Tag Archives: Outdoor Environments

Know Your Paver Options When You Plan Your Outdoor Space

Make sure you know your paving options.

Image via Outdoor Environments

Creating a relaxing outdoor space not only adds beauty to the outside of your home but also helps to extend your living space. One important decision to make in the design process of your outdoor living space is the appearance of the paving for your patio, porch, or outdoor living room. Pavers come in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes and are a great way to define the space.

Concrete
Concrete is a popular choice because it comes in a variety of patterns, finishes, and colors. It has a long lifespan and is relatively inexpensive. Concrete pavers offer quick installation and are popular in DIY projects.

Bricks
Bricks are used as pavers in many outdoor projects because they hold up well under heavy foot traffic and come in several colors, shapes, and sizes. They can have a higher installation cost than concrete.

Natural Materials
Items such as granite, sandstone, and slate have increased in popularity. They can be slightly more costly than brick or concrete, but you can save money by using materials from local quarries.

For assistance with choosing the right paver to create the outdoor space of your dreams, contact Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706.

Winterizing Your Wooden Deck

After going through the process of getting the wooden deck of your dreams, the last thing you want is harsh winter weather to leave it damaged.

The biggest enemy to your wooden deck is water. You’ll want to protect your Kansas City custom-built deck this winter from all the moisture blankets of snow and ice bring.

Water Resistance. Wood retains water. It’s just what it does. However, long exposure to water, like from a decent coverage of snow, will cause wood to warp, splinter, grow bacteria or fungus which can even eventually cause it to rot. As a part of your deck protection, thoroughly clean your deck. Freeing it from debris and dirt will help it dry quicker and more efficiently when it does air dry. Also, coat your deck with a water resistant sealant which will protect your wood from soaking in the moisture.

For more advice on how to winterize your beautiful Outdoor Environment deck, call us at 913-897-2706 or visit us at www.outdoorenvironments.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image via builddirect.com

5 Tips on How to Winterize Your Outdoor Kitchen

Winterizing your outdoor kitchen not only keeps it looking new and beautiful, but it will also save you money in the long run.  Here’s a quick guide to getting your outdoor kitchen winter-ready:

  1. Deep clean. Before sealing up your outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to make sure it’s clean inside and out. Take a few hours to clean out your fridge, dishwasher, sink and even the cabinets. If able to, consider pulling out the appliances and vacuuming anything that has accumulated behind there.
  2. Drain it. Turn off the water supply to your sink and ice maker, if applicable, and let any water in the pipes drain out. If water freezes in the pipes, you take the chance of bursted  pipes, which takes both time and money to fix.
  3. Cut off power. If you’re able to, pull the plug on your outdoor appliances. In addition, turn off the breaker switch that supplies power to your outdoor kitchen.
  4. Add shine. Polish your outdoor kitchen’s stainless steel appliances, cabinets and even counters. The moisture from the polish will serve to protect these surfaces from unsightly cracks and stress from the dry cold.
  5. Cover it up. Buy appropriate covers for your kitchen that won’t hold moisture but will still stand up to winter winds and temperatures.

For more advice on how to protect your outdoor Kansas City space this winter, contact us at 913-897-2706 or visit us at www.outdoorenvironments.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image via bkshowplace.com

 

The Steps to Remodeling

Image via Outdoor Storage

 

Remodeling can be exciting, but just like all wonderful things, you have to do your homework and brace yourself for the process that leads to your oasis.

Here are a few steps you can take to get yourself and your mind ready for your deck remodeling project:

  • Finances. Assess your finances to make sure you are financially ready to make changes to your home without causing strain on your living or your savings.
  • Have an idea of what work you want done. By looking through magazines and websites, get an idea of what you want your finished deck or patio to look like, then refer back to your finances and create your budget.
  • Allow time for your remodel. Perfection can’t be rushed, and when you add the possibilities of unforeseen problems to the mix, patience is a necessary factor. Just now, at the end of it all, your Outdoor Environments customized deck will totally be worth it.
  • Enjoy. Take a moment to realize you’re actually doing it. You’re finally actualizing your dream of building your own private deck or patio that’s built to your liking and your family’s usage. You did it!

To get the process of building your Kansas City deck started, contact us today.

Top 5 Tips On Keeping Your Deck Private: Part I

You finally got the customized deck of your dreams built, but a few final touches can make a world of difference. When relaxing out on your new Outdoor Environments oasis, the last thing you want is to hear pesky street noise or look over to see a nosy neighbor peering through his or her window to see what you’re up to. So we at OE have put together a few tips on how to better ensure your privacy while enjoying your beautiful new patio or deck.

  • Fountains. Fountains aren’t just a beautiful way to decorate your yard, but the sound of a running fountain can easily drown out the noise of children playing in the street or cars driving by.

  • Build with a Twist. If you’re building (or have built) your customized split level deck, consider planting a large tree, such as a cypress, that doesn’t just add to the aesthetic appeal of your deck but also blocks visibility to a portion of it.

 

To be continued… Stay tuned for our sequel post!

 

 

Images via:

Photo 1 & 2: DIYNetwork
Photo 3: Better Homes and Garden

Decorate Your Deck for Thanksgiving

Now that Halloween is over, it’s time to put away the fake, fuzzy spiders and the webs made of cotton and pull out decor that is warm and welcoming for Thanksgiving.

