Tag Archives: outdoor living spaces

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.

How About a Pretty Porch in 2013?

screened porch

Screened in porch by Outdoor Environments

If you’re looking for remodeling ideas for your home, then consider a porch. A porch is the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors in a comfortable and inviting area of the home. Right now is the perfect time to plan out a porch with Kansas City contractors so that you’ll be able to enjoy it once summer comes around! The following are a few ideas that you can implement into the design of your porch.

  • Enclose your porch and set it up like an extension of your living room. Add a table, chairs and even a sofa to the porch. You can even put down an area rug to give guests an inviting feeling when they step onto your porch.
  • Add a brick floor to the porch. This provides a rustic feeling that helps define the area being between indoors and outdoors.
  • Instead of using standard warm colors, go with snowy white colors. This actually helps bring the colors of the outdoors in, and helps to reflect sunlight throughout the area.

These are just a few ideas that you can use when designing your porch. Remember, it doesn’t have to be bare. It’s an extension of your home after all.

 

 

image via Outdoor Environments

Stay Warm Outside with a Fireplace or Fire Pit

outdoor fireplace

Outdoor fireplace made by Outdoor Environments

Winter is here. Have you already staring out the window wishing you had great exterior remodeling ideas to bring your backyard to life? Why not consider an outdoor fireplace or fire pit ? We have many options that can extend your living space in to the outdoors.

Here are just some of the firepit styles that can add instant warmth to your gathering.

  • Raised stone fire pits are a perfect option for a large patio or deck. You can add different types of seating and extend your indoor living space into the outdoors.
  • Fire Pit Tables – One of the simplest options, find a perfect corner and turn it into a backyard hot spot.
  • Modern Fire Pits – Sculpturally inspired and made to complement your existing landscaping.

If you are thinking on a grander scale, why not have an outdoor fireplace built? Imagine spending quality time with your family outdoors all year round. Outdoor fireplaces are the perfect piece to add more useable space to your yard.

Grab your s’mores ,your family and a new outdoor fireplace, and enjoy the warmth and living that this piece can bring to your home. Contact us at Outdoor Environment for more exterior remodeling ideas. Bring your dreams to life!

image via Outdoor Environments

Improve Your Health with an Outdoor Hot Tub in Kansas City

hot tube

Outdoor Environments deck and hot tub

If you’re looking for a way that you can remodel your home, why not have Kansas City contractors Outdoor Environments add a hot tub? Not only can a hot tub add a pleasant and entertaining facet to your house, but it provides several health benefits as well!

  • Believe it or not, sitting in a hot tub not only relieves stress, it can also provide better sleep. It does this with its massaging jets and soothing heat. The buoyancy of the water also produces a weightless effect that is relaxing.
  • The heat and pressure of the water of the jets help relax your muscles. The buoyancy created by the water will reduce your body weight by 90%, which helps take pressure off of your joints, thereby relieving joint pain.
  • Your blood pressure can decrease due to the water’s heat. This is caused by the fact that the heat will open up your blood vessels, allowing better blood flow and circulation.
  • Sitting in a hot tub can also benefit the health of those who suffer from chronic pain and fatigue.

Not only can a hot tub provide comfort and entertainment in the colder months, it can also provide these health benefits.  Contact Kansas City contractors Outdoor Environments today to make plans for a hot tub installation in your own home!  Be sure to take a look at our portfolio of work as well.

image via: Outdoor Environments

5 Tips on How to Winterize Your Outdoor Kitchen

Winterizing your outdoor kitchen not only keeps it looking new and beautiful, but it will also save you money in the long run.  Here’s a quick guide to getting your outdoor kitchen winter-ready:

  1. Deep clean. Before sealing up your outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to make sure it’s clean inside and out. Take a few hours to clean out your fridge, dishwasher, sink and even the cabinets. If able to, consider pulling out the appliances and vacuuming anything that has accumulated behind there.
  2. Drain it. Turn off the water supply to your sink and ice maker, if applicable, and let any water in the pipes drain out. If water freezes in the pipes, you take the chance of bursted  pipes, which takes both time and money to fix.
  3. Cut off power. If you’re able to, pull the plug on your outdoor appliances. In addition, turn off the breaker switch that supplies power to your outdoor kitchen.
  4. Add shine. Polish your outdoor kitchen’s stainless steel appliances, cabinets and even counters. The moisture from the polish will serve to protect these surfaces from unsightly cracks and stress from the dry cold.
  5. Cover it up. Buy appropriate covers for your kitchen that won’t hold moisture but will still stand up to winter winds and temperatures.

