Tag Archives: outdoor living space

outdoor living spaces

Patio Makeover Ideas for Summer Entertaining

outdoor living spaces

Image via Houzz

More people are redesigning their patios to take advantage of the extended living space. A well-designed patio is the perfect place for hosting outdoor parties whenever weather permits. Here are a few exterior remodeling ideas to help you get started.

Update Your Furniture

Your outdoor furniture choices make a big difference in the comfort of your family and guests. Set flimsy plastic lawn furniture aside, and replace it with furniture that is more comfortable. Wicker chairs and sofas with cushions are a good choice. Create a sitting area with these options and complete it with a weather-resistant coffee table. Think in terms of bringing indoor comfort to your patio.

Enhance Your Outdoor Cooking Area

Enhance your grill or outdoor fire pit by adding a prep table nearby. This saves trips back and forth to the kitchen. You might also consider following the outdoor kitchen trend by adding a mini refrigerator and weatherproof cabinetry to hold cooking utensils and other items.

Improve Outdoor Lighting

When the sun sets in the Kansas City sky, the party is just getting started. Keep guests safe by adding lighting to outdoor pathways and stairs. Add a few ultra-modern colored LED lights for a chic effect.

Outdoor Environments can help turnover your patio into the perfect place for entertaining this summer.

outdoor kitchens design

Planning Is Key to the Best Outdoor Kitchen Money Can Buy

Outdoor living rooms and kitchens are becoming increasingly more popular among homeowners. If you decide that you want to build an outdoor kitchen to complement your outdoor living area, then be sure to plan it out first.

outdoor kitchens design

Image via Outdoor Environments

There are a few things that you should consider during the planning stages of your outdoor kitchen. First of all, ask yourself what kind of food you will be preparing. Will you be cooking full meals for large parties? Or will it be simply to whip up small snacks or lunches for intimate social gatherings? The amount of people you plan to entertain is a factor as well.  If you like to throw large parties, you will need the kitchen space to match.  If you prefer inviting a few friends over for a quiet evening, a smaller kitchen can suffice.

You’ll also have to figure out where you’ll want to build your outdoor kitchen. A place that provides shade from the sun is a must, and a nice view is a welcome feature as well. Make sure the layout makes sense as well; you don’t want it to get in the way of foot traffic in your yard. You’ll want to plan on using materials that are not only aesthetically attractive, but that can withstand the outdoor elements and are also easy to maintain.

Begin planning an outdoor kitchen for your home by contacting us online at Outdoor Environments.  We would be happy to help you design your dream kitchen!

outdoor living tips

Summer Grilling Safety Tips for Your Deck

outdoor living tips

Image via Flickr

Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner and after that, summer will be in full bloom. It’s a great time to be alive and have some fun hanging out by the pool or on the backyard deck.

Indeed, outdoor decks and barbecues get the full workout at this time of year so be sure that yours are safe and secure. Here are some great tips from FEMA for keeping you, your family and your guests safe while getting the most out of your backyard deck:

  • Keep your Distance – Do not grill too close to the house and never in an enclosed area. 
  • Watch the Kids – No one can get in more trouble faster than the little ones so keep them away from the grill, the lighters and any other potential hotspots. 
  • Properly Dispose of Coals – At the end of the night, people sometimes forget. Better to let them sit overnight than risk the chance of a fire. 

For more information about keeping backyard decks in Kansas City safe or about installing or remodeling one, contact the professionals at Outdoor Environments Inc. Their staff understands all the intricacies involved in your outdoor spaces and can help create the perfect one for your home.

outdoor design

Maximize the Use of Your Whole Yard With These Yard Corner Solutions

outdoor design

Image via Houzz

On the list of most wanted exterior remodeling ideas is what to do with that unused corner of the backyard. While many people will just throw up a storage shed and plant some bushes around it, a little creativity can turn that corner into a little slice of heaven for you, your family and your guests. Here are just three suggestions:

  • An Outdoor Fireplace – On cool autumn evenings, a fireplace is just the thing to keep the party going. You can even keep the kids occupied with toasted marshmallows and s’mores. 
  • An Intimate Seating Area – Center it on a vintage table, a water feature or an outdoor sculpture. In any event, you will have a conversation starter and great place for your friends to congregate on a warm summer evening, 
  • A Trellis and Garden – Plant lovers never seem to have enough garden space. A trellis solves this problem in three dimensions. Plus, there are a amazing variety of colorful, low maintenance plants that love to climb. 

Whether you choose one of these exterior remodeling ideas or one of your own, don’t let that backyard corner go to waste. For more information, contact the pros at Outdoor Environments.

Tips for Gardening Around a Deck

outdoor garden decks design

Image via Pinterest

Are you looking to add some color to your backyard? Some exterior remodeling ideas for your yard include planting a garden that surrounds your deck. This is a good choice if you have a small backyard, since it only takes a few easy steps to have a beautiful garden wrapped around your deck.

