Tag Archives: outdoor living

A Tale of Two Terraces

We’ve said it before, but we love creating an outdoor living space for our clients to enjoy. When space is limited we often suggest something along the lines of a terrace. A more intimate setting, a terrace still offers the homeowners a place to go and enjoy the fresh air and night sky.

We came across these beautiful terraces in The New York Times Magazine style section. Located in London, each of these terraces offers the homeowner a different outdoor experience.

Rita Konig for The New York Times Magazine

This above terrace is used, according to Rita Konig with the Times, for dining alfresco. I bet the view of this quaint little terrace is exquisite from the inside.

Rita Konig from The New York Times Magazine

According to Rita, “The other terrace is more of an outdoor sitting room, with a banquette, brass sconces, and an outdoor fireplace. There is also an awning that can come down at night, and wall heaters that allow the terrace to be used well into the fall.”

We love the look and feel of both terraces, the perfect complement to any home. What do you think?

Plan Your Last Barbecue Before School Starts

Schools are starting back this month and summer break is beginning to wind down in Kansas. We might have a couple of months left of warm weather before fall sets in, but with school in session, our outdoor living will be reduced to a couple of hours on the weekend.

Outdoor Kitchen by Outdoor Environments

 

Make the most of summer by hosting a back-to-school barbecue and fire up the grill with this delicious recipe from the Food Network.

The Neely’s Kansas City Style Pork Ribs
Ingredients

  • 2 slabs pork spare ribs, 3 pounds each
  • Kansas City Barbeque Sauce, recipe follows

Dry Rub:

  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup dry mustard
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Remove the thin white membrane off of the bone-side of the ribs. Mix together the brown sugar, dry mustard, cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Massage the rub into the ribs and let sit for 1 hour or up to overnight.If cooking on the grill, place the ribs meat-side down next to medium-hot coals that are about 225° F. The indirect heat will cook them slower, making them tender. Allow to cook for 1 hour. Turn ribs every half hour and baste with the Kansas City Barbeque Sauce. Cook until the ribs are tender, about 3 to 4 hours.  

If cooking indoors, place in a roasting pan with a rack. Slather the ribs with the Kansas City Barbeque Sauce and tent a piece of aluminum foil over them. In a preheated 350° F. oven, place the ribs, basting with the sauce every 30 minutes and removing the foil for the last 30 minutes and cooking until fork tender, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

Kansas City Barbeque Sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 (about 2/3 cup)small onion, finely diced
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup (2 (6-ounce) cans) tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

In a small sauce pot on medium-high heat, heat the oil and add the onion, cooking until translucent.

Add the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. Add to sauce pan and let simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Use to baste the pork spare ribs.

Yield: 3 cups

Dress Up the Night with these Outdoor Essentials

We came across these outdoor entertaining must-haves on My Home Ideas and we wanted to share with you some of our favorites! These items are the perfect pick me up for your outdoor dining experience.

Make sure you set the table with these biodegradable bamboo plates.

Bamboo Veneerware Plates from Re:Modern

Toast an evening under the stars with these indestructible wine glasses.

Permaglass Wine Glasses by Smith & Hawken

Light up the way with these polished nickel glass hurricane candle holders.

Santorini Round Lanterns Polished Nickel by Restoration Hardware

This rattan flatware organizer is ideal for carrying the silverware to the table.

Vintage Rattan Kitchen Organizer by Smith & Hawken

Outdoor rugs have come a long way and will sure to dress up any deck they touch.

Outdoor Kilim Rug from Pottery Barn

Bon appetit!

Great Ideas for your Deck Decor!

One big mistake that homeowners often commit is over-looking their decks and patios.  Decks are very important to the design of a home.  You should think of your deck or patio as another room in your home, just outdoors.  Adding some visual appeal to your deck can tremendously increase your backyard experience!

Midwest Living created “10 Ideas to Dress Up Your Deck.”  The list of ideas provide you with great inspiration to get started on your home’s deck.

Here are a few tips from the list provided by Midwest Living.

1. Focus on Furniture

When decorating your deck, start with the furniture.  These pieces will take up the most space and should be used as focal points.  Using a minimal amount of furniture  is a great way to maximize your outdoor living space.  The idea is to design, not clutter, your backyard escape.

