Tag Archives: custom decks in Kansas City

Tips for Gardening Around a Deck

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Are you looking to add some color to your backyard? Some exterior remodeling ideas for your yard include planting a garden that surrounds your deck. This is a good choice if you have a small backyard, since it only takes a few easy steps to have a beautiful garden wrapped around your deck.

The first step is to take a hose and lay it around beds  you have set up for your garden. This well help your garden to curve smoothly. The next step is to put some potted plants on the beds and determine where you want each plant to go. When you have made that decision you need to take the sod out of the beds and put organic matter in the soil.

After the soil is in place and the plants are firmly in the ground, you  need to install the brick edging and lay down the cedar mulch. Some people even add limestone pavers at the bottom of the stairs to their deck.

Contact Outdoor Environments today if you want to add more color to your backyard and give it a new look that will last for ages.

Bring Peace to Your Landscape with Water Features

outdoor living space design

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When you are searching for exterior remodeling ideas, peace can be attained with water features added to your landscape. Water ideas are abundant, and these ideas can depend on both the size and shape of your landscape area. You may consider a small pond with turtles, frogs and fish. Plants lining your new pond will give you the sense of being in the middle of a nature reserve, even if you reside in a major city.

Some other great ideas are waterfalls of many types, using rocks or glass as a backdrop. You may want to have a beautiful fountain in your landscape. We have even dug and formed amazing creek beds running down the midst of your yard and falling into a small pond.

Whatever water feature that you may desire for your landscape, here at Outdoor Environments we can assist you in getting that peaceful landscape. Give us a call at 913-897-2706. We do landscapes that will make the neighbors jealous.

Build in Benches and Secret Storage for a Comfortable Deck

deck design

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Decks are great outdoor places. When arranging seating, it can be annoying to use patio sets that wither under weather and require quick replacements. For your deck you should try built-in benches.

Built-in benches offer some great benefits for outdoor living rooms and kitchens. Now, the first concern when remodeling a deck and adding seating is that it will stand out. A quick trick to use is to make the benches out of the same material as deck so that it looks like it’s original.

You can even personalize the benches with some patio cushions and even some nice throw pillows. It adds comfort for you and your guests. As a plus, if you decide to go with built-in benches that also have storage, you can have a place to store your cushions and pillows when not in use.

These benches not only provide great seating options but for larger decks, they can be used as a barrier instead of just protective rails. The cushions hide and comfort the benches when you have guests and you can preserve them from the weather by storing them when the deck isn’t in use. Seating, comfort, rails, and storage all in one.

For the best outdoor deck construction and design in Kansas City, look no further than the experts at Outdoor Environments.

Use Multiple Levels in Your Deck Design to Maximize Space

outdoor deck design

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Building a deck as part of your exterior remodeling project is a great way to add beauty to your yard and living space to your home.   As a homeowner, you might think you need a lot of room for a deck, but if you’re short on space, don’t worry.  A deck with multiple levels might be the solution for you.

Some of the nicest decks in Kansas City feature multiple levels.  What makes this design so popular?  Multilevel decks create architectural and visual interest while maximizing your use of both the vertical and horizontal space in your yard.  This makes them a good choice for small or sloping lots.  If your house has two or more stories, a multilevel deck provides ready access to the outdoors from all levels of the home.

Multilevel decks offer other benefits as well. They help easily define spaces for specific purposes, like lounging or dining.  Finally, a deck with multiple levels can be strategically designed to take advantage of your backyard’s microclimates and daily patterns of sunlight and shade.

For more ideas on multilevel decks in Kansas City, contact Outdoor Environments at (913) 897-2706.

Creative Ways to Incorporate a Hot Tub in Your Exterior Living Space

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Image via Pinterest

If you’re contemplating the thought of introducing an element of luxury to your outdoor living space, what better way to do that then to add a hot tub? The following are a few exterior remodeling ideas that you can use to incorporate a hot tub into your outdoor design.

  • Open Hot Tub – Keep the hot tub open to its surroundings in order to give it a more natural and airy feel. Be sure to add a variety of plant life in the nearby vicinity to give it a pleasant, outdoorsy atmosphere.
  • Elegant Hot Tub – Go for luxury by building a pergola over the hot tub. You can hang outdoor curtains from the top in order to introduce a feeling of privacy.
  • Enclosed Hot Tub – Build your hot tub so that it sits under the roof of your house, yet remains open to the outside. This gives it a feeling of being part of the home as well as the outdoors.

These are a few ideas worth thinking about when planning to integrate a hot tub in your exterior design. Outdoor Environments can help you design and build an enclosure for your hot tub.  Contact us at 913-897-2706 for more information.

You Knew the Return on Investment (ROI) for Decks Was Good: Did You Know How Much?

Adding a deck for the outside space of your home is a great way to not only add value and curb appeal to your property, but also to add an aesthetically-appealing alternative “go to” space for friends and family to gather.

