Tag Archives: Outdoor Design Ideas

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.

outdoor living spaces

Enhance Your Outdoor Storage With Beautiful Built-in Solutions

Finding enough storage space for all of your things can prove to be quite the chore sometimes. Perhaps the best solution is to get creative with some storage solutions for your patios, decks, outdoor living rooms and kitchens. So here are a few ideas to get you thinking.

  • Deck Space: The most obvious place, start storing things underneath your deck.
  • Storage Bench: Why not make your seating double as storage for gardening supplies and toys?
  • Mesh Bags: A must have for pool toys. The mesh helps them dry off and avoid mildew, putting it in a bag means that you can hang it from a wall too.
  • Recycled Tires: It sounds a little odd, but stacking a few recycled tires together makes a great storage area for kids toys. Just paint the outside to match the play area.
  • Milk Crates: These make an excellent storage place because not only are they stackable, but they’re easy to organize once the crates are all labelled.

outdoor living spaces

Source: Outdoor Environments

What kind of creative storage have you come up with to maximize your free space? Tell us below or come join the discussion on Facebook.

exterior remodeling ideas

Create a Beautiful and Low-Maintenance Driveway With Pavers

With the summer in full swing, it is not unusual to consider exterior remodeling ideas to update the look of your home. You may even be wondering what you can use to increase the value of your home if you are thinking about moving elsewhere. Pavers can be exactly what you are looking for as they are both beautiful and extremely low-maintenance depending on your overall design.

exterior remodeling ideas

Source: Houzz

Paver driveways generally cost more up front, but because of their construction, these driveways are also extremely low in maintenance. Because pavers are interlocking, they are naturally better performers in more extreme weather conditions. If one of the pavers cracks or breaks, they are equally easy to replace as compared to concrete or asphalt.

Pavers are placed in bedding sand similar to cobblestone or brick, but because of their interlocking design, they are extremely stable.

With a variety of shapes, colors, designs, and textures, you have a lot to choose from. As you think about exterior modeling ideas, do not forget that pavers are also great for creating intricate designs if that is your desire.

outdoor design ideas

Create a Yard That Will Keep Kids Playing Outside This Summer

outdoor design ideas

Source: Pinterest

When everyone has phones, computers, and console gaming systems it can be a bit difficult to get your kids to go outside and play during the summer. If you can create adventurous landscapes in your own yard, however, they’ll jump at the opportunity to use their imagination outside. Here are some little exterior remodeling ideas that can can help.

  • Risky Business: Being able to assess risk and overcome challenges is a key part of childhood development. Usually this means choosing whether or not to climb a tree. So be sure to include some trees or small rock walls to give your kid a challenge to overcome without any serious risk.
  • Pathway to Play: Having multiple play areas in your yard is important, but you should also try to make sure the paths connecting them are entertaining as well.
  • Sticks and Stones: We try to keep our yards as neat and stick free as possible, but natural debris is what kids use to invent their own imaginative narratives. Try to construct a landscape that embraces nature and all it has to offer.

For more information about designing outdoor areas & living rooms, please visit our website or call us at 913-897-2706.

custom patios decks Kansas City

Deck or Patio: Which is Better for Your Home?

custom patios decks Kansas City

Source: Outdoor Environments

For Kansas City homeowners who are thinking about remodeling the exterior of their home may consider having a patio or deck built. Compare the maintenance that is required for each one, your needs, and the type of landscaping it will be built upon to determine which works best for you.

Patios require little maintenance depending on what they are made of. For concrete patios you will need to glaze it over a period of time as it can start cracking. Wooden decks will need to have periodic sealing and staining. Some floor planks may need replacing along with railings.

If you barbecue often and throw many parties you may consider having a patio where it can hold more weight. A grill can be driven into the patio whereas on a deck it’s best to use a portable grill. Landscaping is another important aspect to consider as patios tend work best on flat surfaces and decks can be built on hills as well as be raised higher for storage down below.

For patios in Kansas City or decks, contact Outdoor Environments where we can provide all the essentials of your outdoor needs.

outdoor design ideas

Flagstone: Versatility and Beauty for Your Kansas City Yard

Flagstone is such a versatile workhouse.  From garden paths to patios, flagstone is a material that can bring style and longevity to your outdoor projects.

outdoor design ideas

Source: Pinterest

Flagstone is usually sold by the ton or the pound, with differing price tags depending on what type you choose even the budget savvy can find a nice style in their price range.