The first step is to take a hose and lay it around beds  you have set up for your garden. This well help your garden to curve smoothly. The next step is to put some potted plants on the beds and determine where you want each plant to go. When you have made that decision you need to take the sod out of the beds and put organic matter in the soil.

After the soil is in place and the plants are firmly in the ground, you  need to install the brick edging and lay down the cedar mulch. Some people even add limestone pavers at the bottom of the stairs to their deck.

Contact Outdoor Environments today if you want to add more color to your backyard and give it a new look that will last for ages.

Beautify Your Deck – and Your Diet! – with Container Herb Gardens

garden design tips

Image via stock.xchng

Those who are lucky enough to have decks in Kansas City are also able to create natural beauty and enhance their diet by growing their favorite herbs on their deck. Many herbs and veggies grow best when they are placed in containers as opposed to being placed in the ground.

Consider growing garlic, parsley, sage and even tomatoes on your deck. You will be able to move the containers around so that the plants are able to get the proper amount of sunlight or shade that they need. Container gardens are a great way to spruce of the decks in Kansas City with color and detail.

Growing herb gardens on your deck is the perfect solution if you have limited backyard space in which to grow you plant in the ground. You may find that it also makes caring for the plants easier on you when you have them on your deck.

All of the decks in Kansas CIty can be filled with everyone’s favorite herbs and vegetable that they want to enjoy freshly picked right there out their own door. You’ll love the benefits of gardening on your deck. So contact Outdoor Environments today if you want to have the most beautiful deck on your block.

Use Multiple Levels in Your Deck Design to Maximize Space

outdoor deck design

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Building a deck as part of your exterior remodeling project is a great way to add beauty to your yard and living space to your home.   As a homeowner, you might think you need a lot of room for a deck, but if you’re short on space, don’t worry.  A deck with multiple levels might be the solution for you.

Some of the nicest decks in Kansas City feature multiple levels.  What makes this design so popular?  Multilevel decks create architectural and visual interest while maximizing your use of both the vertical and horizontal space in your yard.  This makes them a good choice for small or sloping lots.  If your house has two or more stories, a multilevel deck provides ready access to the outdoors from all levels of the home.

Multilevel decks offer other benefits as well. They help easily define spaces for specific purposes, like lounging or dining.  Finally, a deck with multiple levels can be strategically designed to take advantage of your backyard’s microclimates and daily patterns of sunlight and shade.

For more ideas on multilevel decks in Kansas City, contact Outdoor Environments at (913) 897-2706.

You Knew the Return on Investment (ROI) for Decks Was Good: Did You Know How Much?

Adding a deck for the outside space of your home is a great way to not only add value and curb appeal to your property, but also to add an aesthetically-appealing alternative “go to” space for friends and family to gather.

Return on investment for decks is twofold.  There’s the literal financial return you will experience if you decide to put your home on the market, and there’s the personal satisfaction gain while enjoying family picnics, backyard BBQ brouhahas, or individual moments of enjoying the vista from the comfort and safety of your new deck.

Deck Remodel ROI

Photo via Outdoor Environments

Adding a deck to your home’s outdoor space has a positive impact on the value of the property, the appearance of the neighborhood, and the enjoyment of all the individuals who utilize the new space.  There are several factors that can increase the return on investment for decks even further, including the type of material used and the design of the deck.

If you want to add a deck to your home in Kansas City, contact Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706.

Patio Maintenance for Winter Vital For Kansas City Home Owners

Take the time to prepare your deck or patio for winter.

The days are short, the temps are coming down and it’s time to prepare that patio or deck for the winter months coming. Outdoor Environments wants you to get the most from your deck in Kansas City so follow these tips and make the spring thaw easier.

Prepare outdoor plants
It will be pretty sad to go out on your patio on the first warm day next spring and see dead plants, especially when with preparation now, you can save those plants through the winter.

Clean and cover
Take care of your furniture by cleaning and covering it up. Your furniture will last longer and stay much cleaner when protected from the harsh winter elements.

Clean your grill and spray metal parts with vegetable oil. This keeps moisture off of them, preventing rust. You can buy grill and furniture covers at Lowes or Wal-Mart. A nice grill is worth the effort, right?

Sweep and spray
Sweeping away the summer dirt will give you a clean patio next spring with much less effort. Sweep away the dirt and then rinse it off while before the freeze sets in.

Doing some pre-winter cleaning won’t stop the cold from coming, but it will help you bring your deck or patio back to life much quicker next spring. The experts at Outdoor Environments can help you design, build and maintain the deck of your of your dreams. Call 913-897-2706.

Photo by Olger Fallas on Flickr.

 

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