Tag Archives: Outdoor Environments

Winterizing Your Outdoor Room

patio furn cover 

Fall is here and that means those cold winter days are right around the corner. And now is the time to get your outdoor patio or room ready for the harsher weather.

 

  • Don’t leave your outdoor furniture exposed to the elements. If you don’t have an enclosed space like a basement where it can be stored then you may want to consider fitted covers to help extend your furniture’s life. Scrub each piece with warm soapy water. Dry thoroughly and tie the cover to each leg securely.
  • Follow the same procedure when storing the grill. Thoroughly clean both inside and out. If the grill is gas and you plan on leaving it inside an enclosed space it is important to remove the propane tank.
  • If you have an outdoor kitchen bring all kitchen and dining utensils and equipment inside. Disconnect and clean out the refrigerator. Turn off all outside water sources to sinks, icemakers and dishwashers.
  • Store all bags of potting soil and gardening tools in an enclosed area. Turn all unused pots upside down so they can’t fill with rainwater or snow. Disconnect and drain hoses, coil neatly and put in a covered space so they won’t freeze and crack.

 

Photo: http://patiodesigndepot.com/outdoor-patio-furniture-cover-set/

Sunroom Accessories for Autumn

If the turning of the seasons is inspiring you to make a little change around your sunroom, consider home accessories for autumn.

  • Fresh oranges. The pillows and tangerine statuettes in the image below show that orange is not always pumpkin-ish.
fall accessories
Image via Pinterest.
  • Floral. A spice-colored selection of flowers is creatively arranged in an artichoke.
artichoke bouquet
Image via Pinterest.
  • Candles. For festive light, make you own branch candle arrangement with floating tea lights or obtain a pumpkin chai candle from Nest.
fall candles
Image via Pinterest.

 

Pumpkin chai candle
Pumpkin chai candle via Nest.
  • Wreath. Grains wreath by Williams-Sonoma looks great through fall and winter.

 

grains wreath
Grains wreath via Williams-Sonoma.

 

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A picture is worth a thousand words. Follow Outdoor Environments on Facebook to see more informative before and after shots like these!

BEFORE

outdoor environments

BEFORE

AFTER

Outdoor Environments

AFTER OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS

BEFORE

Outdoor Environments

BEFORE

AFTER

Outdoor Environments

AFTER OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS

 

Since 1991, Outdoor Environments has designed and constructed hundreds of decks and outdoor living projects in the Kansas City area. We are charter members of the Kansas City National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) as well as the Home Builder’s Association of Greater Kansas City.

AIA: Outdoor Rooms Popular

According to the most recent Home Design Trends Survey from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), outdoor living areas/outdoor rooms are some of the more popular special function spaces. This reflects a growing emphasis on active, practical family lifestyles.

 

outdoor rooms popular

 

In the backyard, the water reclamation trend has grown in the past year. Low-maintenance, low-irrigation landscaping continues to be important as well. Perhaps this trend is informed by the creative and amenity-filled outdoor living spaces seen in leading magazines.

Architectural Digest featured an outdoor fireplace, ample seating, and waterfall in a Santa Monica, California home.

outdoor living space

Image via Architectural Digest. Architect: Marc Appleton and associate Paul Williger

 

While Elle Decor shows a Santa Barbara, CA pool area that feels like a water park.

 

outdoor environments

Image via Elle Decor. Photo: Jim Bartsch. Credit: Courtesy of ORO Editions

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For ideas regarding outdoor rooms in Kansas City, click here to view Outdoor Environments’ Portfolio!

Barrels Popular on Decks and Patios this Season

Many of the nation’s leading design magazines and websites are featuring wooden barrels this season as planters and other decorative objects. Using a vintage barrel is eco-friendly and adds character. Let’s have a look at inspirational images:

  •  Barrel water garden. Country Living magazine featured a “Whiskey-Barrel Water Garden,” which is sealed on the inside.