Here are some ideas on where to use flagstone in your outdoor spaces:

  • Patios – Depending on what you are looking for you can fill in joints with gravel for a casual feel or if you are looking for something that will last through the years then you will want to mortar the joints.
  • Seating areas – Stacking and mortaring flagstone can create a beautiful seating area.  Think the outside of your patio or even surrounding a flagstone fire pit.
  • Steps – Flagstone is an excellent choice for adding steps into your garden.  Its natural look and feel keeps with the flow of your garden.
  • Paths – Narrow or wide pathways look great in flagstone.  Your imagination is the only limit to building garden paths with this versatile stone.

Contact the outdoor living rooms and kitchens experts at Outdoor Environments for more great outdoor living ideas.

outdoor design ideas

Add a Pond for Reflection and Relaxation in Your Backyard

outdoor design ideas

Source: Pinterest

While backyard pools and barbecue spaces offer great ways to enjoy the summer with family and friends, your exterior spaces can also yield a soothing and calming sanctuary if you take a little time to create one. Foremost on this list is a water feature that combines the cooling effects of running water, its soft gurgling sounds and the view of it is simply tranquil. We mean, of course, the highly regarded backyard pond.

For the most part, backyard ponds are remarkably easy to install and require a minimum of infrastructure to run. In most cases, a professional landscaping company can do all the work in one day. Afterwards, you will have created an excellent focal point for your garden, a place for birds to congregate and a naturally soothing place for yourself.

Downtime is as important as activities for a healthy and stable family life. Do not overlook this simple fact when considering plans for your backyard. For more information about outside spaces in general or outdoor living rooms and kitchens in particular, please visit our website or call us at 913-897-2706.

outdoor living spaces

Need Ideas for a Renewed Outdoor Living Space in Kansas City?

outdoor living spaces

Image via Outdoor Environments

If you want to bring a bit of a resort feel to your home, you need to look no further than your own yard. Consider these design ideas to turn your backyard into a a relaxing spot that can be a vacation spot in your own home.

Create a Comfortable Outdoor Sitting Room

Have Kansas City contractors create a roof over your deck or patio. Add comfortable outdoor furniture and the space becomes a welcoming outdoor sitting area. You can also add other amenities, such as water features or interesting lighting.

Bring the Kitchen Outdoors

Take advantage of warm seasons by cooking and eating outdoors. Outdoor kitchens are increasing in popularity as more homeowners understand how practical and enjoyable these can be. With cabinets, a mini refrigerator, a worktable and more, an outdoor kitchen is many steps above having a simple grill.

Stone or Stone Veneer Adds a Luxurious Touch

Natural stone or stone veneer brings rustic luxury. These materials may be used for outdoor kitchen backsplashes, patio walls or anywhere you want the ambiance natural stone can bring.

Add Style and Sustainability

You won’t give up style by using sustainable materials in your design. New eco-friendly pavers and other hardscape products look beautiful while offering a greener alternative to traditional concrete.

Contact us at Outdoor Environments by calling 913-897-2706.

rustic beams

Rustic Beams for the Room of Your Dreams

Image via Outdoor Environments Facebook

Image via Outdoor Environments Facebook

There is a special appeal found in old, rustic, rough-hewn beams, which were once only found in farmyard barns. They have personality that is missing from uniform sanded wood beams, and they add warmth and interest to any room.

Modern decor, whether indoors or out, an be easily enhanced with a few well-placed rustic beams, which offer a pleasant contrast to design style. Vaulted ceilings are excellent locations for reclaimed beams in a living room or an outdoor pavilion.

Don’t just consider ceilings for your rustic beams. Framing a doorway with antique wood will beautify any entryway and is simple to add to an already existing framework, which is a great way to liven up any doorway, wall, or gazebo with the pleasant ambiance of rustic beams.

At Outdoor Environments, we can help you add charm and architectural design to your interior or exterior renovation projects. Call us at 913-897-2706 to learn more.

home design improvement

Great Hardscaping Ideas for Improving the Curb Appeal of Your Kansas City Home

home design improvement

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If you’re looking to improve the curb appeal of your home and impress your friends and neighbors then you can’t go wrong with creating beautiful outdoor landscapes with hardscaping. Here are a few ways we can help you improve your house’s curb appeal.

  • Install a new walkway. The first thing visitors will see when they’re walking up to your house is the walkway. Rather than a slab of poured concrete, consider getting something with character, like a cobblestone or brick walkway.
  • Get a new fire pit. The fire pit can add a tasteful centerpiece to any patio, and it offers you another option for barbecues.
  • Add a courtyard. A courtyard acts as a beautiful frame for your garden or your patio.
  • Design terraces to create levels for the plants in your yard.  The terraces are a great architectural addition and they give you more space for beautiful flowers and greenery.

Inspired to improve your curb appeal? Contact Outdoor Environments by calling us at 913-897-2706!