Define your space
A clear design is helpful.  Designate areas—a place for a fire pit or barbeque, a play space, an area to relax, a dining space, or a spot to roam free.  Avoid clutter, and highlight each area in your design with different features.  For example, your dining area can be used day or night, rain or shine with the right lighting and cover.

Add unique details
Mix materials (like stone and copper), add structures (pergolas, gazebos), and display art pieces.

All of these exterior remodeling ideas can help you create a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy year round.  Contact us at Outdoor Environments for help designing your dream yard.

outdoor hardscaping Kansas City

Look at the Outdoor Hardscaping When Buying a Home

outdoor hardscaping Kansas City

Source: Pinterest

When buying a new home, most homeowners concentrate on the house itself and check the foundation, the roof and the appliances. Savvier ones will also look at the landscaping around the home. For this latter group, here are some tips on what to look for when evaluating the outdoor hardscapes of a home:

  • Patios & Walkways – While small cracks are not inherently bad, they can indicate a problem that is about to occur. Large tree roots that run under a /0/ “>patio will eventually warp and finally buckle it.
  • Stone Walls – Walls that tilt even a little bit indicate a problem with the wall’s foundation or with its drainage. This is not a situation that will fix itself and should be addressed before purchasing the property.
  • Steps – Stairs should be level and plumb with appropriate landing areas on both the upper and lower ends. Otherwise, they can be a safety problem as well as an eyesore.

For more information on hardscapes, contact the professional Kansas City contractors at Outdoor Environments. We can be found online at OutdoorEnvironments.com or you can call us directly at 913-897-2706.

exterior remodeling ideas

Turn Your Backyard Into an All-Occasions Extension of Your Home

exterior remodeling ideas

Source: Pinterest

Creating a comfortable outdoor space in your backyard is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to increase the usability and value of your home. Whether you need more room to entertain, relax or just hang out with your family, there is the right extension for you. Here are some examples:

  • Traditional Patio – Whether you’re entertaining some friends or just want to catch some rays by yourself, an outdoor patio will provide a comfortable and relaxing setting.  For even more entertainment options, add a fire pit or water feature.
  • Outdoor Kitchen – One of these additions will let your house stay cool while you cook and also let you stay part of the action while you get things ready for dinner. In addition, they are usually a lot easier to clean.
  • Gazebo – For a little quiet time, consider a shady gazebo located a little ways away from the house. You can add electricity and running water so that you have a little slice of heaven in the great outdoors.

For other great exterior remodeling ideas, contact us at Outdoor Environments. We can be found online at OutdoorEnvironments.com or you can call us directly at 913-897-2706.

outdoor living spaces

Must-Have Backyard Features Homeowners Want

outdoor living spaces

Source: Pinterest

Outdoor living rooms and kitchens are all the rage with today’s homeowners, and why wouldn’t they be? Homeowners are trying to use as much space to their advantage as possible, and the outdoor area often goes unused. The following are a few of the more popular features that homeowners are implementing into their outdoor living areas.

  • Fire Pit – Fire pits are currently one of the top features that homeowners desire. It’s not difficult to see why; fire pits offer a social gathering spot that can be both intimate and larger scale, and they provide the outdoor area with warmth and comfort.
  • BBQ Grill – Cooking outside has always been a popular pastime among American homeowners, and it’s no different these days. Homeowners like to be able to cook outdoors so that they can socialize with friends and family.
  • Pergola – A pergola is a great way to offer some shade from the sun without completely obscuring the sky or the environment around you.
  • Hot Tub – Not only are hot tubs fun and relaxing, but they have also been found to have numerous health benefits as well.

Be sure to contact Outdoor Environments for all of your outdoor living area needs.

gardening tips

Stylish and Eco-Friendly Rain Barrel Ideas to Water Your Garden

gardening tips

Source: Pinterest

Harvesting rainwater is a practical and eco-friendly decision, but many homeowners shy away from it for aesthetic reasons. The typical rain barrel has long been thought of as an eyesore, but with the right approach you can turn your harvesting system into a fitting embellishment, or even a focal point, for the existing style of your home. Use any of the following ideas to turn your rain barrel into a statement of style.

Traditional wood-paneled cisterns may look out of place in a chic, contemporary home, but they fit right in with natural foliage, shrubbery or any earth-tone color schemes. Concrete or steel barrels might seem imposing for a stately southern farmhouse, but they match new-age, industrial architecture just fine. The idea is to conform your rain barrel’s style to the rest of your home’s decor.

Consider rain chains instead of gutters for concrete or natural stone exteriors, or use the same siding for your storage container that you used for your exterior to help blend it in. Even a standard wood barrel can be fitting decor, depending on the style of your deck and your home in general.

For more outdoor remodeling trends and advice, visit our blog today.