Tag Archives: decks in Kansas City

gardening tips

Stylish and Eco-Friendly Rain Barrel Ideas to Water Your Garden

gardening tips

Source: Pinterest

Harvesting rainwater is a practical and eco-friendly decision, but many homeowners shy away from it for aesthetic reasons. The typical rain barrel has long been thought of as an eyesore, but with the right approach you can turn your harvesting system into a fitting embellishment, or even a focal point, for the existing style of your home. Use any of the following ideas to turn your rain barrel into a statement of style.

Traditional wood-paneled cisterns may look out of place in a chic, contemporary home, but they fit right in with natural foliage, shrubbery or any earth-tone color schemes. Concrete or steel barrels might seem imposing for a stately southern farmhouse, but they match new-age, industrial architecture just fine. The idea is to conform your rain barrel’s style to the rest of your home’s decor.

Consider rain chains instead of gutters for concrete or natural stone exteriors, or use the same siding for your storage container that you used for your exterior to help blend it in. Even a standard wood barrel can be fitting decor, depending on the style of your deck and your home in general.

For more outdoor remodeling trends and advice, visit our blog today.

decks in Kansas City

Hide Your Hot Tub for a Versatile Deck Design

decks in Kansas City

Source: Houzz

You love your home’s hot tub–it is a great place to relax, a perfect spot to enjoy a starry night, and a good gathering spot for family and friends. But it may take up a significant portion of your deck. What could you do with this space if the hot tub wasn’t there?

If you’re hoping for more space on your deck but you don’t want to get rid of your hot tub, we have a unique solution for you. We have a strategic design that allows you to maximize space and extend the function of your design. Hiding the hot tub is simple with help from our professionals at Outdoor Environments when the deck is essentially built around the sunken hot tub. The hot tub is positioned below the majority of the deck, but you would retain access to the mechanics and the tub from the lower point of the deck.  When the hot tub is not in use, sturdy wood panels are secured over the covered hot tub, creating a new space that is the perfect spot for guests to mingle and the party to begin.

If you’d like to learn more about versatile decks in Kansas City, contact us at Outdoor Environments. We have solutions for all your decking needs!

outdoor living spaces

Enhance Your Outdoor Storage With Beautiful Built-in Solutions

Finding enough storage space for all of your things can prove to be quite the chore sometimes. Perhaps the best solution is to get creative with some storage solutions for your patios, decks, outdoor living rooms and kitchens. So here are a few ideas to get you thinking.

  • Deck Space: The most obvious place, start storing things underneath your deck.
  • Storage Bench: Why not make your seating double as storage for gardening supplies and toys?
  • Mesh Bags: A must have for pool toys. The mesh helps them dry off and avoid mildew, putting it in a bag means that you can hang it from a wall too.
  • Recycled Tires: It sounds a little odd, but stacking a few recycled tires together makes a great storage area for kids toys. Just paint the outside to match the play area.
  • Milk Crates: These make an excellent storage place because not only are they stackable, but they’re easy to organize once the crates are all labelled.

outdoor living spaces

Source: Outdoor Environments

What kind of creative storage have you come up with to maximize your free space? Tell us below or come join the discussion on Facebook.

outdoor design ideas

Create a Yard That Will Keep Kids Playing Outside This Summer

outdoor design ideas

Source: Pinterest

When everyone has phones, computers, and console gaming systems it can be a bit difficult to get your kids to go outside and play during the summer. If you can create adventurous landscapes in your own yard, however, they’ll jump at the opportunity to use their imagination outside. Here are some little exterior remodeling ideas that can can help.

  • Risky Business: Being able to assess risk and overcome challenges is a key part of childhood development. Usually this means choosing whether or not to climb a tree. So be sure to include some trees or small rock walls to give your kid a challenge to overcome without any serious risk.
  • Pathway to Play: Having multiple play areas in your yard is important, but you should also try to make sure the paths connecting them are entertaining as well.
  • Sticks and Stones: We try to keep our yards as neat and stick free as possible, but natural debris is what kids use to invent their own imaginative narratives. Try to construct a landscape that embraces nature and all it has to offer.

For more information about designing outdoor areas & living rooms, please visit our website or call us at 913-897-2706.

custom patios decks Kansas City

Deck or Patio: Which is Better for Your Home?

custom patios decks Kansas City

Source: Outdoor Environments

For Kansas City homeowners who are thinking about remodeling the exterior of their home may consider having a patio or deck built. Compare the maintenance that is required for each one, your needs, and the type of landscaping it will be built upon to determine which works best for you.

Patios require little maintenance depending on what they are made of. For concrete patios you will need to glaze it over a period of time as it can start cracking. Wooden decks will need to have periodic sealing and staining. Some floor planks may need replacing along with railings.

