Tag Archives: outdoor design Kansas City

landscaping

Don’t Forget Your Driveway When Landscaping

Your driveway can present special challenges when you are planning your landscaping. The larger or longer the driveway is can lead to even more possibilities and complications. Use professional hardscaping services in Kansas City can help you in developing the look you want. Continue reading →

landscape design

Choosing Outdoor Stair Materials That You Can Live With

When you’re designing your landscape, don’t neglect the stairs. A good stairway provides safe, reliable access and can add to your structure’s visual appeal. The first step to designing your outdoor stairs is choosing the material with which to build them, and the material you choose will depend upon both aesthetic preference and the amount of upkeep you feel your family can handle. Continue reading →

outdoor design ideas

Create a Focal Point in Your Yard With a Beautiful Fire Pit

outdoor design ideas

Source: DecorPad

Adding a fire pit to your Kansas City area backyard is one of the most popular outdoor remodeling trends. The fire pit extends the use of your outdoor living space from spring until late fall. Some people even enjoy the fire pit during the winter holiday season if there’s no rain or snow.

A fire pit can be any size or shape. It can sit in the ground or above on any size patio as long as the area is open and ventilated. A fire pit can stand alone or it can be part of a stone wall built around the patio. The fire can be gas, charcoal or wood.

A sunken fire pit can suggest a rustic campfire or it can be paved with stone or brick. Seating can be built-in with stone and decorated with colorful cushions that are removed during wet weather.

A raised tiled or stone fire pit can also be a welcome addition to the patio designed so that it doubles as a barbecue with a grill placed over the fire. Marshmallows and hot dogs can be roasted on a stick over any fire pit.

Contact Outdoor Environments for a fire pit for your patio.

 

Make a Compelling Pathway Through Your Landscape

Backyards can significantly benefit from the addition of a pathway. In addition to keeping your feet warm and dry in inclement weather, they can also be used to heighten the aesthetic aspects of your property. Here are a few ideas on how to use pathways most effectively:

  • Have a Destination – Almost by definition, pathways should be functional. Still, if you do not really have anywhere you need to go, create a focal point at the end of the pathway with a sculpture or a particularly interesting plant.
  • Maintain the Décor – Don’t just throw down a concrete or gravel pathway. Instead, consider the décor and use slate, granite or even wood to complement the rest of the scenery along the route.
  • Consider the Walker – Not only should a path be wide enough with plenty of clearance from the surrounding shrubbery, it should also be comfortable to walk on. Keep yours relatively level – with steps as opposed to ramps – and lighted if necessary.

For more information on your particular paver options and for other landscape ideas, please visit us at Outdoor Environments. Find us online at OutdoorEnvironments.com or reach us directly at 913-897-2706.

outdoor remodeling trends

Creating Attractive and Sculptural Garden Beds in Your Yard

outdoor remodeling trends

Source: Better Homes & Gardens

One of the most popular outdoor remodeling trends is using hardscaping to create beautiful garden beds. They are a well-designed addition to any outdoor space.
The concept of raised beds has historically been used simply to create a raised bed on top of rocky, poorly drained soil and then filling it with rich garden soil. Today, stylish materials are available, such as stone, wood, concrete and masonry.

  • Stone makes an attractive raised bed, using any size or variety of rocks. It requires no mortar and is simple to build. Maintenance is required, as it is not a permanent structure.
  • Wood is common and well suited for raised beds. It is reasonably inexpensive, readily available, and easy to install. Line the beds with plastic to keep the weeds down and guard food crops from any treated wood residue. Although long-lasting, wood will eventually rot and need to be replaced.
  • Concrete has gained popularity and can take on a variety of creative designs. It is permanent if installed properly. The cost is reasonable and the look is chic.
  • Masonry can compliment the exterior of your home. Depending on the stone used, it can be costly.

For more outdoor remodeling trends, contact Outdoor Environments.

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.

Mix Hardscaping into Your Garden Design for More Visual Interest

If your garden needs to be refreshed,consider adding elements of hardscaping to create texture and visual interest. Garden transition, where each separate area of your yard has its own identity but there is a continuity that brings balance and flow to the entire space, is frequently used in outdoor design these days.

 

Design Style

Gone are the days when landscape was all straight lines and symmetrical flower beds. Now you see gently curved walkways, tiered terraces, serene ponds surrounded by comfortable seating, and creative use of yard art.

Mixing Materials 

Additional popular outdoor remodeling trends include using mixed materials. Create an interesting walk in a gentle zig-zag pattern. Fill the entire walkway with small earthy pea gravel. Let the gravel settle, then install flat river rock as stepping stones. Frame the entire walkway with short perennial plants or shrubs increasing size and height throughout  the remaining surrounding landscape.

Year Round Color 

Plan out your color in advance. There are many flowering perennials which bloom at different times throughout the year, so with a little planning it’s easy to have pockets of color no matter what the season. Then place planters full of flowering annuals throughout your entire yard during the warmer months for even more vibrant color.

Please contact Outdoor Environments for all your hardscape needs.

 

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.

gardening

Creating Walls to Define Garden Rooms

gardening

Source: Pinterest

Anyone looking for exterior remodeling ideas should consider finishing their outdoor garden rooms by adding walls around the perimeter. Walls not only add privacy, they help to define the exterior garden space, thereby increasing your home’s curb appeal. However, choosing the right material for your walls is another matter. You won’t want a white picket fence for a contemporary style home, or a modern steel wall for a mountain style home. The following are a few different walls that you can incorporate into your garden area:

  • Brick Wall – Brick is a material that not only complements the natural elements of your garden but also draws the eye because of its simple beauty. Brick also adds security due to its durability and strength.
  • Wood Fence – There’s nothing wrong with going with a traditional wood fence, since wood easily complements a garden space. Try using horizontal planks instead of the traditional vertical style for a more unique look.
  • Greenery – If you have a serviceable but not quite visually pleasing fence, then hide it with tall greenery. Foliage often makes a fantastic natural wall.

For all of your outdoor remodeling needs, be sure to contact us at Outdoor Environments today.

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.