For more advice on how to protect your outdoor Kansas City space this winter, contact us at 913-897-2706 or visit us at www.outdoorenvironments.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image via bkshowplace.com

 

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A picture is worth a thousand words. Follow Outdoor Environments on Facebook to see more informative before and after shots like these!

BEFORE

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Outdoor Environments

AFTER OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS

BEFORE

Outdoor Environments

BEFORE

AFTER

Outdoor Environments

AFTER OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS

 

Since 1991, Outdoor Environments has designed and constructed hundreds of decks and outdoor living projects in the Kansas City area. We are charter members of the Kansas City National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) as well as the Home Builder’s Association of Greater Kansas City.

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.

 

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

Here’s Why You Need an Outdoor Oasis

Let’s cut right to the chase: You need a deck. Or a patio. Why?

First of all, you deserve it. A deck, when designed correctly, is a peaceful oasis in which you can forget about all the stressful things that come with life. You work hard and you deserve to treat yourself.

Secondly, if you would like to sell your home (like millions of other Americans) a beautiful deck can be exactly what you need to finally seal the deal.

Let’s elaborate.

Since the economy hasn’t fully recovered quite yet, having a place to relax and get your mind off things is crucial to your mental health. That’s why having a backyard oasis complete with elements like a deck or patio, swimming pool, flower garden, spa and lots of greenery can serve as your very own personal retreat at home after a long day’s or week’s work. If you want privacy and sanctuary at home, these are all great ways to give yourself peace of mind.

Another sign of the shaky economy times is the abundance of homes for sale, but very few of them are actually selling. Too often, homeowners make the mistake of focusing on their home’s interior when they’re in the process of trying to sell their property. They fail to realize that investing in decks, patios, outdoor kitchens and an overall well-designed backyard can make or break a home sale.

This is especially true for those who live in neighborhoods or subdivisions where similar floor plans are pervade the immediate area. If two homes with the same floor plan go up for sale, the one with the outdoor living space will automatically get more points with potential buyers. And ultimately, it will sell faster. An outdoor space that’s put together creatively will gain the edge because they’re unique and they stand out among other homes on the selling block.

Are you convinced? If so, give Outdoor Environments a call for all your outdoor design needs at 913-897-2706 today!

Information adapted from The Statesman

Deck pictured is by Outdoor Environments

Understanding the 5 Pillars of Outdoor Design

There are many serious considerations to ponder when implementing a new outdoor design at home, particularly during the planning phase. To get a better idea about what outdoor living should be, we’ve summarized the Five Pillars of Outdoor Living Design, courtesy of Residential Design + Build.

Build for the ages

An authentic outdoor living space will never adhere to the cookie-cutter layout that many neighborhoods and subdivisions have succumbed to in recent years. The mass construction of these areas is often done with sub-par materials that will not stand the test of time. The worst part is when those materials look just as mediocre as they are. Are the materials durable and long-lasting? Will the project look as relevant in the future as it does today?

Invent within the rules

Look to other long-standing projects to see what kinds of elements and features were incorporated. You’ll find that a lot of the same rules and concepts apply to almost every outdoor living space you study. Is the space consistent and proportioned? Is it inviting? Can you see evidence of quality and attention to detail?

Respect, complement nature

Now commonly referred to as sustainable design, a good outdoor living space does little to disrupt its surrounding landscape. Making an outdoor design blend in the natural landscape can benefit a project both financially and visually. Is the design environmentally responsible? Do the man-made elements and colors blend well with the existing landscape?

Detail for authenticity

Authenticity and consistency are both key in creating an outdoor oasis that works. Using premium materials for some features and below-standard materials for others will show an overall less than perfect job. Has every detail of the project been maximized?

Incorporate convenience

Outdoor spaces must easily facilitate the lifestyle of those who will be in that space often. Subsequently, these areas must be built for future expansion. Such elements may include LED lighting, water features, wireless networking, sound systems and more. Does the project fit in with the consumer’s lifestyle? Does it allow for future development?

Get started with your outdoor oasis by calling Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706 today. We specialize in decks, patios, gazebos, pergolas, shade arbors, porches, fireplaces/fire pits and more!

Image from Elle Decor’s Look Book