If you barbecue often and throw many parties you may consider having a patio where it can hold more weight. A grill can be driven into the patio whereas on a deck it’s best to use a portable grill. Landscaping is another important aspect to consider as patios tend work best on flat surfaces and decks can be built on hills as well as be raised higher for storage down below.

For patios in Kansas City or decks, contact Outdoor Environments where we can provide all the essentials of your outdoor needs.

outdoor living spaces

Need Ideas for a Renewed Outdoor Living Space in Kansas City?

outdoor living spaces

Image via Outdoor Environments

If you want to bring a bit of a resort feel to your home, you need to look no further than your own yard. Consider these design ideas to turn your backyard into a a relaxing spot that can be a vacation spot in your own home.

Create a Comfortable Outdoor Sitting Room

Have Kansas City contractors create a roof over your deck or patio. Add comfortable outdoor furniture and the space becomes a welcoming outdoor sitting area. You can also add other amenities, such as water features or interesting lighting.

Bring the Kitchen Outdoors

Take advantage of warm seasons by cooking and eating outdoors. Outdoor kitchens are increasing in popularity as more homeowners understand how practical and enjoyable these can be. With cabinets, a mini refrigerator, a worktable and more, an outdoor kitchen is many steps above having a simple grill.

Stone or Stone Veneer Adds a Luxurious Touch

Natural stone or stone veneer brings rustic luxury. These materials may be used for outdoor kitchen backsplashes, patio walls or anywhere you want the ambiance natural stone can bring.

Add Style and Sustainability

You won’t give up style by using sustainable materials in your design. New eco-friendly pavers and other hardscape products look beautiful while offering a greener alternative to traditional concrete.

Contact us at Outdoor Environments by calling 913-897-2706.

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.

Build in Benches and Secret Storage for a Comfortable Deck

deck design

Image via Outdoor Environments

Decks are great outdoor places. When arranging seating, it can be annoying to use patio sets that wither under weather and require quick replacements. For your deck you should try built-in benches.

Built-in benches offer some great benefits for outdoor living rooms and kitchens. Now, the first concern when remodeling a deck and adding seating is that it will stand out. A quick trick to use is to make the benches out of the same material as deck so that it looks like it’s original.

You can even personalize the benches with some patio cushions and even some nice throw pillows. It adds comfort for you and your guests. As a plus, if you decide to go with built-in benches that also have storage, you can have a place to store your cushions and pillows when not in use.

These benches not only provide great seating options but for larger decks, they can be used as a barrier instead of just protective rails. The cushions hide and comfort the benches when you have guests and you can preserve them from the weather by storing them when the deck isn’t in use. Seating, comfort, rails, and storage all in one.

For the best outdoor deck construction and design in Kansas City, look no further than the experts at Outdoor Environments.

Outdoor Living Rooms and Kitchens Top Trend List for 2013

Being immersed in the dead of winter makes homeowners long for the days of sitting outdoors in the with a cold drink and a delicious meal fresh off the grill. A popular trend moving its way into 2013 is adding outdoor living rooms and kitchens to a backyard space. Planning that remodel to your home make take a few months, which is why now is the perfect time to prepare for the summer.

Add an Outdoor Living Room to your home!

Image via Outdoor Environments

Outdoor kitchens are the perfect addition to a backyard space because it allows the entertaining to occur outdoors. Clean-up and storage is made easy with smart design, allowing for less back and forth trips between the home’s kitchen and the outdoor area. Additionally, pests are kept at bay as homeowners do not need to keep opening their screen doors to go in and out of the house. The food is hot and fresh, and the cook can be a part of the backyard party.

Combine an outdoor kitchen with with an outdoor living space complete with couches, chairs and a fire pit for a backyard that will be the premier hosting spot of the neighborhood.  You can add awnings and fans in order to enjoy the room in all weather.

For help designing and building a gorgeous outdoor space before warm weather returns to Kansas City, contact Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706.

Winterizing Your Wooden Deck

After going through the process of getting the wooden deck of your dreams, the last thing you want is harsh winter weather to leave it damaged.

The biggest enemy to your wooden deck is water. You’ll want to protect your Kansas City custom-built deck this winter from all the moisture blankets of snow and ice bring.

Water Resistance. Wood retains water. It’s just what it does. However, long exposure to water, like from a decent coverage of snow, will cause wood to warp, splinter, grow bacteria or fungus which can even eventually cause it to rot. As a part of your deck protection, thoroughly clean your deck. Freeing it from debris and dirt will help it dry quicker and more efficiently when it does air dry. Also, coat your deck with a water resistant sealant which will protect your wood from soaking in the moisture.

For more advice on how to winterize your beautiful Outdoor Environment deck, call us at 913-897-2706 or visit us at www.outdoorenvironments.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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