Tag Archives: Outdoor Kitchens

Tips for Outdoor Entertaining

Color Talk

Go for color. Use bright color like melon, fuschia and lemon-yellow to pop against the green. The inclination to use green botanical prints in a garden setting is a natural one, but they will disappear when surrounded by shrubs and plantings.

Trash Talk

Don’t forget to place an attractive trash can nearby to prevent trash from piling up on the table. And make sure it starts out empty!

Sun Salutations

If your party is a daytime event, be sure to provide shade. You remember that we install gazebos, pergolas and shade arbors, don’t you? There’s nothing worse than watching your guests turn lobster-red before dessert.

Bug It

If you’re not averse to chemicals, spray your terrace or patio with insecticide before the party. For a green approach, plant marigolds around the patio, which are a natural bug deterrent. But for a more permanent approach, consider a screened porch or seasonal room.

Light a Fire

Invest in a fire pit and you won’t be able to make your guests go indoors. The mesmerizing effect of the fire works as well outdoors as in and can save your party from a chilly night.

Information and image from My Home Ideas

Designing and Customizing a Deck

It’s important to know that when it comes to deck design and layout, the conventional rectangle shape is a thing of the past. Residential Design + Build reports that decks are not a “one size fits all” deal.

According to research,

… “homeowners can take up to two years from the time they think about their deck until the time they actually pull the trigger on a project. Consumers will do everything from Internet research, buying books about design, and visiting showrooms.

Deck design can begin with a simple rectangle, and by cutting back each corner at a 45-degree angle the deck begins to take on character. Add other shapes, spaces, color and levels and it becomes completely unrecognizable as what decks once were. The important step today, though, is making all these variables work together.”

It’s all about customization and making the deck work for the homeowner and their specific needs. Surprisingly, some consumers don’t want a barbecue area or an outdoor kitchen on their deck at all.

Experts say that those considering a deck should consider three main components:

  1. How it looks
  2. How it functions
  3. How much it costs

Also, homeowners seem to be very interested in adding other features to their decks. These features include:

Outdoor Environments builds and remodels decks in the Overland Park and Kansas City areas. Call us at 913-897-2706 to discuss your deck options today!

Image from RDB

Landscape Architects Predict Outdoor Living Trends

This is the time of year when outdoor living trends will be all over the blogosphere. We know, because just last week we told you all about how outdoor kitchens are coming on strong in 2011.

Now the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has released their Residential Trends Survey. Included are some very promising finds. ASLA asked a group of professional landscape architects what trends and features they expect to see grow this year. Check out these highlights:

Most popular outdoor living features:

Exterior Lighting – 96.2%

Fire pits/fireplaces – 94.2%

Seating/dining areas – 94.1%

Grills – 93.8%

Installed seating like benches – 89.5

Most popular structures:

Fencing (includes gates) – 85.1%
Arbors – 83.8%
Pergolas – 82.6%
Steps – 79.3%
Ornamental water features such as fountains or splash pools – 77.5%
Decks – 74.4%
Porches – 72.3%

Outdoor Environments specializes in many of these popular outdoor living features including patios, decks, porches, fire pits and fireplaces, grill enclosures, pergolas and arbors. Call us at 913-897-2706 to find out more about how Outdoor Environments can bring life to your outdoor living space! You can also visit our Facebook fan page to see our impressive portfolio!

Outdoor living area shown is by Outdoor Environments

Growing Trend: Outdoor Kitchens

According to Kitchen & Bath Business, experts agree that outdoor kitchens are no longer considered a luxury. They are now a common and standard feature for home remodeling and new home construction. But to achieve the perfect outdoor kitchen area, the perfect patio or deck must first be installed.

So why are outdoor kitchen areas so hot? Experts say there are many reasons. Among them:

  • Homeowners have an increasing desire to invest in projects that increase property value.
  • Plain and empty backyards are boring and uninspiring.
  • Consumers are more interested in cheaper, healthier ways to eat and outdoor grilling helps to fill that void.
  • For those who can’t sell their homes, outdoor kitchens and living areas not only add value, but quality of life.

In order to create the outdoor kitchen of your dreams, you must first realize that a custom patio or deck sets the foundation. Call Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706 today to get started with planning your outdoor oasis!

Photo from Outdoor Environments

Want a Deck? Here’s A Few Thoughts to Ponder

If you have an eye on a new deck add-on for your home, now is the perfect time to start planning and brainstorming. Waiting too long can possibly delay your deck installation and before you know it, the cool fall weather will be here again. Don’t let time pass you by! Here are just a few general ideas to get you started with identifying your deck needs:

  • What will your deck be used for? The purpose of your deck, whether it be simple relaxation or lively entertainment, will weigh heavily on its placement and how it is designed.
  • Decide your style. There are many different ways to go here. You can choose to do something bold and unique, or design your deck much like an existing room inside your home.
  • Start thinking about deck features you might be interested in – furniture, tables, kitchen area, fire pit, etc.
  • What lies beneath? You may not be able to see wiring, drainage systems and gas lines, but they are there. So don’t be surprised if you deck can’t be placed in your desired location. Safety first!

