Sam Hickey, Author at Creekstone Outdoors

17 Jan

Creekstone Outdoor Living - Green Egg Outdoor Kitchens

Grilling Event – Feb 4, 2017

We are excited to announce that Creekstone Outdoor Living is hosting a grilling event to provide inspiration for outdoor cooking enthusiasts who are looking for ideas to take their Super Bowl Sunday menus to the next level.

The event will be held on Saturday, February 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our retail store located at 3555 Rayford Rd., Suite 60 in Spring, Texas.

A representative from Paragon Distributing Company will provide enthusiastic cooking demonstrations on the popular Lynx and Big Green Egg grills throughout the event. Attendees will experience grilling techniques for steak, chicken, sausage and side dishes. Tasting samples will be available.

This will be similar to our grand opening event that we held last October. Our Paragon representative is exceptional at doing these demos. He knows everything about these grills and has a lot of fun, innovative menu ideas that he’s thrilled to share with anyone watching.

The event is free and open to the public.

In addition to the cooking demonstrations and tasting samples, product discounts will be offered on various items throughout the store.

09 Jan

Creekstone Outdoor Living - Pergola Swing

How to Create an Outdoor Meditation Space

Americans have less free time than ever in our history. Schedules that are jam packed, constant and instantaneous cyber-connectivity, families and engagements take a toll on our peace of mind and inner peace. Studies show that illnesses related to stress are skyrocketing, but the percentage of people who describe a happy and comfortable life is declining at free-fall rates.

This plight doesn’t have to be your plight, however. Experts in mediation and those who study it have long known that it can help recovery and prevention from mental and physical conditions. In fact, our overall health is greatly improved through deep breathing, relaxation and time to reflect. If this all sounds good to you, maybe come spring you can create an outdoor meditation space that will help you find mindfulness and inner peace anytime of the year.

Distance your meditation space from the hub of your home and yard

Distance doesn’t have to be in linear feet. In this context, it means separation. To find real relaxation, you should remove yourself from the sights, sounds and smells, yes smells, that trigger your daily stress. The barking dog, the dishes that need to be put in the dishwasher, the bleeping smart phone. These are distractions that make up your daily life, but that intrude on your moments of meditation.

One of the best ways to escape these is in your yard. A pergola or gazebo is a great place to find peace and distance. If winter won’t make these feasible, a cabana or pool house could give you the right amount of shelter and solitude. Whatever space you have or choose, the point is to create a space where your worries and cares of the day are just plain not allowed.

One really cool concept is from ancient Japan and China – the garden bridge. The symbolism is that when you cross the bridge, you cross to a peaceful place. Install a garden bridge, even if you don’t have anything that needs bridging, to give your mind a barrier that changes your outlook once you walk over it. Another ancient concept is some sort of zig-zag pattern in the walkway that gets you to your meditation space. Evil spirits of folklore could only travel in straight lines, so they can’t follow you to your serenity. It may sound silly in our modern world, but you don’t have to believe in evil spirits to make the concept work for you. It’s no different than how an athlete warms up to get his muscles stretched before a match. You need that time to get ready to work and stretch your mind and soul.

Create your connection with nature

Nothing is more peaceful than the sounds, sights and smells of nature. Your home may be comfortable and cozy, or elegant and impressive and a source of great pride. But it’s not nature. Your yard is probably natural, by definition. But if you pick a spot for a pergola or gazebo that doesn’t particularly have much lushness, invest in some flowers and plants. Not only do they provide soothing comfort, if you can plant some with your favorite aromas, they help you find the inner peace you are seeking. If your space is enclosed, like a cabana or pool house, make sure you have windows to let in the outdoors. Or, bring in bonsai trees and other foliage.

But wait – you say you have a brown thumb, so how are you going to keep all this plant life alive? Well, studies show that a connection with nature brings peaceful thoughts and calms the mind. Do some research and find plants and flowers that even your skill level can tend to.

