Sam Hickey, Author at Creekstone Outdoors

25 May

How to Create The Perfect Backyard BBQ Destination

With summer in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about backyard barbecues, afternoons in the pool, and evening cocktails with friends and family. With the right setup, you can create an outdoor entertaining space fit for any occasion. Share on X

The Perfect Backyard BBQ

Before you start inviting people over to chow down on some scrumptiously grilled meats, tasty sides, and some desserts, make sure your backyard is the perfect destination for your BBQ party with these top tips!

Time For A Little Clean Up

If you haven’t already done some backyard spring cleaning, now is the time to do it. Take some time to clean up any debris and throw away old junk not being used. Give your lawn a mow and drag that weed-eater out, too. Clean off the walkways and the deck to make sure no one will be tripped up, and if you are feeling really productive, give the backyard a pressure wash to make it feel clean and ready for your barbecue shindig.

Set Up Seating Areas

When throwing a barbecue, make sure there is plenty of seating for everyone! Consider setting up different seating areas so people can feel comfortable and also give them options of where and who they sit near. Add some bright colored pillows to your chairs and couches to add instant style. Also, place some of the seating under a covered patio or pergola provides shade for your guests.

Get Cooking in Your Outdoor Kitchen

No one wants to have a backyard BBQ and be running in an out of the house to get the foods and beverages! Not only will it let your air conditioning out of the house, but bugs will get in your home and you are likely to miss out on some of the fun! An outdoor kitchen is perfect for entertaining and everything is right there in the backyard! Your grill, refrigerator, storage and more–all to help your barbecue party go off without a hitch! If an outdoor kitchen isn’t in the budget, consider getting a new grill, like the popular Big Green Egg, a Fire Magic, or a Memphis Grill.

Cozy Around the Fire Pit

Everyone loves sitting and digesting around a fire pit after a good meal. Wind down the party and move everyone around the tantalizing glow of the fire. People will be more likely to hang around and chat with a nice fire burning. Make sure to arrange some seats close by, and maybe even indulge in some smores after the delicious meal!

Light Up the Night

Adding some outdoor lighting to your backyard is a simple way to add ambiance and elegance to your barbecue party. There are plenty of options, from string lights, solar lights lining the walkways, or landscaping lights to help highlight your flowers and decor.

Your Backyard BBQ Destination

By following these simple tips, you will be inviting guests over in no time. By cleaning up, adding seats, an outdoor kitchen and some lights, your friends and family will be begging to come over for that brisket, ribs, and other barbecue goodies you’ve cooked up.

To learn more about how you can turn your backyard into the ultimate BBQ party destination, Contact Us.

18 May

Preparing Your Home for Summer Guests

The summer months are upon us, and with that comes summer guests and entertaining! Having friends and family visit can be the highlight of your summer–especially when your home is properly prepared and ready for entertaining. Look around your backyard. Is it ready for cookouts and lazy summer days surrounded by family and friends? Share on X

Welcoming Guests This Summer

Entertaining guests this summer doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal or give you a headache. By getting your home ready for summer beforehand takes all the stress away from when people decide to pop in for a visit! Get your home prepared easily when you follow these top five tips.

1) Consider The First Impression

Think about what your guests will see when they first arrive, and clean it up! Make sure to tidy up your front porch and entry area so they feel welcomed and relaxed. You don’t have to have everything perfect, but maybe dust the cobwebs from the corner and sweep up a bit!

2) Set Up Your Guest Room

Of course, you want your guest to feel comfortable at night when they are sleeping. Put a little extra effort into making their guest room special. Make sure they have adequate lighting, enough pillows and blankets, and some music to help lull them to sleep. Make sure their room is tidy and free of dust and clutter. Also, give your guests plenty of privacy in the evenings and early mornings.

3) A Tidy Bathroom

Clean up and designate a bathroom just for your guests. Make sure to remove any personal belongings and leave them plenty of towels, toilet paper, a night light, new toothbrushes, and anything else they might need during their stay. Add a small bouquet of flowers to add a special touch, as well as a nice scent.

4) Update Your Outdoor Space

Summer guests mean summer-time outdoor fun! Get your backyard ready for outdoor entertaining with a comfortable outdoor seating area under your covered patio or pergola. Or, add an outdoor kitchen for the perfect summer cookouts.Make sure to have plenty of food ready to cook and grill up when guests get hungry. Add oversized pillows or your outdoor entertainment area for a comfortable escape and retreat for you and your guests to catch up and relax in.