Call Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706 to get started with planning your deck in the Overland Park or Kansas City area.

Photo courtesy of Outdoor Environments’ Facebook Photo Gallery

Plan Ahead with Outdoor Environments

You’ve probably haven’t had a chance to enjoy your outdoor living space since the weather has turned colder in Kansas, but you can always plan ahead and make the necessary arrangements to ensure that you have your own private oasis come spring time. At Outdoor Environments we can create for you the perfect porch, deck, 3 or 4-season room, arbor, outdoor kitchen area, spa enclosure and more.

Give us a call at 913-897-2706 or visit us online at OutdoorEnvironments.com to learn how you can get the outdoor living space you always dreamed of.

See photos of some of our work below.

Outdoor Environments

Outdoor Environments

Outdoor Environments

Outdoor Environments is the Grand Prize Winner for Deckorators Best Deck Contest

We were recently honored to have won the 2010 Deckorators Best Deck Contest. According to Deckorators®, a leading manufacturer of products to enhance your outdoor living space, “the amazingly versatile deck from Richard DeVuyst of Overland Park, Kansas separated itself from the rest by showcasing a depth of pre-planning and innovation to create a series of decks that integrate flawlessly.”

Our multi-level, composite wood deck featured a firepit, outdoor kitchen, fourseason room, ceramic tile bar rail, sunken hot tub and built in planters. Our stained wood railing with Deckorators balusters surrounded this award-winning deck. See the photos below of our entry.

Outdoor Environments' Award-Winning Deck

Outdoor Environments' Award-Winning Deck

Outdoor Environments' Award-Winning Deck

A special thank you to Deckorators for awarding us the Grand Prize in your Best Deck Contest!

For more information on Outdoor Environments please visit us online at Outdoorenvironments.com or give us a call at 913-897-2706.

Great Porches for Entertaining

We love creating outdoor spaces for our clients that can be multi-functional. Porches are great because they can be used for entertaining friends, relaxing after a long day at work, a place for the kids to cool off from summer’s heat… the list is endless. We recently found some great ideas for porches on the My Home Ideas site. Here are a few we like:

In this inside out style, a clever pass-through leads to an outdoor kitchen with all the necessities, including a sink, grill, and under counter storage. The barn doors allow the owners to close the area off completely when the weather doesn’t cooperate with outdoor plans.

Screened porches are a great ways to bridge the gap between the indoors and outdoors.  They also extend the living area of the home to accommodate guests, as well as serve as an extra kitchen.

The indoor kitchen in this screened cabana includes a professional grade grill, draft beer dispenser, and a warming drawer. With indoor and outdoor seating, as well as the small pool and firepit, this porch is the ultimate place for entertaining all year long!

Check out My Home Ideas to see the rest of their favorite porches for entertaining. Find something inspirational? Let us know so we can help create the porch of your dreams!

Photo credit: Myhomeideas.com.

Get Inspired by HGTV

We came across these inspiring outdoor living spaces on HGTV and wanted to share them with you, our readers. Outdoor fireplaces and kitchens have become very popular within the last couple of years. It makes for a perfect place to spend your evenings.  These additions not only add beauty to your outdoors, but they can add convenience as well.

The New Outdoor Kitchen

Deborah Krasner, author of The New Outdoor Kitchen, shares some practical tips for creating an outdoor environment that “matches our homes in quality, style, performance, and attractiveness,” in a recent article in Elle Decor.

She makes 3 wonderful points we’d like to share, as featured in Elle Decor:

Recognize a Good Area: “Consider choosing the spot that’s neglected and needs the most work: a side yard where the garbage cans are, the place the dog uses most. Areas that need a lot of attention frequently turn out to be the best location. Of course, it should also be on level ground, not too far from existing utilities, big enough for entertaining, offer privacy and a good exposure. Rather than the center of the yard, go off to one side or pick an area that’s tucked away, because if the kitchen becomes the focal point, you won’t have something to look at when you’re there.”

Audition the Area: “Use a portable grill, table, and chairs, even set up torches, and create a temporary space where you can see what it’s like to cook and eat. Note your path to the site, and mark it with powdered lime or a garden hose. See how it feels to transport things there and generally assess the site for its ease and enjoyment. Repeat until you find the best spot.”

Play the Layout: “Even the simplest kitchen needs a place to cook and set food down going on and off the grill, a place to eat and socialize, and some storage. I recommend setting up five zones: hot, cold, wet, dry, and a spot for friends. Each zone should have space on either side and storage, if possible. Even if your “sink” is just a hose, you still need some kind of counter on either side for, say, a colander to rinse off fruits and veggies and maybe soap, and a sponge for washing.The dry zone is the most important because this is where you’ll do food prep. Even if you do most of it inside, you’ll still need a place to set platters, with food and without, down. The dry zone should also have a place for friends to perch and be comfortable. You might just start with a table and an umbrella; when you can spend more, you can do something more elaborate. Bottom line: Even if you only have a grill station, have dedicated prep and serve areas—tables will do.

Want to know where to spend and where to splurge? Unlikely places to find deals on equipment? Check out the “Cooking Up a Kitchen for Al Fresco dining” on PointClickHome.com.