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.

21 Nov

Best Grilled Foods to Enjoy Outdoors in Winters

Grilled foods are known for their unique, addictive flavor which isn’t quite easy to faithfully recreate in your regular kitchen, not even using a stovetop grill pan. They have made life easier as you can grill almost anything in your kitchen from vegetables to chicken to pork.
Since there are countless grilled foods that you can prepare, we’re only going to feature three that are suitable for an outdoor environment in winters. In addition, the following are also recommended by renowned grilling brands such as Fire Magic Grill, RCS Grills etc. Let’s get started:

TWO BEST BEEF GRILLING RECIPES:

SALSA STEAK
It takes 10 minutes to prepare this recipe, about 15 minutes to cook and it serves 4 people easily. The main ingredients are:
• Olive oil,
• 1 large tomato (diced),
• 1 small red salad onion (diced),
• 1 small cucumber (chopped),
• Half yellow capsicum (diced),
• 4 tablespoon of chopped coriander,
• 1 tablespoon of seeded mustard and,
• 4 serving portions of scotch fillet steak, AKA rib eye.
You can also use cuts such as sirloin (New York Cut), blade, round eye medallion, oyster blade or topside.
Here’s how you’ll be cooking the salsa steak:
1. Prepare the salsa by mixing all the ingredients.
2. Before cooking, the steak is brushed with olive oil to ensure it doesn’t stick to the grill. However, only a little amount is required.
3. Start cooking on a hot griddle or grill. Cook each side until it’s sealed ― it takes about 2-3 minutes for boneless cuts and 3-4 minutes for cuts with bone to get sealed properly.
4. If you want your steak rare, remove it immediately from the grill. For a medium or well done steak, lower the heat to medium or high respectively.
5. Continue until you get the desired degree of “doneness” and cover it up for at least 2 minutes to retain juiciness, right before you serve it.

JAVA PEPPER STEAK

This is yet another popular recipe that’s been recommended by Fire Magic Grills, if you’re using their outdoor grills and appliances. It takes about 25 minutes to prepare and cook, and can easily serve 4 people. Unlike the salsa steak, it doesn’t require olive oil, which makes it less calorically dense ― ideal for the weight-conscious.
The ingredients used in a java pepper steak that serves four are:
•1.5 pound tenderloin grilling steaks,
•4 teaspoon fine ground coffee,
•4 teaspoon ground black pepper (should be fresh),
•2 tablespoon ground cumin and,
•Salt (according to your taste).
Here’s how the java pepper steak is prepared:
• First, preheat the BBQ or broiler to get the best doneness possible.
• Next, combine all the ingredients and put them in a re-sealable freezer bag; put each steak separately in the bag then shake it up for an even coating.
•It’s time to grill the steaks. Use a BBQ, broil or pan (we prefer BBQ) and grill the steaks until you get the desired level of doneness.

THE BEST SEASONAL FRUIT GRILL FOOD:

MOLLY FOWLER’S GRILLED FRUIT
Sometimes, you just don’t feel like having ‘meaty meals’ and want to go with something that’s sweet, delicious to eat and can be prepared on a grill. Molly Fowler’s grilled fruit is the perfect recipe to fulfill that desire.
The ingredients are:
• Half cup Greek yogurt,
• Half tablespoon vanilla,
• 1 medium lemon zest,
• 6 tablespoon Greek honey,
• A handful of lavender flowers,
• 6 figs cut in half (if available) and,
• 3 large seasonal fruit such as nectarines, plums, peaches or apricots.
Olive oil is also used to ensure that the food items do not stick to the BBQ or grill.
Here is how it’s cooked:
1. First, brush nectarine halves (any seasonal fruit) with olive oil.
2. Grill the fruits on a hot grill until grill marks form nicely.
3. Combine yogurt, lemon zest and vanilla while the fruit is being grilled.
4. When you’re serving nectarines, ensure that they’re warm ― serve it with a dollop of yogurt, drizzled honey and sprinkled with a few lavender flowers. If fresh figs are desired, use them as garnish.
WANT MORE?
We understand that three recipes only may not satisfy your cravings and you might want to know more about other mouth-watering recipes. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Keep yourself updated with our newsletter and blogs so that the next time we publish an interesting and informative article (like this one), you’re immediately notified.

