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Top 10 Blog Posts for 2011

Happy New Year from Outdoor Environments!

It’s been a huge year for outdoor living. Gradually, homeowners are truly starting to treat their outdoor spaces with just as much care and concern about their indoor spaces!

In 2011, some of our blog posts became a hit with our readers. Which ones? Here’s our top 10 most read blog posts of the year!

  1. Make your deck or patio more private
  2. Decorating outdoors: Making the most of what you have
  3. Privacy please
  4. 6 Tips to cleaning your grill
  5. The benefits of a four-season room by Outdoor Environments
  6. Screened-in porches
  7. Seasonal rooms 101
  8. Great outdoor rooms: Three-season vs. four-season
  9. Great outdoor entertaining ideas from CasaSugar
  10. Consider a front yard deck

Check back with us in the New Year for brand new tips, trends and outdoor living ideas for 2012!

Image by Vincenzo Papa on GettyImages.com

15 Last Minute Holiday Safety Tips

Outdoor Environments would like to wish you a very happy holiday weekend!

If you’re having guests for the weekend, here are some last minute safety tips from the Home Safety Council:

  1. Check the lights over all stairways, hallways, porches and entries to ensure all bulbs are working and are bright enough.
  2. Stick to the maximum safe wattage, which is printed inside the fixture.
  3. Put non-slip strips or rubber mat in all tubs and showers.
  4. Place nightlights inside bathrooms and in the hallways leading to them.
  5. If your guests will include a baby or toddler, get safety gates. Place them at the tops and bottoms of stairways.
  6. If you have an attached garage and/or fuel-burning heat or appliances, you need a carbon monoxide (CO) detector. Install one on every level of your home, especially near the bedrooms.
  7. Look for products in your home that have these words on the label: “Caution,” “Warning,” “Danger,” “Poison” or “Keep Out of Reach of Children.” Lock these products away.
  8. Put emergency numbers by every phone. These include 9-1-1 and the National Poison Control Hotline 1-800-222-1222.
  9. Stay in the kitchen when anything is cooking on the stove.
  10. Matches and lighters can be deadly in the hands of children. Keep all matches and lighters in a safe, locked place.
  11. If you light candles, make sure there is an adult in the room. Blow them out before you leave the room or go to sleep.
  12. Make sure there is at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home.
  13. Push the test button to make sure all smoke alarms work.
  14. If you have not put a new battery in each alarm yet this year, do it now.
  15. Keep hot drinks away from the edge of tables and counters. Do not use tablecloths or placemats because young children can pull them down.
Image by Oppenheim Bernhard on GettyImages.com

5 Winter Wonderland Ideas for Outdoor Lighting

We love these winter outdoor lighting creations from My Home Ideas!

Torches and candles aren't just for indoor use. See how they add an elegant glow to this entryway?

This charming arched tunnel of lights is a festive way to welcome holiday guests.

Enjoy your deck or patio by draping a net of lights across your outdoor table. So easy!

Nothing says winter like trees and other greenery wrapped with holiday lights!

 

Create this DIY look by punching holes in the snow, then inserting votive lights or candles.

How are you lighting up your outdoors this winter?

6 Benefits of Hot Tub Covers

If you have an outdoor hot tub, it’s a magnificent way stay warm while enjoying the outdoors. Still, some homeowners would rather put a lid on their hot tub and keep it closed until warmer weather rolls back around.

But what exactly does a hot tub cover do?

  1. Keeps it protected from unwanted or dangerous contaminants like leaves, dirt, sand, etc.
  2. Keep children and pets safe.
  3. Prevent mildew.
  4. Keeps pests, bugs, and rodents away.
  5. Provides insulation, which maintains water temperature if you choose to keep it running during the winter.
  6. Gives the hot tub a stylish look since many colors, styles, shapes, sizes and materials are available.

One of our completed hot tubs shows how a cover can be an inconspicuous accessory.

Visit our Facebook photo gallery to see more examples of our completed hot tubs and spa decks around Kansas City!

Tips adapted from ServiceMagic.com  

Family Time and Fire Pits

Whether you enjoy chestnuts roasting on an open fire or toasting jumbo marshmallows, you can’t deny the fact that outdoor fire pits and fireplaces are perfect for family bonding time.

