Category Archives: Design Inspiration

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15 Jun

The Advantages of Indoor – Outdoor Living

Author Sam Hickey Categories Design Inspiration, Outdoor Lifestyle

Your home isn’t only what is within the walls of your house–it also includes your yard, too.  According to a 2017 consumer survey, homebuyers are craving outdoor, green spaces. Over 56% people surveyed said they would forgo a larger home if it did not have the outdoor living area they desired. #OutdoorLiving is more popular than ever, adding usable space to your own backyard. Share on X

Blend Your Indoor – Outdoor Living Spaces

There are numerous reasons to create a blended outdoor and indoor living space. Here are just a few of the advantages of merging your indoor and outdoor living space.

Seamless Transition

A home with a seamless transition between the indoor and outside living area is the hottest trend, and it won’t be going anywhere soon. Open spaces with glimpses of nature appeal to all ages and makes a home feel comfortable and relaxed. It allows natural light to spill in and can be accomplished through sliding glass doors, the continuation of flooring, and also of the color scheme.

Easier Entertaining

One of the top reasons to combine your inside and outdoor living spaces is for ease and accessibility. Things like an outdoor kitchen, dining area with tables and chairs, and a comfortable lounge area make entertaining simple and enjoyable. Friends and family won’t be running in and out of the house because everything is right where you need it.

Expand Your Living Space

By bringing indoor functions outside, your outdoor space feels like an extension of your home. This can easily be done by adding a patio cover or pergola to give you a shaded spot to sit and relax. Adding to your outdoor space gives you more places to do work, entertain, or just relax after a long day.

Nature’s Health Benefits

There has been a plethora of research to prove that spending time in and around nature has benefits. Views of plants, water, and greenery have been found to boost positive feelings, reduce stress, and actually reduce healing times for people who are ill. These benefits are just one of the many reasons to create an indoor/outdoor oasis at your home.

Higher Home Value

As mentioned above, everyone is looking for a home that brings the indoors out and seamlessly transitions between the two. With that new outdoor kitchen, an outdoor living room and the ability to expand your living space by combining the two, your home value is certain to go up.

Benefits of Indoor/Outdoor Living

By taking your indoor rooms outside and opening up the inside with touches and glimpses from your backyard, you can take advantage of all the benefits indoor/outdoor living offers.

To learn more about the advantages of creating a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor living spaces, Contact Us.

18 May

Preparing Your Home for Summer Guests

Author Sam Hickey Categories Design Inspiration, Outdoor Lifestyle

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

Author Sam Hickey Categories Design Inspiration, Outdoor Lifestyle

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.

27 Apr

Top Reasons to Invest in a Complete Backyard Makeover

Author Sam Hickey Categories Design Inspiration, Outdoor Lifestyle

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.

06 Apr

5 Clever Outdoor Storage Ideas to Hide Your Stuff in Style

Author Sam Hickey Categories Design Inspiration, Outdoor Lifestyle

Keeping organized means getting creative with storage. Not only does this pertain to inside our homes, but outdoor storage and organization are equally important, also. Between pool equipment, firewood, garden tools, and all the rest of the stuff we end up collecting each year, people are always looking for clever ways to store and hide stuff. Learn how to incorporate beautiful design elements that double as sneaky storage solutions! Share on X

Getting Clever With Outdoor Storage

If you have a lot of stuff in your home, you probably also have a lot outside, too. Here are five clever ways to hide all your outside goods, keeping them organized and out of view:

Poolhouse

We are coming up on swimming season and what better way to store all those pool supplies, floats, and pool gear than in a pool house? Pool houses offer the perfect outdoor storage solution with shelves, cabinets, and functional furnishings. A pool house also allows a place of privacy for people to change into their swimsuits or dry off before coming into the house. Pool houses add tremendous value, both monetarily and aesthetic.

Cabinetry

Outdoor kitchen storage is essential at keeping your outdoor kitchen supplies organized and clean. By getting cabinets built on to your outdoor kitchen, you are sure to have room for everything. Outdoor kitchen storage is perfect for cutting down trips inside the house. Everything you need will be outside in your custom built kitchen cabinetry–right where you need it!

Hidden Storage

Hidden storage chests and storage built into your custom built cabana is another perfect way to hide your outdoor stuff. Towels, outdoor furniture pillows and pads, and anything else you need stored remains hidden until you are ready to use them.

Firewood Cubby

Firewood can be a hassle to deal with and keep organized. Logs tumbling over or not staying where they’re supposed to be can cause a headache and look messy. A Firewood cubby is an ideal way to keep those logs in line. Patios with built-in shelving make the perfect firewood cubby and easily accessible.

Outdoor Bar

If you entertain regularly, an outdoor bar is the perfect outdoor storage idea for all your glasses, ice, and liquors. Outdoor bars can come with shelving, refrigerators, and cabinets, making it the perfect addition to your backyard.

Top Outdoor Storage Ideas

Although outdoor storage can seem like an issue, it doesn’t have to be. Between outdoor kitchen cabinetry, a pool house, and an outdoor bar, you will gain more space than ever to hide all that equipment and other things you store, but want to keep from view.

To learn more about how you can create an outdoor storage oasis in your yard, Contact Us.

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