19 Nov

Custom Outdoor Fireplace with Brick by Creekstone Outdoor Living

Enjoy Cool Outdoor Weather in Your Own Yard

Enjoying some of your leisure time outdoors might seem like an unorthodox idea in winters but you can have a really good time if you know how to have fun outdoors. Technology has made most of us ‘indoor lovers’ thanks to Playstation, Netflix and other such inventions. However, none of this can match the quality of spending a nice evening outdoors. And how do you make it more exciting, especially when the weather is cold? The answer is a nice fireplace that keeps the environment warm and also adds to the ambience.
According to famous architectures, fireplace features are among the most popular outdoor elements when it comes to designing the perfect outdoor room or kitchen. In this article, we are going to discuss in detail how you can have a great time outdoors by making good use of fire pits and fireplaces.

EXTEND YOUR SEASON

Americans are spending generously on outdoor spaces, finding ways to make them more luxurious to enjoy every winter season. People are now looking to install fire pits with higher BTUs (British Thermal Unit) from 50,000 to about 100,000, so that they can enjoy a cozy environment while being outdoors, especially when the weather gets harsh.
Just imagine your house covered in snow; you go out, enter your outdoor room, light up the firepit/fireplace and immediately feel the warmth. Before you know it, you are completely at ease and relaxed. How does that sound?
Fire pits can emit as much as 150,000 BTUs, which is enough to warm up a big area. A square foot of space usually needs 30 – 50 BTUs of heat to get warm; however, several other factors also play a vital role in how your room reacts to a fireplace. It is better to get the room inspected by a professional before you invest in fire pits. Generally speaking, 150,000 BTUs is considered a commercial-grade firepit/fireplace and it’s quite sufficient to keep an outdoor space warm and cozy.
Fire pits and fireplaces are also a great way to improve your outdoor ambiance, making it more attractive and lively. You can also enjoy some quality alone time while cherishing the warmth they provide. Since there are a number of fireplace options out there, we thought we’d discuss a few for your benefit.
Here’s a look at the most popular outdoor heating ideas recommended by HPBA :

OUTDOOR FIREPLACES ― BRING CHARM TO YOUR PLACE

Outdoor fireplaces are usually comprised of pure stainless steel and can be complemented by stone, tile, granite or any other material that blends well with the design of your house. These fireplaces don’t require a chimney as they use natural gas, propane or wood as the primary source of heat.
However, since people are experimenting with unique and interesting designs, it’s up to you how you want your outdoor space to be. Be ready to spend at least $2,000 and up for an outdoor fireplace installation and remember that these fireplaces are installed permanently in your outdoor room.

CHIMNEYS ― INEXPENSIVE AND SUFFICIENT

If you’re looking for an inexpensive type of outdoor hearth, you should go with chimneys. They are the oldest kind of outdoor hearths and rest next to a traditional campfire and are made of clay (though some can be cast-iron). However, chimneys are not recommended to be installed on wooden decks as they can damage the deck.
Chimneys are not only an inexpensive but also alternate way of enjoying the warmth and ambiance of a fire and boast an elevated and portable outdoor hearth on your outdoor space.

FIRE PITS ― MOST POPULAR WAYS TO ENJOY THIS FALL

Fire pits are one of the most popular ways to enjoy an old-fashioned campfire in fall. They usually cost between $300 and $700, and produce anywhere from 50,000 to 75,000 BTUs of heat; ideal for an average-sized outdoor space. Due to their portability, convenience and beauty, most homeowners prefer to have fire pits installed as an outdoor element.
Fire pits are generally used to create a cozy environment and enhance the atmosphere of a room/area, but they can also be used for cooking, as some of them come with grills. Notice that they’re only ideal for outdoor use and should never be used indoors, as the risk of a fire breakout is high. If you want to install a fire pit on an outdoor deck, consider reading the manual or calling a professional to see if it’s feasible.

PATIO HEATERS ― BETTER THAN FIREPITS?

Patio heaters are relatively new on the market but gaining popularity very quickly. This is because they are known to produce 35,000 to 45,000 BTU’s of heat and radiate heat up to 25 feet in all directions ― that’s noticeably farther than a firepit. Prices range between $300 and $700 on average. Patio heaters are comprised of stainless steel (just like fire pits), painted steel or cast-aluminium.

