Tag Archives: patios

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 spaces tips

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Patio

outdoor spaces tips

`Image via Better Homes & Gardens

Now that the weather is warming up in Kansas City, you’re going to be making much more use out of your patio.  Get your patio ready for spring activities and guests by giving it a thorough spring cleaning and get rid of the layers of pollen that have gathered.

Use the following tips to clean your patio:

  • Ceiling – Clean the ceiling first so that you don’t end up cleaning the floor twice. Use a long duster and clean any fans that you have as well.
  • Floor – If your patio uses gravel, then rake it to straighten it out. Look for any debris and be sure to remove them. If you have a loose flagstone patio, then pull any weeds that have grown between the stones.
  • Plants – Water your potted plants and trim any hedges, trees or plants around the patio that are beginning to grow over.
  • Furniture – Clean your patio furniture by dusting it and wiping it down. Any patio furniture cushions should be washed or sent to the dry cleaner.

For more advice about patios in Kansas City, or to update or build a new patio, contact us at Outdoor Environments.

Creative Ways to Incorporate a Hot Tub in Your Exterior Living Space

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

If you’re contemplating the thought of introducing an element of luxury to your outdoor living space, what better way to do that then to add a hot tub? The following are a few exterior remodeling ideas that you can use to incorporate a hot tub into your outdoor design.

  • Open Hot Tub – Keep the hot tub open to its surroundings in order to give it a more natural and airy feel. Be sure to add a variety of plant life in the nearby vicinity to give it a pleasant, outdoorsy atmosphere.
  • Elegant Hot Tub – Go for luxury by building a pergola over the hot tub. You can hang outdoor curtains from the top in order to introduce a feeling of privacy.
  • Enclosed Hot Tub – Build your hot tub so that it sits under the roof of your house, yet remains open to the outside. This gives it a feeling of being part of the home as well as the outdoors.

These are a few ideas worth thinking about when planning to integrate a hot tub in your exterior design. Outdoor Environments can help you design and build an enclosure for your hot tub.  Contact us at 913-897-2706 for more information.

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.

 

How Being Outdoors is Good For Your Health

Image via San Francisco Chronicle

Being Outdoors Helps Health

It’s no new discovery, no surprising news that going outside to ride a bike or take a small hike has positive effects on your health. But did you know just being outside is good for you? Just being in the presence of nature has proven to be beneficial.

A 2009 study done by Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that being within 1000 yards of a green space (a park or a wooded area) causes lessened anxiety and depression. Being around nature and greenery causes people to feel more restored and even less angry. Being outdoors is the ideal environment for calmness and even meditation.

How Does Being Outdoors Help

The biggest benefit of being outside is all the Vitamin D your body receives. More and more studies show the benefit of this particular vitamin. It has been linked to preventing cancer and strengthening your immune system.

The other natural benefits of the sun is that it “sets our internal clock.” Our body naturally syncs with the sun, knowing when to turn on and off, therefore by spending time outdoors during the day, we are able to sleep better at night.

 

As though a beautiful addition to your home wasn’t reason enough to build your custom deck, your health may be. For custom Kansas City deck, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

 

 

 

Worthy Backyard Patios

Why go through the trouble of investing in a second property or vacation home when you can create your very own patio retreat in your backyard? And have you seen gas prices lately? It’s just another reason for you to invest in a backyard renovation now so that you won’t have to worry about always leaving home to have a good time. Backyard patios can be enhanced with:

  • Swimming pools
  • Outdoor kitchens
  • Landscaping, natural stone and masonry features
  • Patio furniture

Speaking of patio furniture, manufacturers are enhancing features to make outdoor relaxing more comfortable. This includes swivels, sofas, love seats and gliding chairs with deeper seats and extra-oversized lounge chairs that encourage curling up barefoot.

A well-designed patio serves as an extensive of the home’s interior. It’s also perfect for this time of year when you may not want to stay indoors, but you also don’t want to leave home. You can have a backyard retreat that feels like an escape without ever leaving home!

Outdoor Environments in Kansas City can help you to achieve the perfect patio. Call us at 913-897-2706 to discuss your outdoor living options today!

Patio shown was designed by Outdoor Environments

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

Make Your Deck or Patio More Private

Spring is almost here and if you’re probably already be daydreaming about ways to start enjoying your deck or patio again. How about adding a few touches to make your outdoor space a bit more private and cozy? Check out these tips from Better Homes & Gardens:

Add a Touch of Fabric

Check out the wide variety of outdoor-friendly fabrics to create a perfect screen. Sheets of fabric sewn like curtains and hung from an old curtain rod or wire are quick and easy to put together. Plus, they’re inexpensive — so you can have a couple of different options to fit your mood.

Add the Sound of Water

Background noise from a busy street can be just as annoying as seeing your neighbor’s weedy back yard. Solve this kind of problem by adding a fountain or other water feature to your deck or patio. Even a gentle trickle of water can make a big difference in how much you enjoy your time outdoors!

Add a Great Wall

A privacy fence is one of the most common ways to block a view. Let a simple fence cap off the platform, providing a perfect, secluded retreat. A series of container gardens soften the deck or patio, making it even more inviting.

Incorporate a Tree

Instead of clearing the ground when you add a deck or patio, take advantage of what’s already there. An old apple tree isn’t just a great addition to the yard — it gives the space more privacy by creating a soft, natural canopy, too. Lush plantings around the edge of the deck or patio also help it feel softer and more secluded.

Need help making your patio or deck more personalized and private? Call Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706 today!

Photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Caring for Patio Pavers

If you’ve ever gone through the process of home remodeling or adding new features to increase your property value, you already know that it can take a lot of time and patience. But once you’re a step closer to living in your dream home, how do you keep it up? Here are some tips on keeping your new patio looking new: 

  1. Stop weed growth by applying a mixture of water and white vinegar to the patio surface. This should stop weeds dead in their tracks. Although there are plenty of herbicides on the market, many of them are not safe for patio pavers. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s label first.
  2. To remove general stains, wash the patio surface with a mixture of warm water and a mild, general detergent. Recent stains can be scrubbed gently while older stains may need more rigorous care with a hard bristle brush.
  3. Paint thinner is the magic ingredient to remove paint stains from patio pavers. Just wipe the thinner away with a damp cloth and rinse the patio surface with water.
  4. Regular sweeping keeps your patio looking bright. Pressure washing also keeps the color in tact. Adding a layer of sealer will make the material last longer.

If you need professional patio care in the Overland Park or Kansas City areas, call Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706 today!