2. Get Creative with Cushions

Pillows are a great addition to your outdoor living spaces.  Choosing multi-purpose pillows that are suitable for chairs or for sitting on the deck itself can stretch your dollars very far!  Use your cushions to tie in the design elements of your deck.

3. Add Some Greenery

Not only do plants add a splash of color to your deck, they provide privacy from your nearby neighbors.  Getting plants that are at least 5 ft. tall can act as a privacy screen for your deck.  Place the plants on the edge of your deck to get the full privacy affect.

4. Splash Some Color

There are several ways to add color to your deck.  The patterns and fabrics in your furniture are great starts for color.  The color scheme can be tied in through plants, painted terra-cotta plant pots, and wall art.  Personalize your deck with beautiful splashes of color.

Don’t let your deck or patio go unnoticed.  A little bit of design can go a long way!

Click here for more ideas on how you can decorate your deck.

Spend Memorial Day Outdoors

It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend, so start up the grill and invite some friends and family over to celebrate Memorial Day!  Todd Childs, Assistant Home Editor of Southern Living has some great tips on outdoor entertaining.  Click here to learn a few pointers for throwing a fabulous Memorial Day party!

Decorating Outdoors: Making the Most of What you Have

Is it possible to transform your beautiful outdoor space without spending a dime? HGTV.com explores ways to get creative by making the most of what you already have.

First up: Play up the unexpected. Below, a chair makes a great alternative to a side table, and its imperfect patina makes it a charming vignette.

Painting a rug on your porch is a money-saving alternative that’s also waterproof and doesn’t need to be cleaned!

Build a living wall by making your cinderblocks moonlight as planters. Just stack and fill!

Other hints: create vignettes with potted plants in varying shapes and heights, and repurposing indoor furniture from the attic for use outside.

The Ammero Collection by IKEA, from $169, http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70168369

Outdoor Designs to Jump-Start Spring

“The Outdoor Living bug” has bit the editors of design publication Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and we’re loving the fresh-from-market outdoor products they’ve selected for their readers with a well-trained eye.

From hand-blown glass bird feeders to an inexpensive but luxurious-looking lounger from Ikea, here are a few of their favorites finds for the outdoor-minded.

The Ammero Collection by IKEA, from $169, http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70168369

Ammero collection by IKEA, from $169, http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70168369

Illuminated Planters from Design Within Reach, from $375, http://www.dwr.com/category/accessories/collections/illuminated-planters.do

Glass birdhouse by Roost, from $75, http://www.velocityartanddesign.com/glass-bird-vases-pr-19832.html

Longing for more inspiration (and the start of spring)? Check out hot outdoor dining sets like the one below on  “A Dozen Designs to Jump-start Spring” on the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles blog.

Metal Heaven through www.kolocollection.com

Outdoor Living Trends for 2010: Back to Basics

According to a recent survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), homeowners are still spending on outdoor living, but they are forgoing many of the bells and whistles (think sport courts, showers and outdoor TVs) in favor of focusing on the basics (dining and seating areas, grills, lighting, firepits and fireplaces).

Other outdoor living elements that ranked as popular for 2010, according to ASLA:

Installed seating such as benches, seatwalls, ledges, steps and boulders (90.6 percent)

Weatherized Outdoor Furniture (77 percent)

Counter Space (73.5 percent)

Decorative elements such as ornamental pools, waterfalls, grottos (86 percent)

All projects pictured are by Outdoor Environments. Let us know how we can help you get back to basics, just in time for Spring!

Our Clients’ Dream Outdoor Spaces, Revisited

Putting greens, ponds, fire pits and water wells, oh my! Take a look at a few of Outdoor Environments‘ most recently completed projects to see what our clients are requesting in their dream outdoor spaces.

Want to know what else is up our design sleeves? From shade arbors and pergolas to spa decks and grill enclosures, check out our photos of our recent outdoor living projects and tell us what’s most important to you, your family and your home.

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Our passion for building and design are rooted in our projects to help you creatively unleash the beauty of your natural surroundings.