5) Communication Is Key

The key to getting your home ready for summer guests is to communicate with them to see what they need. Check on any food allergies or menu requests. Inform your guests of what they should suspect when they arrive, the mornings and breakfast, and the rest of their time at your home. Find out how long they plan to stay with you and plan accordingly.

Preparing Your Home for Summer

You will want to give your whole house a quick clean up, but make sure to focus on the areas your guests will spend most their time, like the guest room, guest bathroom, outdoor kitchen and lounging space. Make sure to do what you can to make your guests feel at home.
To learn more about how you can prepare your home for summer guests, Contact Us.

11 May

7 Outdoor Entertaining Areas to Maximize Your Space

Springtime means beautiful weather and opportunities to spend time outside. More and more people are utilizing their outdoor space for entertaining family and friends. No matter what the size of your outdoor living space, there are plenty of ways to maximize your space to create entertaining areas that you and your guests will never want to leave.The purpose of outdoor entertaining is to provide a memorable experience for your guests, in a beautiful setting. Share on X

Outdoor Entertainment Areas

No matter what size your backyard, there are plenty of ways to maximize your space so you can entertain and enjoy al fresco dinners, nights around a fire pit, or relaxing on a comfy lounge chair. Here are seven ways to use the space you have to create the backyard oasis and entertainment-friendly space you’ve always dreamed of.

1) Clean it Up

Before planning and creating your outdoor entertainment areas, you must clean up the existing area. This lets you assess what you have to work with and figure out your next steps. Scour the patio, trim trees and clean your landscaping, and give your yard a good, overall clean-up. This alone will improve the look of your yard and possibly give you inspiration of how you can better use the space you have.

2) Evaluate Your Patio

A patio can be a good foundation for your outdoor entertainment area. Adding a patio cover offers shade on hot sunny days and is the perfect place to set up a comfortable sitting or dining area. There is plenty of patio furniture available–at all price points, and you can pick something out that fits with your size and style patio. And, don’t forget to look at your patio flooring. Consider concrete repair if your patio is cracked from years of neglect, or even replacing the concrete with paver stones, which instantly give your patio an updated and improved look.

3) Create an Outdoor Living Room

Bring those cozy chairs and couches out of the house and into your outdoor space. Your newly covered patio or a cabana is the perfect place to relax after a long day at work, or for everyone to lounge after an amazing al fresco dinner. Make sure to add cushions and pillows to your outdoor furniture for instant style and a more inviting look. If you are short on space, make sure to stay away from oversized furniture.

4) Get Cooking in an Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor dining area or outdoor kitchen can create a charming spot for dining al fresco and entertaining loved ones. An outdoor kitchen helps cut back on endless trips inside with its ample storage solutions. WIth a custom outdoor kitchen, you can include a credenza or seating area available for people to sit on and converse while the cooking is happening.

5) Sit Around the Fire

A fire pit or outdoor fireplace doesn’t take up much space and adds charm, character, and a perfect space for entertaining to any space. Placing seats around the fire allows guests to have a place to relax and unwind, and enjoy your backyard all year round. There are free-standing and built-in options to choose from, depending on the size of your outdoor space.

6) Relax Under the Pergola

If you don’t have a patio, or if you want an additional entertaining area, consider a pergola or arbor. These simple structures keep you safe from the weather, offer shade from the heat and sun, and are a perfect way to add an outdoor room and maximize your outside space. Pergolas and arbors are also the perfect way to add greenery to your landscaping. Flowering vines love to grow up along the beams, adding a lovely splash of color to your entertainment area.

7) Secret Pathways and Gardens

Follow the path to your secret garden getaway. Everyone loves hidden treasures, and that is exactly what this secret little space will provide you and your guests. It doesn’t have to be a large area at all! Just two small chairs and a little coffee or side table will be enough to create a nice relaxation space for quiet conversation or afternoon book reading.

Maximize Your Outdoor Space for Entertaining

No matter what size yard you have, there are ways to maximize your space so you, too, can enjoy entertaining friends and family throughout the year. By evaluating your space, then adding in a few key components like an outdoor living room, kitchen, or fire pit, you will be enjoying your outside space and planning your next outdoor dinner party!

To learn more about how you can maximize your yard for outdoor entertainment areas, Contact Us.