Water is soothing

Sound can be enormously soothing or incredibly stressful. Car horns, sirens, construction noise. These sounds can grate your nerves and send you into a near anxiety attack. On the other hand, water is incredibly soothing and can wash away your stress and frustrations. Whether it’s waves sloshing on the sand or gentle rain or a fountain.

Incorporate a real water feature into your meditation space. You don’t have to hire a landscape architect to build you an expensive mini-waterfall and babbling brook in your back yard. A simple table top fountain might be all it takes. They are not that expensive and run on either battery or wall power. Position it close to you so that it covers neighborhood cars or planes overhead.

Don’t go overboard decorating

The most peaceful meditation spaces are minimal. Clutter, to some people, in and of itself is a stressor. A comfortable chair or soft floor cushion, possibly a side table for a sound machine, incense burner or meditation bells is likely all you need. This is not where you’ll place your expensive outdoor dining set or pool bar. Create your meditation space away from those distractions. Even with your eyes closed, you’ll know they are there and it can disrupt your mindfulness.

Even if you can’t meditate, you can still find inner peace

Novices at meditation often give up early because meditation takes practice. Some never really master it. If you’re one of them, fret not. You don’t need to be an expert mediator to create a space to find peacefulness. A hammock, a porch swing or a rocking chair might be all you need a few minutes a day to create your meditation space. Or even a reading nook, deep in a corner of your yard that gets great morning sun, can become your oasis of solitude. The true key is to pick a place that separates you from your stressors and allows you to connect with nature and your inner peace.

As Americans become more and more connected, and as our lives get faster and faster, finding mindfulness and inner peace might seem more and more difficult. But that inner peace doesn’t have to be. Recognize what is already in your yard, maybe make a few modifications and create an outdoor meditation area.

02 Jan

Custom Outdoor Kitchen and Cabana by Creekstone Outdoor Living in Houston Texas

Planning for Your Poolside Cabana

If you’re thinking of building a cabana to add functionality and beauty to your pool area, there are a few things you should keep in mind during the planning stages. Once your cabana is built, it’s hard to turn back time, so give some attention to detail and figure out exactly what your want your poolside cabana to be.

Make a list of your must-haves. For example, sufficient storage, entertaining space for at least six people and a bathroom.

Pay some attention to location. If it’s not close to the pool, it’s not a poolside cabana. It’s either a storage shed or a guest house, or a combination of both. But don’t locate it so that it blocks out all the rays you and your family want to catch poolside.

Do you want a mini-kitchen or mini-bar, a bathroom with shower and cable/internet? Incorrect or poorly thought out placement could cost you much more if you have to pull utility lines far from the domestic interface.

If you live in a multiple season climate, environment and weather may play a role, so keep that in mind.

Inside, forethought into design should take into account how you plan to use it and how much you will need to store. Clever storage solutions, such as shelving and cabinets designed to hold your specific items, can maximize your capacity and entertaining and relaxing space. Layout should be functional. If you plan to utilize your cabana for entertaining, put those facilities up front and keep your storage areas out of sight as much as possible.

Most cabanas are around 8’ x 12’ or 10’ x 14’. Five sided models are 10’ or 11’. There really aren’t any hard and fast rules, though. The most important thing is to make sure you’ve sized your cabana to meet your current, and possibly future, needs.

It also has to not overwhelm the setting. A gigantic cabana may be what you want, but if you don’t have the space, it will just look out of place. Most poolside cabanas include a changing space, pool equipment storage, and either a small kitchen and bar area, and shower. It really depends on your desires, your space and other needs unique to you.

Premium grade western red cedar or maintenance free wood fiber siding are the most common materials available and come in a variety of colors to suit your decor and style. Extend or compliment your home, garden or pool area with different materials and looks. Poolside cabanas can blend seamlessly into the exterior of your home and yard.