 

whiskey barrel water garden

Image via Country Living

  • Barrel tables. Affordable and fun, barrels can be used as either side tables or something large. The popular website My Sweet and Saucey even showed a banquet being given on a long whiskey barrel dining table.
whiskey barrel tables

Image via My Sweet and Saucy

  •  Barrel planters. A creative arrangement atop a barrel makes for an impressive statement, as the chic blog 100 Layer Cake demonstrates.
barrel planter

Image via 100 Layer Cake


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For the Kansas City deck or patio to enhance your home, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

Deck and Patio Decorations for Fall

As the leaves drop and a chill enters the air, homeowners are giving their decks and patios an autumnal feel with decorations. Here are some that inspire:

  • Planter. Pumpkins and gourds transform a planter. Pottery Barn takes the concept to new heights with its Bicycle Planter.
Pottery Barn

Image via Pottery Barn

  • Wreath. For exterior doors, a wreath in earth tones and spice tones conveys the flavor of fall. The Pumpkin Patch Wreath by Williams-Sonoma is a fine example.
pumpkin wreath

Image via Williams-Sonoma


  • Natural. Bales of hay and other beautifully humble natural items make for a warm and friendly outdoor gathering, as this image from Country Living demonstrates.
hay

Image via Country Living


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For the Kansas City deck or patio to enhance your home, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.


 

Portable Deck and Patio Warming Devices for Fall

While the most luxurious options are outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, you can stay warm outdoors this fall with affordable portable deck warming devices as well. Here are some of the leading options on the market:

  • Patio heater. A portable patio heater, like this Home Depot model, works quite well and weathers the elements. (Follow manufacturer’s instructions for usage and safety.)
patio heater

Image via Home Depot

Brookstone's Real Flame Modesto Fireplace

  • Table with integrated fireplace. Restoration Hardware‘s Laguna Concrete Propane Fire Table fires up instantly and lasts hours.
fire table

Image via Restoration Hardware

 

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For the Kansas City deck or patio to enhance your home, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

Espresso-Colored Decks Popular

There are many appropriate deck colors, and the key factor is whether the color complements the home’s architecture. One popular color of deck stain is espresso (or chocolate). Here are some images of beautiful espresso decks from across the nation.

  • Espresso-charcoal. This deck, which we saw on Houzz, appears to be made out of a composite material the color of espresso blended with charcoal.
espresso deck

Image via Houzz. Photo: Elad Gonen & Zeev Beech

  • Color coordination. This espresso deck in the U.S. Virgin Islands, by D Studio, coordinates with the stain color of the shutters.

espresso deck

 

  • Sleek. The espresso stain of this contemporary deck, by California-based architect Cary Bernstein, gives it an added sleekness.
espresso deck

Architecture: Cary Bernstein. Image: Houzz.

For the Kansas City deck or patio that is right for you, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

Screen Porch Conversion to a 4 Season Room

We were pleased to convert a 15-year-old screen porch to a four season room recently for a client. The result is a true room that the client will enjoy more fully and for more months out of the year. To incorporate the space into the architecture, we added tile floor and kept the original finish on the interior. Updates included:

  • Enlarging the structure’s footprint.
  • Insulating the ceiling and floor areas.
  • Installing insulated casement windows.
  • Adding a  fireplace and air-conditioning.
  • Fresh coat of paint.

BEFORE

screen porch conversion

screen porch conversion

 

AFTER

screen porch conversion

 

screen porch conversion

It was a pleasure for us to work on keeping the cost reasonable while still providing full service and a high-quality structure that will last generations.

For convert your Kansas City screen porch into a 4 season room, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

Built-in Planters on Decks and Patios

A deck or patio certainly adds to a home’s livability and resale value. To keep your deck or patio from looking like a plain slab, consider incorporating built-in planters. Here are some images to inspire.

  •  Contemporary. A relatively small lot in Australia was given lush privacy thanks, in part, to built-in planters by C.O.S. Design. Seating is incorporated into the patio’s knee walls.
Kansas patio

Image via Houzz. Design: C.O.S. Designs

  • Transitional. Stained pine planters complement the teak furniture on the deck of this California home designed by Sullivan Design Studio.
Kansas deck

Image via Houzz. Design: Sullivan Design Studio


  • Traditional. Start spreadin’ the news. The built-in planters in this traditional New York flat are as impressive as Gotham’s skyline. (Design: Amber Freda)
Kansas City deck

Design: Amber Freda. Image via Houzz.

For built-in planters, decks, and patios in Kansas City, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.