It’s often been said that families who sit together at the dinner table reap many benefits. The children perform better in school and the family communicates on a healthy level. Why not take that precious family time outside this winter? Gathering around the fire outside is a fun and adventurous activity for both kids and adults.

Around the fire you can:

  • Make gooey s’mores
  • Read stories together
  • Share the day’s events
  • Enjoy the beautiful view of a crackling fire
  • Admire the falling snow

Would you like an outdoor fire pit or fireplace? Outdoor Environments specializes in these custom features and more! Visit our Facebook page to see examples of our work all over the Kansas City area.

Image by Trinette Reed on GettyImages.com

Demand for Outdoor Spaces Growing, Builders Say

Breakfast nooks inside the home have lost their luster, according to building and remodeling experts. Although these spaces are attractive and add charm, they receive very little attention. This is especially true for busy families who are always on the go. So what kind of space do experts say are more useful?

Outdoor living spaces, of course!

We have more than 20 years of experience building outdoor living rooms all over Kansas City!

Builders say that an increasing number of their projects involve adding sliding glass doors into the backs of houses. This helps to blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. Homeowners love the idea of having outdoor living rooms. It allows them to truly reap the benefits of their property without being confined inside the home. By adding an outdoor feature, it can make the house seem larger.

From decks and patios to gazebos and seasonal rooms, Outdoor Environments can bring your outdoor living space to life. If you’re in the Kansas City area, call us today at 913-897-2706 to discuss your options and needs.

 

This is our 200th Blog Post!

It’s been two years since we started this blog. And we hope that we have provided you with valuable tips and ideas when it comes to outdoor living. Since we’ve reached such a huge milestone, now is a good time to take a look back at the blog posts that you, our readers, have deemed the most popular.

Outdoor Environments’ Top 5 Blog Posts:

  1. Decorating Outdoors: Making the most of what you have
  2. Make your deck or patio more private
  3. Screened-in porches
  4. Privacy please
  5. 6 Tips to cleaning your grill

We truly thank you for taking the time to read our blog. We’ll continue to post timely and relevant news, ideas and trends related to all of your outdoor living needs and desires. And don’t forget that there’s plenty of ways to keep in touch with us!

Image by Rubberball/Mike Kemp via GettyImages.com

Keep Enjoying Your Deck or Patio with an Outdoor Heater

Homeowners that have invested in a deck or patio have an advantage over others. You have the freedom to enjoy your outdoor space throughout the winter season. By incorporating an outdoor heater (electric, natural gas or propane), you can easily spend time outside and still stay warm and toasty!

Do outdoor heaters really work?

Take a look at local establishments around Kansas City. You’ll notice that restaurants, bars and other public venues frequently use outdoor heating methods to keep patrons and employees warm. Now think about how that can benefit your deck or patio. You can stay warm while watching the kids play in the snow!

Types of outdoor heaters

There are plenty of styles to choose from. The most popular ones are freestanding units with round, hat-like tops (like the one pictured above). They provide a ton of heat to large, open spaces, and they’re portable. There are also wall mounted electric units, natural gas heaters and radiant heating methods that can be attached to outdoor ceilings or walls.

Are you using an outdoor heater this winter? If so, what kind?

Information adapted from ServiceMagic.com  

Image by Chris Pittock on GettyImages.com

5 Tips for Winter Grilling

Nothing is better than the taste of a nice juicy hamburger right off the grill and just because the temperature has dropped doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice that simple pleasure.

While you will probably want to move the grill closer to the back door, just remember these few simple tips:

  1. The grill needs to be at least 10 feet away from any outdoor structure, placed on a level surface and away from all combustible materials such as leaves or mulch.
  2. Never operate any type of grill, gas or charcoal, in an enclosed area such as a garage or back yard shed.
  3. Always make sure if using charcoal that all embers have died out or if it’s a gas grill that it is completely cooled down before covering and storing.
  4. Because nothing is worse than standing outside freezing while waiting for that steak to cook, try to pick recipes that require minimal time on the grill.
  5. While you need to dress for the weather, don’t wear anything like long scarves or bulky coats that could possibly catch on fire, especially if it’s windy.

Are you doing any grilling this holiday season?

Image by Jakob Fridholm on GettyImages.com

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

All of us at Outdoor Environments would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Here is a look back at some previous blog posts that might help you to prepare not only for Thanksgiving, but the entire holiday season ahead.

Image by Rob Melnychuk at GettyImages.com