With a little pre-planning and thought, and your poolside cabana can create an inviting, elegant addition to your home, pool and outdoor experience.

13 Dec

Creekstone Outdoor Living Create a Custom Pool House in Houston

Budgeting for your Outdoor Dream

So, you want to create an outdoor living space to fit your lifestyle. Whether you want a fully appointed outdoor kitchen with ample seating for entertaining or a cozy, comfortable space to grill and dine al fresco with the family or a few close friends, you’ll need a budget first. How much you can, or are willing to, spend will help you make decisions so you can get the most for bang for your buck. Invest a little bit of time creating a realistic budget and your outdoor dreams can come true. Here are some things to consider.

How much space do you have?

It may have always been your dream to have a full kitchen, seating for 12, a fire or water feature and a full bar in your outdoor living space. But if you don’t have the room, and don’t plan to buy a new home, it’s not going to happen. On the other hand, do you have all the space anyone could wish for, but not the budget to go all out? Be realistic with what you have and don’t have, then decide what you want and can afford.

Make a wish list.

Now that you understand your available space, make a wish list of what features you’d like. Think big and bold, knowing that you’ll likely have to scale back to fit your budget. Prioritize your must-haves and would-like-to-haves.

Where can you save money and where will you have to pay a premium?

The very dynamics of what is already in place in your yard and on your house can either help you economize or will require you to pay more for complicated tie-ins or upgrades, and should be taken into account in your budget. For example, you can save on the surface if you already have concrete or pavers. You might to spruce it up with a treatment like stain or paint to match the rest of your desired look. But if you don’t already have a hard surface, it’s not big enough or you prefer something fancier, be prepared to add that to your budget. Don’t forget to factor in demolition costs if you’re having something existing removed.

Two or more story homes are easier and much less complicated for your contractor to tie-in the roof. If you’re tying in to a single story roof, be prepared for that extra cost. Do you have columns on your home? If yes, you will probably want them to match your outdoor finishes. Columns can be wrapped and painted your choice of color. You can upgrade with stained tongue and groove wood, or a stacked rock wrap, which look great. But be ready for that upgrade cost. And just as with columns, an existing overhead structure is probably a standard Hardie board, which is hard wearing and durable. If you want something in natural wood, it will take more out of your budget.

Sound, lights, action!

Do you want a sound system, a TV, recessed lights, ceiling fans? You’ll need to budget not only for the fixtures and sound systems, but the electrical upgrades to extend your power outside the house. If you’re on a tight budget, but appreciate quality, instead of getting all these options in cheaper models, decide what you really can’t live without. Scratch off the extra’s from your wish list, and buy high quality for those conveniences you’ve identified as “must-haves”. Having a high quality sound system but no ceiling fans if you get good natural breezes just makes good sense.

Planning an outdoor kitchen will always add more to the budget

The kitchen inside your house was likely the most expensive part to build or renovate. It’s no different with the outdoor living space you are trying to bring to life. Ask yourself how you plan to use that outdoor kitchen. How often are you going to use that pizza oven? If the answer is all the time, spring for it. If the answer is less than once a month, it’s probably a waste of budget. Spend that money somewhere else. And you still need to keep in mind adequate space. A small but functional kitchen can be around 10 linear feet. If you want more prep space, plan for 15 linear feet. A small kitchen will run you around $20,000, a larger one, $25,000. For some people, it’s all about the kitchen and they go for 25 linear feet with a raised bar top, huge grill, expensive furniture and so on. The bigger the kitchen, the more you’ll need to budget.

Fireplace or fire pit?

A fire feature is great, especially if your climate has cool summer nights or autumn days. Fireplaces can be either natural gas or wood burning. The size and your choice of stone will define the cost of the fireplace. In any event, add about $20,000 to your budget as a rule. Fire pits are less expensive, but equally enchanting, and will add around $5,000.

As you can see, with a little bit of planning you can turn your outdoor area into anything you want. If you can’t afford everything at once, think what features you will be able to add later. With a little patience, you will have your dream patio.

