Tag Archives: decks in Kansas City

The Steps to Remodeling

Image via Outdoor Storage

 

Remodeling can be exciting, but just like all wonderful things, you have to do your homework and brace yourself for the process that leads to your oasis.

Here are a few steps you can take to get yourself and your mind ready for your deck remodeling project:

  • Finances. Assess your finances to make sure you are financially ready to make changes to your home without causing strain on your living or your savings.
  • Have an idea of what work you want done. By looking through magazines and websites, get an idea of what you want your finished deck or patio to look like, then refer back to your finances and create your budget.
  • Allow time for your remodel. Perfection can’t be rushed, and when you add the possibilities of unforeseen problems to the mix, patience is a necessary factor. Just now, at the end of it all, your Outdoor Environments customized deck will totally be worth it.
  • Enjoy. Take a moment to realize you’re actually doing it. You’re finally actualizing your dream of building your own private deck or patio that’s built to your liking and your family’s usage. You did it!

To get the process of building your Kansas City deck started, contact us today.

Top 5 Tips on Keeping Your Deck Private: Part II

Continuing our previous post on Keeping Your Deck Private, these are other great easy and attainable suggestions on keeping your deck private and serene:

 

  • Plants.  Plants are the most beautiful, as well as the easiest way to add privacy to your deck or patio. We recommend decorating your deck with beautiful plants anyway, so why not use them as a source for additional privacy? Line the side that faces the most open spaces with tall, lush plants.
  • Canopy. In the summer times, you’ll appreciate this addition more than ever, but it can add much desired privacy all year around. Awnings, canopies and sails are offered in a multitude of styles, some even retractable.
  • Trees. Planting trees doesn’t just make you seem more caring of the environment, but it brings a sweet reminder of childhood, too. (The largest tree was always “base” in tag games.)  Trees aren’t just aesthetically and environmentally pleasing, but they create shade to keep you cool in the summer months as well as a barrier to keep away the nosy neighbors.
For the Kansas City deck or patio to enhance your home, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.
All Images via Google Images

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

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.

 

An Outdoor Thanksgiving: Giving Your Holidays A Natural Twist

Can you think of anything more lavish than a beautiful Thanksgiving feast outdoors on your beautiful custom deck or patio?

Neither can we.

With the attention and care you gave to building your perfect outdoor living space, why not use to it to impress your guests this holiday season?  Instead of being elbow to elbow indoors, pull out all the stops and serve up a delicious meal in your outdoor environment. A few things to keep in mind for your outdoors Thanksgiving:

Table. Accentuate the entire experience by avoiding paper and plastic ware. (After all, it IS Thanksgiving!) Surprise your guests with an elegantly set table.

Decor. Use your setting as inspiration. Pull natural foliage into your centerpiece. This will add a rustic contrast to the clean and refined table linens giving.  Don’t forget coloring books on the kid’s table!

Fire pit. An outdoor Thanksgiving means spending a big chunk of time outside in November. Keep warm by firing up your custom fire pit. Consider adding a space heater near the table as well. As a party favor, you can provide the gentlemen with scarves and ladies with shawls for extra warm.

 

Make the most out of your Kansas City deck or patio this November and celebrate the holiday outdoors!

 

 

Photo 1 Source: celebratingeverydaylife.com

Photo 2 Source: Pinterest

Photo 3:  potterybarn.com

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Guide to City Living: Rooftop Decks

City living is undoubtedly glamorous.  The paved streets always filled with noise and people coming and going to work, to shows, to dinner, to dancing and who knows where else. It’s home to history and buildings and houses that have seen generations come through. But it’s also home to thousands and thousands of people, all clustered into a small space which may not leave time for beautiful, serene decks.

Living in the city doesn’t mean you can’t have the customized deck of you dreams. In fact, the one absolutely amazing thing about living in the city is that even though you may live in an older house, if that older house has a flat roof (which many do), you can create a roof deck.

Imagie via Google By: The Artisan

 

 

Image via Lee Kimball

 

Image via panix.com

 

 

 

To see if your Kansas City roof can be transformed into the deck of your dreams: contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.

The Proper Way to Clean and Seal a Deck

 

Photo Courtesy of: www.cabinstain.com

Your entire backyard is a work of art, landscaped and decorated just the way you have always imagined. And you have a schedule for keeping it that way. You regularly clean your outside furniture, repot your plants and reseed your lawn, well what about the deck? Don’t forget it also needs maintenance. A good seasonal cleaning and re-sealing will go a long way in insuring your deck will last for many years to come.

 

  • Sweep the deck thoroughly and then use a putty knife to clean the dirt out from the spaces between the boards. If not removed, leaves and pine needles will rot in between the boards, eventually affecting the boards themselves.
  • Either purchase a deck cleaning product or use a mixture of half bleach and half warm water to scrub the deck. This will kill any algae or mildew. If your deck is oversized you might want to consider using a pressure washer for this step. Any vegetation surrounding the deck needs to be covered before applying the bleach mixture.
  • Rinse thoroughly to remove all remaining debris and bleach. Wait several days for the deck to completely dry then apply a stain or waterproof sealer. This can be done with either a foam roller, brush or stain pad.
  • Let the deck dry completely before replacing furniture, planters and grills.

 

Now that your deck is cleaned and sealed, add deck maintenance to your schedule to be done at least twice a year.

 

Photo: http://www.cabotstain.com/

Make Plans Now for Your 2013 Outdoor Room


Outdoor Environments 

Yes, it’s getting chilly and soon the Kansas City area will be seeing its first snow fall of the season but it’s not too early to start designing your outdoor space to enjoy in the spring.

 

Outdoor Environments working hand in hand with their clients have designed and constructed hundreds of outdoor living spaces since 1991. We believe that exceeding client expectations is the norm and work hard to achieve this during each and every project.

 

Charter members of the Kansas City National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and members of the Home Builder’s Association of Greater Kansas City, we have many local and national awards to our credit, showcasing both our commitment to our customers and our outstanding industry wide reputation.

 

Outdoor Environments provide innovative and creative solutions to your high-end custom outside living needs. Tell us what you are looking to achieve and through our years of experience, we will work to make your ideas a reality. From decks to full outdoor kitchens, duel use outdoor rooms to fire pits, if you can dream it, we can create it!

 

Ready to get started? Call us today at 913-897-2706 and let’s schedule an appointment!

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Photo: http://outdoorenvironments.com/

Winterizing Your Outdoor Room

patio furn cover 

Fall is here and that means those cold winter days are right around the corner. And now is the time to get your outdoor patio or room ready for the harsher weather.

 

  • Don’t leave your outdoor furniture exposed to the elements. If you don’t have an enclosed space like a basement where it can be stored then you may want to consider fitted covers to help extend your furniture’s life. Scrub each piece with warm soapy water. Dry thoroughly and tie the cover to each leg securely.
  • Follow the same procedure when storing the grill. Thoroughly clean both inside and out. If the grill is gas and you plan on leaving it inside an enclosed space it is important to remove the propane tank.
  • If you have an outdoor kitchen bring all kitchen and dining utensils and equipment inside. Disconnect and clean out the refrigerator. Turn off all outside water sources to sinks, icemakers and dishwashers.
  • Store all bags of potting soil and gardening tools in an enclosed area. Turn all unused pots upside down so they can’t fill with rainwater or snow. Disconnect and drain hoses, coil neatly and put in a covered space so they won’t freeze and crack.

 

Photo: http://patiodesigndepot.com/outdoor-patio-furniture-cover-set/