Tag Archives: Outdoor Environments

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

Adding Color to your Outdoor Environment

We love the photo collage Shelter Pop has created to add some extra pop to your outdoor living space. The hanging flower pots and lanterns are my favorite items.

For more on products that make dining outdoors more enjoyable visit Shelterpop.com.

Photo by Shelterpop

Photo by Shelterpop

Photo by Shelterpop

Tips on How to Purchase a Hot Tub

Hot tubs are gaining popularity. Unlike the pool, a hot tub can stay open year round. But before you purchase your hot tub, there are a couple of things you need to consider.  Let our list below help you make a more informed decision on buying a hot tub.

  1. Make sure you properly measure the space available for the hot tub to determine the size you need. Whether you are looking to accommodate 2 or 10 people, you need to calculate the area first.
  2. Contact your insurer to find out how much space you need between the hot tub and the home as well as the edge of the property.
  3. The shell of the hot tub, usually made of acrylic, fiberglass and resin, must be at least 5 millimeters thick. Microban technology is used in certain finishes to prevent the spread of bacteria.
  4. Make sure all four panels of the hot tub are well insulated.
  5. Choose which type of skirt, a wooden structure surrounding the hot tub, you’d like for the hot tub. The skirt is usually made of cedar or resin. You’ll need to preserve the skirt with a water-repellent treatment. You’ll want to make sure that parts of the skirt can be removed in case you need to get to a part in the hot tub.
  6. Choose a pump that best suits your needs. If you want a more therapeutic massage two pumps might be necessary. The more jets in a hot tub, the more powerful the pump needs to be.
  7. You’ll want to make sure the light and control panel for the hot tub are within easy access once you are sitting in the tub.
  8. The cover of the hot tub must be at strong enough to support the weight of a small child and we recommend getting one with a lock.
  9. The filtration system should be closely monitored and we recommend purchasing two filters so you can rotate them during cleaning.
  10. The water heater must have an output of at least 5.5 kilowatts.

Below are some of our hot tub enclosures, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Tips on Beating the Summer Heat

We are definitely advocates of spending time outdoors at Outdoor Environments, but with the summer heat reaching high numbers we want you to take certain precautions.  Below are some tips on how to stay safe and cool this summer season from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  1. You need to regulate your time spent outdoors, especially for infants, young children and people over the age of 65.  Try avoid being outside during the extreme high temperatures of the day.
  2. Constantly stay hydrated with proper liquids, this does not include soda or alcohol.
  3. Take precautions when exercising or working outdoors in extreme heat.  You are more likely to experience heat sickness.

Don’t forget to wear sunscreen when outdoors!  Visit the CDC website for more tips on having a healthy outdoor lifestyle this summer.

The Maritime Look of Manor 12

We love to share with you the latest outdoor trends hitting the market.  This week we are highlighting a company that is well known to our neighbors to the north.  No not Iowa, think farther north, our friends in Canada.  We are in love with these pillows from the Canadian company Manor12.  The fabrics definitely have a coastal feel that reminds me of summers spent on the shore.

Manor 12

With names like Drift, Cabana and Barnacle its easy to see their maritime influence.

Manor 12

We also love their napkins.  They are perfect complement for those summer al fresco dinners.

Manor 12

If you want to add some nautical design to your outdoor environment, you can purchase these products on the Canadian store Modern Karibou, and yes they do ship to the States.

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.

How to Spruce Up Your Outdoor Living Space

We are heading into prime outdoor living time.  Pools are now officially open and everyone is spending more time outdoors.  We recently came across  Good Things for Outdoor Living on marthastewart.com and we decided to share a few of our favorite ideas with you.

One of my favorite tips on marthastewart.com is to collect a few apothecary bottles and fill them with lamp oil and wicks, then arrange the bottles under a large hurricane for protection.

In typical Martha Stewart fashion, a gardening center is created using a carpenter’s nail belt.  I love the bucket in the center, perfect for storing larger items or even debris.

Marthastewart.com recommends using tiki torches to bring a little of the islands to  your home.  For a path that is a little less paved you can anchor the torches in a bucket filled with gravel.

For more ideas on sprucing up your outdoors click here.

Go Outdoors This Saturday for National Get Outdoors Day

Participate this year in the 2nd annual National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, June 12th by heading outdoors.  National Get Outdoors Day hopes to promote healthy living by having America take part in outdoor activities.  Whether you go fishing or biking, make sure you encourage the family to turn off the television set and enjoy nature.

There is a slight chance of a thunderstorms on Saturday so make sure you check the weather before you venture outdoors.

Building a Deck Frame by Frame

When building a deck it is important to understand the process frame by frame.

Below are a series of photos for a two level low profile to be finished with AZEK composite decking.

Above is the rendering of the completed project.
Here is a before photo of  the deck.
End of first day.
The end of day two with all 19 piers completed!
End of day three!
End of day four!
Make sure you check back to see the completed deck!

Following the Rules of Design

Every outdoor living space is unique to its environment.  When we design an outdoor living area, we not only incorporate the materials used on the project, but we are also bringing in the home’s natural setting.

Jonathan Parks’ recently wrote an article called Five Pillars of Design for Outdoor Living for Residential Design & Build magazine.  Take a look below and see if your outdoor living space is  following the rules.

Pillar 1:
Invent within the rules

  • Does the outdoor living space demonstrate style, proportion and consistency?
  • When viewed from any angle, is it a unified solution?
  • Does it give evidence of its quality and care over detail?
  • Is it inviting?

Pillar 2:
Respect, complement nature

  • Is the design responsible to the environment?
  • Does the outdoor living space respect and complement views from within the yard and from within the dwelling?
  • Does the new ground plane show careful integration of natural and manmade elements?
  • Is existing landscape material utilized?
  • Is new material sensitive to the natural terrain?
  • Are colors, styles and materials comfortably distinct — ensuring individuality without offending the senses?

Pillar 3:
Build for the ages

  • Is the solution long-lasting?
  • Will the design date the house or will it appear as appropriate tomorrow as today?
  • Does the design follow through to the smallest detail?

Pillar 4:
Detail for authenticity

  • Does the outdoor space respond to the individual intimately?
  • Does the design process follow through to the smallest detail?
  • Does the construction involve a need for craftsmanship?

Pillar 5:
Incorporate convenience

  • Does the plan encourage a quality of lifestyle?
  • Does the design capitalize on features of volume, scale and functional relationships?
  • Is it technically “state-of-the-art” to ensure gracious outdoor living?

What do you think of Parks’ pillars?