Return on investment for decks is twofold.  There’s the literal financial return you will experience if you decide to put your home on the market, and there’s the personal satisfaction gain while enjoying family picnics, backyard BBQ brouhahas, or individual moments of enjoying the vista from the comfort and safety of your new deck.

Deck Remodel ROI

Photo via Outdoor Environments

Adding a deck to your home’s outdoor space has a positive impact on the value of the property, the appearance of the neighborhood, and the enjoyment of all the individuals who utilize the new space.  There are several factors that can increase the return on investment for decks even further, including the type of material used and the design of the deck.

If you want to add a deck to your home in Kansas City, contact Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706.

Give Your Pergola Romantic Appeal with Lights

pergola

Pergola by Outdoor Environments

Making proper use of your pergola space is important. Adding custom lights to your pergola can give it a romantic feeling that’s hard to match. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so if you’ll be spending any time outdoors, this idea is probably right up your alley!

As outdoor remodeling trends continue to grow more sophisticated, people are continually looking for ways to transform their plain Jane pergola into a warm, romantic haven, and a well-planned lighting scheme is the perfect way to accomplish this.

Good lighting schemes add an ambiance of warmth and coziness to your pergola, not to mention a romantic touch. Imagine a romantic resort vacation. Now imagine it in your own backyard. Whatever type of feel you’re looking to accomplish, there is a lighting scheme that will fit the bill. Some lights can even be left out for use all year round.

And generally there’s no need to worry about whether or not they will scorch your greenery, because outdoor lights for structures are designed not to get too hot. The options truly are limitless as you can choose from normal string lights, colored lights, LED lights and many more.

If your Kansas City outdoor space isn’t yet equipped with a pergola, why not have us add one for you? Visit the Outdoor Environments Facebook page to see examples of our work all over the city!

 

image via Outdoor Environments

Maximize Your Sunroom Addition in Kansas City

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New Sunroom by Outdoor Environments

Sunrooms are great additions to many homes, but deciding that you want or need one isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. Where should it be located? What will you use it for? And how much does a sunroom even cost?

Location
Since your new sunroom may well become a family hang out, putting it in the right location is key. Choosing an area close to the kitchen will ensure that meals will be pleasurable, and food will be accessible. Even still, there are plenty of other uses for a sunroom, all of which will directly affect where it can and should be located.

Function
If you plan on using your sunroom solely for dining, then off of the kitchen is ideal, but a sunroom can be so much more than a dining area. If you have a green thumb, you may consider putting it on the south side of your home to increase its amount of time in the sun.

Cost
There’s no magic formula to predict the cost of your sunroom. Every project is a custom job that’s specified to your exact needs. One tip that may help is that you can save a chunk of money by adding a sunroom to an already existing door, as opposed to adding both a sunroom and an entry/exit point.

Exterior remodeling is a big commitment. Take the time to analyze all aspects of its creation. If you would like help planning your sunroom addition, or for more exterior remodeling ideas, contact Outdoor Environments for your project needs.

 

 

image via Outdoor Environments

Outdoor Living Rooms and Kitchens Top Trend List for 2013

Being immersed in the dead of winter makes homeowners long for the days of sitting outdoors in the with a cold drink and a delicious meal fresh off the grill. A popular trend moving its way into 2013 is adding outdoor living rooms and kitchens to a backyard space. Planning that remodel to your home make take a few months, which is why now is the perfect time to prepare for the summer.

Add an Outdoor Living Room to your home!

Image via Outdoor Environments

Outdoor kitchens are the perfect addition to a backyard space because it allows the entertaining to occur outdoors. Clean-up and storage is made easy with smart design, allowing for less back and forth trips between the home’s kitchen and the outdoor area. Additionally, pests are kept at bay as homeowners do not need to keep opening their screen doors to go in and out of the house. The food is hot and fresh, and the cook can be a part of the backyard party.

Combine an outdoor kitchen with with an outdoor living space complete with couches, chairs and a fire pit for a backyard that will be the premier hosting spot of the neighborhood.  You can add awnings and fans in order to enjoy the room in all weather.

For help designing and building a gorgeous outdoor space before warm weather returns to Kansas City, contact Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706.

How About a Pretty Porch in 2013?

screened porch

Screened in porch by Outdoor Environments

If you’re looking for remodeling ideas for your home, then consider a porch. A porch is the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors in a comfortable and inviting area of the home. Right now is the perfect time to plan out a porch with Kansas City contractors so that you’ll be able to enjoy it once summer comes around! The following are a few ideas that you can implement into the design of your porch.

  • Enclose your porch and set it up like an extension of your living room. Add a table, chairs and even a sofa to the porch. You can even put down an area rug to give guests an inviting feeling when they step onto your porch.
  • Add a brick floor to the porch. This provides a rustic feeling that helps define the area being between indoors and outdoors.
  • Instead of using standard warm colors, go with snowy white colors. This actually helps bring the colors of the outdoors in, and helps to reflect sunlight throughout the area.

These are just a few ideas that you can use when designing your porch. Remember, it doesn’t have to be bare. It’s an extension of your home after all.

 

 

image via Outdoor Environments