CONCLUSION

While it might seem like an odd idea to spend a good chunk of your time outdoors in fall/winters, most Americans have started to shift their preference. Technology continues to take giant leaps day by day and new products are being manufactured to produce more heat, provide better ambiance and add other features in your outdoor lifestyle. In the midst of it all, you just can’t help but give serious thought to spending your time outdoors as the weather gets cooler.

18 Nov

The Benefits of Covering up Your Outdoor Space

According to the HPBA, Americans have always liked living outdoors. However, since the advent of the modern era, the lifestyle of an average American has changed drastically. Today, outdoor living isn’t just limited to a hibachi, picnic table and a few folding chairs. It’s now more about transitioning your indoor experience to an outdoor space ― a yard, for example. A well-rounded outdoor space might consist of these three basic elements:

Appliance(s) to cook
Dining table with chairs
Hearth or fireplace

What’s interesting is that many homeowners now prefer to install a patio or deck. This is because they want to make their outdoor living similar to an indoor environment, but with the added benefits of outdoor living. According to the HPBA, homeowners are now installing outdoor fireplaces, luxurious firepits, outdoor lightening etc., to make the most of the winter season and the evenings. Still, a deck and patio are one of the most commonly integrated features.

Why is there a higher demand for covered outdoor spaces today? What makes them so unique that even most home buyers tend to look for houses with a patio or deck installed in their outdoor room?

Here are some of the benefits that make covered outdoor spaces better than uncovered ones:

Better Temperature Control

Start a fire and you’re in for a magical experience ― the ambiance it creates is nothing short of spectacular. We don’t quite know why lighting up a fire has this mesmerizing effect on us but it certainly has its charm. However, if your outdoor space is uncovered and you prefer having large groups of people over, most of your guests would be freezing and only a few would get to enjoy the cozy experience.

Having a patio or deck above your outdoor space dramatically slows down the rate at which heat escapes. According to the laws of thermodynamics, heat always rises and escapes upwards. A proper ceiling helps prevent this heat from escaping the room and allows it to remain warm for a longer period of time. Having an outdoor room with a patio or deck installed would fill your space with enough heat to provide a homely feeling and evenly balances out cold air throughout the space.

Avoid Weather Damage

We all know how savage weather can be at times. Without warning, it can tear structures and even entire buildings to shreds. However, installing weatherproof covers can help prevent such disasters. This is one of the many reasons why people prefer to have a weatherproof patio or deck installed on top of their outdoor room.

Many homeowners desire to maximum convenience while accessing their outdoor kitchen and you can too by installing appliances and the hearth permanently. This ensures that a proper cover is installed which not only looks great but also prevents your goods from ageing or wearing out prematurely.

Covered Spaces Look More Attractive

There is a major reason why home buyers look for patios or decks installed outdoors ― they find it attractive and a lot more conductive to social gatherings and parties. Patios were once used as foundations and bases for outdoor kitchens. But due to their rigidness and beauty, they are now considered a perfect option for providing overhead cover to outdoor spaces.

It is also an asset that can increase the value of your house by a wide margin. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, homebuyers are willing to pay higher premiums for houses that have a patio installed.

Transcend the Wall of Your Home

When you set up an outdoor kitchen or room, you’re actually adding more space to accommodate more people. In simple terms, you’re changing a lifeless area into a lively and comfortable one, which can be enjoyed indoors. Covering up that outdoor space seamlessly integrates it with your home.

Final Verdict

It really pays to proper cover up your outdoor space whether it’s winter or summer. You get a cozy, comfortable and warm atmosphere[2] [3] in the winter season and in summers, you can avoid harmful UV rays that can cause skin burns and even cancer due to prolonged exposure. Having a suitable roof also helps weatherproof the area, which prevents any kind of damage to your property. In addition, you can safely enjoy the weather outdoors when it’s raining heavily, for instance.

While there are a plethora of other reasons that clearly demonstrate the benefits of having a covered outdoor space, we are certain that the ones mentioned above are quite sufficient for you to decide whether you should cover up your own outdoor living space or not.

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