12 Dec

Tips for Creating Your Perfect Outdoor Kitchen

In the past, eating outdoors meant gathering some food in a large picnic basket and going to the park with your family, friends, or a loved one. You would spread a picnic blanket and enjoy your meal.

If you liked being closer to home, you would fire up the grill and invite your friends for an outdoor barbecue that usually involved flipping burgers and making hot dogs.

If you’ve ever cooked on a grill before, you know how much of a hassle it is to run back and forth from the kitchen to your backyard to bring food or wash your hands. That’s exactly the reason why outdoor kitchens are gaining popularity.

In the recent years, homeowners started to realize how much easier and more enjoyable outdoor meals can be, provided you took special care in designing a versatile, alfresco cooking area. Outdoor kitchens were initially created in the Southwest USA. But with time, they started gaining popularity all over the country.

What kinds of dishes can you cook outdoors? It all depends on your skills and imagination. Anything you can cook in your home kitchen can be prepared in an outdoor facility just as easily.

Custom Outdoor Kitchen and Cabana - Kitchen view by Creekstone Outdoor Living in Houston Texas

Modern outdoor kitchens feature everything you need for easy and comfortable cooking. There are sinks, cabinets, and countertops available for the outdoors. You can design your outdoor kitchen that features such useful details as a covered bar or a buffet area.

When you are thinking about your outdoor kitchen design, you need to consider how often you will be taking advantage of it. The size of your alfresco area depends on the frequency of its use. You can either install a kitchen on a small part of your deck or create a fully functional facility.

Modern outdoor kitchen design options vary greatly. They go from simple to truly luxurious depending on your preferences. You can design a fully-featured outdoor kitchen that will be available for use all year round, regardless of the climate you live in. You can take advantage of luxurious grills with all the functions of a stovetop, large kitchen islands, dishwashers, cabinets, bars, and much more.

Making Important Decisions

When you are planning an outdoor kitchen, there are many different factors to consider. Choosing the right design will mainly depend on the space you have available to you. Will you be installing just a small grill island or will you create a fully-functional kitchen with all the bells and whistles included? Do you need this kitchen for occasional burger flipping or will you be spending long summer evenings there having dinners with your family?

Depending on your preferences, you need to equip your kitchen with a sufficient seating and dining area. If you are planning to use your outdoor kitchen when it’s cold outside, then you need to allow some space for an outdoor fireplace or a patio heater.

Choosing the Right Grilling Station

Creekstone Outdoor Living Retail Show Room Houston, Texas

Now that you are done with space planning, the next step is choosing the right grilling station. You have to decide between freestanding and built-in models. Many homeowners choose custom grilling stations since they give your outdoor kitchen a more stylish appearance. Similar to the indoor kitchen island, an outdoor grilling station includes countertops and various cabinets. Most property experts believe that installing a custom-made masonry grilling station on your deck can add significant value to your home. Another choice is a functional prefab grilling station. Such models also feature a wide variety of useful options. At the same time, they are more affordable than custom-made stations.

Finding Proper Building Materials

When you are planning your outdoor kitchen, one of the most important details is finding durable weather-resistant materials. One of the most popular materials that is approved by experts is materials made from polymer. Unlike wood and concrete, the polymer material is sturdy enough to withstand rain and snow since it doesn’t absorb moisture.The polymer material is solid, which means it doesn’t crack or split as some layered materials do. For your countertop, you can consider such natural stones as granite, marble, and tile, or artificial stones like Corian.

Installing Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is important for the overall look and ambiance of your outdoor kitchen. That’s why special attention should be paid to this element of your kitchen design. You will be challenged with a wide choice of different lighting options: white or colored bulbs, LED lights, solar lights, and more. You might also want to consider specific task area lights and cabinet lights to make cooking more enjoyable.

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Author Archives: Sam Hickey