Decorating your deck is, in our opinion, one of the most fun parts of having a customized deck. It’s a great activity that brings the family together, energizes the holiday spirit in all those involved, and brings a fun and festive liveliness to your home.

However, decorating can be tricky. So we’ve put together some great ideas for you to try out on your Kansas City deck this fall:

Wreaths. Create them yourself or by them store made, but wreaths incorporating colorful leaves or festive mini-pumpkins are a welcoming addition.

Potted Plants.  A year round favorite, potted plants instantly bring color to any deck.

Customized Pumpkins. Paint a welcoming message across a few pumpkins. Whether it’s your family name, house number or even just a plain “Welcome,” personalizing your home has never been easier.

Horn and Husks. A classic fall favorite. Create something artistic, display in a garland, or just bunch together a bunch of colorful corn tusks and their dried husks.

Cornucopia. A Thanksgiving classic, but instead of filling it with food, try filling it with festive flowers, leaves and dried berries instead.

 

Celebrate this beautiful season by decorating your custom built Kansas City deck today.

 

An Outdoor Thanksgiving: Giving Your Holidays A Natural Twist

Can you think of anything more lavish than a beautiful Thanksgiving feast outdoors on your beautiful custom deck or patio?

Neither can we.

With the attention and care you gave to building your perfect outdoor living space, why not use to it to impress your guests this holiday season?  Instead of being elbow to elbow indoors, pull out all the stops and serve up a delicious meal in your outdoor environment. A few things to keep in mind for your outdoors Thanksgiving:

Table. Accentuate the entire experience by avoiding paper and plastic ware. (After all, it IS Thanksgiving!) Surprise your guests with an elegantly set table.

Decor. Use your setting as inspiration. Pull natural foliage into your centerpiece. This will add a rustic contrast to the clean and refined table linens giving.  Don’t forget coloring books on the kid’s table!

Fire pit. An outdoor Thanksgiving means spending a big chunk of time outside in November. Keep warm by firing up your custom fire pit. Consider adding a space heater near the table as well. As a party favor, you can provide the gentlemen with scarves and ladies with shawls for extra warm.

 

Make the most out of your Kansas City deck or patio this November and celebrate the holiday outdoors!

 

 

Photo 1 Source: celebratingeverydaylife.com

Photo 2 Source: Pinterest

Photo 3:  potterybarn.com

 

 

Guide to City Living: Rooftop Decks

City living is undoubtedly glamorous.  The paved streets always filled with noise and people coming and going to work, to shows, to dinner, to dancing and who knows where else. It’s home to history and buildings and houses that have seen generations come through. But it’s also home to thousands and thousands of people, all clustered into a small space which may not leave time for beautiful, serene decks.

Living in the city doesn’t mean you can’t have the customized deck of you dreams. In fact, the one absolutely amazing thing about living in the city is that even though you may live in an older house, if that older house has a flat roof (which many do), you can create a roof deck.

Imagie via Google By: The Artisan

 

 

Image via Lee Kimball

 

Image via panix.com

 

 

 

To see if your Kansas City roof can be transformed into the deck of your dreams: contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

Choosing the Perfect Outdoor Fountain

Image via mnkyimages.com

If you want to truly use your backyard patio as an oasis, consider adding a fountain into your renovations.

Fountains have been an age-old symbol of beauty and serenity (and not to mention they’re also rumored to grant wishes!).

But how do you choose the right fountain? Well, here are a few things to keep in mind.

 

  • Size. Are you going for small and serene or a large and attention-grabbing? The size of your patio, garden and backyard should come largely in play when making this decision as you don’t want to take attention away from your home, beautiful garden or custom deck.
  • Style. There are a variety of styles when it comes to fountains as well. You can create a nonchalant, soothing babbling brook or have an Ancient Greek statue, or you can have spouts that sprays water in unique designs and deliver a modern fountain. From traditional garden accents to modern Zen-inspired fountains, what style matches you and your home?
  • Use. Do you plan on having this fountain overflow into your private pool? Stand alone? Your intended use definitely brings to play what kind of fountain you should get.

Image via Sunskrit Photography

To create your  Kansas City oasis: contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

Make Plans Now for Your 2013 Outdoor Room


Outdoor Environments 

Yes, it’s getting chilly and soon the Kansas City area will be seeing its first snow fall of the season but it’s not too early to start designing your outdoor space to enjoy in the spring.

 

Outdoor Environments working hand in hand with their clients have designed and constructed hundreds of outdoor living spaces since 1991. We believe that exceeding client expectations is the norm and work hard to achieve this during each and every project.

 

Charter members of the Kansas City National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and members of the Home Builder’s Association of Greater Kansas City, we have many local and national awards to our credit, showcasing both our commitment to our customers and our outstanding industry wide reputation.

 

Outdoor Environments provide innovative and creative solutions to your high-end custom outside living needs. Tell us what you are looking to achieve and through our years of experience, we will work to make your ideas a reality. From decks to full outdoor kitchens, duel use outdoor rooms to fire pits, if you can dream it, we can create it!

 

Ready to get started? Call us today at 913-897-2706 and let’s schedule an appointment!

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Photo: http://outdoorenvironments.com/