04 May

Design Ideas for a Gorgeous Al Fresco Dining Experience

One of the biggest trends this year is outdoor dining or dining al fresco. Italians have long practiced al fresco dining, and you can recreate the experience by hosting an enchanting evening with friends and loved ones. Whether dining with your family or throwing a summer get-together, dining outside in the open air is the best place to be.
Al fresco is an Italian term which means: In the cool air. Share on X

Al Fresco Dining Done Right

Creating the perfect al fresco dining experience is simple to do. Here are some design ideas that will ensure everyone at your dinner leaves happy and full and looking forward to your next al fresco dining occasion.

Just Add Shade

No one wants to dine outside with the sun blaring into their eyes. Make sure to provide shade for your guests! Pergolas and arbors are an ideal way to add shade to your outdoor dining experience. Custom pergolas and arbors add character to your al fresco experience, and they offer the perfect place to grow some eye-catching vines.

Outdoor Kitchen

Having an outdoor kitchen makes dining alfresco easy, saving time and effort. When you eat outside, you don’t want to continuously run inside to get items and supplies, a custom outdoor kitchen has ample storage, allowing you to have everything at hand!

Add a Spark

Create the perfect mood after the sun goes down with an outdoor fireplace or a wood burning fire pit for your al fresco dining experience. Everyone loves sitting around an outdoor fire, in fact, senior editor of Southern Living stated fires are “natural gathering spots that pull people in and extend the amount of time you can be outside.”

Turn on the Lights

Outdoor patio lights can instantly transform your backyard and alfresco dining experience. There are many light choices available these days, including string lights, solar lights, as well as other outdoor lighting fixture options. Not only can you add lighting to your patio area, but landscape lighting is another way to add ambiance to your al fresco dinner party.

Comfortable Seating

It is important to have plenty of outdoor seating for your guests. Not only will they need a place to sit while enjoying the delicious meal, but also a more comfortable place to lounge afterward (like around the fire pit). Make sure to add cushions or pillows to make your dining experience more stylish.

Edible Landscaping

What is better than picking and cooking fresh herbs and veggies from your very own backyard? Raised beds or containers can be used to grow fresh edibles and add color and greenery to your backyard oasis. By doing this, you can recreate the farm to table experience in your own backyard!

An Unforgettable Al Fresco Experience

By recreating some of these design ideas, your next al fresco dining experience is sure to be unforgettable. With a fire pit, comfortable seating, an outdoor kitchen and some lighting for ambiance, you will be ready to dine outside all year round!

To learn how you can add these designs to your backyard and have amazing al fresco dining experiences at your own home, Contact Us.

27 Apr

Top Reasons to Invest in a Complete Backyard Makeover

In the past, people have thought about curb appeal and making the front of their homes look nice, but these days, more and more people are taking their backyards into consideration, too. Your outdoor area should be an extension of your inside space, and here are some terrific reasons to invest in a complete backyard makeover.

Avoiding A Mess

Investing in a backyard makeover will actually save you money and effort when it finally comes time to sell your home. By adding amenities like an outdoor kitchen, pool house, or gazebo, you have less lawn to mow and upkeep, while adding in shade areas and convenience.
If your backyard is pieced together, it can feel disjointed and low quality. Share on X

By planning your backyard and utilizing the space effectively, you can set up different areas for entertaining or just relaxing. Replace outdated materials and furniture to create a fresh look.

Easier Entertaining

A backyard makeover is a perfect way to make your backyard the ideal place for entertaining. An outdoor kitchen with all the amenities takes all the hassle out of outdoor dining or throwing a party. Adding an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area to your yard is a great investment for your outdoor space and will cut down on frequent trips inside the house to gather supplies. Outdoor bars are another great option if you like to enjoy beverages while entertaining family and friends.

A Place to Unwind

A backyard makeover can turn your outdoor living space into your favorite place to unwind. A comfortable sitting area or outdoor living room turns your yard into a year-round destination. A cabana or covered patio works perfectly to keep you shielded from the elements. And what better way to relax than sitting by your outdoor fire pit after a long day? Spending time outside has also shown health benefits like lowered stress and elevated moods.

Increase Home Value

Investing in a backyard makeover will boost your home’s value significantly. Home buyers are looking for houses with hardscape elements like patios, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and pool houses. And don’t forget how much landscaping elements boost home value when planning your backyard makeover! Landscaping features like bushes, flowers, and trees add instant curb appeal and can turn a drab yard into a colorful and comfortable place to be.

Invest in a Backyard Makeover

The bottom line is, investing in a backyard makeover just makes sense. Not only does it offer a place to unwind and entertain, but it also ensures a better return on your home when it finally comes time to put it on the market. Investing in a backyard makeover benefits everyone!

To learn more about how you can transform your backyard, Contact Us.

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Author Archives: Sam Hickey