The Guide to Getting Your Home Ready for The Holidays

The holidays are right around the corner! Are you ready for guests (sometimes unexpected) and holiday celebrations? Is your house ready for the festivities or are you feeling overwhelmed trying to figure out how to get your home ready in time? If you are feeling anxious about getting your house ready for the holidays, have no fear. These 7 tips will help you get your home holiday ready in no time. Share on X

Getting Your Home Ready for the Holiday Season

Hosting guests or a holiday party at your home can be stressful and time-consuming if you don’t have a plan of action. Here are seven ways to get your home ready for the holiday season:

  1. Deep Clean
  2. Declutter & Organize
  3. Get Festive with Decorations
  4. Guest Rooms Ready
  5. Light Up the Night
  6. Elevate Your Outdoor Space
  7. Add a Spark

1) Deep Clean

Don’t just clean, give your home a deep clean. Clean up areas that are usually neglected, like the top of the refrigerator, the oven, the banister, ceiling fan blades, and anything else that hasn’t been cleaned regularly.

2) Declutter & Organize

If you have stacks of papers sitting around, go through them. Organize drawers and cabinets, and anything else that feels cluttered. This is the perfect time to simplify and get rid of junk that is taking up space and collecting dust.

3) Get Festive with Decorations

Now that you have deep cleaned and organized, spruce up your space with festive decorations. Add lights, fresh flowers, and other decorative holiday treasures around your home to make it feel welcoming and comfortable.

4) Guest Rooms Ready

Spend extra time making your guests feel special by getting the guest room and bathroom perfect for their stay. Make sure there is plenty of toilet paper, extra towels and blankets, and also other things they might need like soap, toothpaste, and tissue paper.

5) Light Up the Night

Invest in some inexpensive night lights and place them in the hallways and guest areas in case your visitors need to get up in the middle of the night.

6) Elevate Your Outdoor Space

What better way to entertain this holiday than by heading outside? Create a comfortable seating area under your covered patio, or spend an evening grilling in your outdoor kitchen. Everyone loves the brisk air while enjoying some hot, deliciously grilled vittles!

7) Add a Spark

Pro Tip: A perfect way to get your home ready for the holidays is to add an outdoor fireplace or a fire pit to your outdoor living space. 

Place oversized and comfy seating around your fire pit or outdoor fireplace for the perfect place for everyone to relax and create memories.

Getting Your Home Ready for the Holidays

Getting your home ready for the holidays doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful when you follow the above tips. Once you have your home ready and cleaned up, you can relax and enjoy your guests and holidays without having to worry about a thing.

Contact us to learn more great ways to get your home ready for the holidays.

Creekstone Outdoor Living: 2018 Pinnacle Award Winner

Creekstone Outdoor Living is pleased to announce that they have been honored as a 2018 Pinnacle Award Winner by Luxury Pools + Outdoor Living Magazine! Sam Hickey, the owner of Creekstone Outdoor Living, teamed up with Regal Pools to create an outdoor living masterpiece that won top honors for Ultimate Outdoor Entertaining Space. Creekstone Outdoors: 2018 Pinnacle Award Winner, Outdoor Entertaining Design, Outdoor Kitchen

Luxury Pools + Outdoor Living Magazine 

Each year, the magazine Luxury Pools + Outdoor Living hosts the Pinnacle Awards honoring the most prestigious pool builders and outdoor landscape designers. Esteemed judges seek out outdoor projects that represent the year’s best designs. Creekstone Outdoor Living’s outdoor entertainment design wowed the judges and ended up being highlighted on the cover of the Fall/Winter 2018 issue. Copies of this issue are still available through the Luxury Pools + Outdoor Living website.

Ultimate Outdoor Entertaining Space

Creekstone Outdoor Living enjoyed creating the ultimate outdoor entertaining space with the help of Regal Pools. Their three-layered pool design caters to all ages and swimming preferences, and the 1,500 square foot covered outdoor living area is perfect for relaxing after a nice swim or eating a delicious meal cooked in the outdoor kitchen.

Creekstone Outdoor Design

This amazing project was created using all exposed Douglas fir beams, 12×12 solid columns with custom fabricated trusses and automated lighting to light up the night while you entertain friends and family. This same design also won the prestigious GHBA Prism Award (Greater Houston Builders Association) for best Outdoor Living Space.

Contact us to learn how you can get a beautiful, custom-designed outdoor living space for your own Houston-area home.

5 Outdoor Fire Features to Transform Your Outdoor Space

People are spending a lot more time in their outdoor spaces and having a bland yard just won’t cut it anymore. These days, people want to transform their yards to make it a place to unwind, relax, and entertain with ponds, flower beds, vegetable gardens, outdoor kitchens, and more increasingly, fire features.  

Transform Your Yard with Outdoor Fire Features

If you are hoping to transform your yard, but you’re unsure which fire feature will be a good fit in your outdoor space, get transfixed by one of these outdoor fire features and you’ll be sitting around the fire telling stories in no time.

  1. Built-In Fireplace
  2. Fire Pit
  3. A Bowl of Fire
  4. Fire Column
  5. Chiminea
Looking to transform your yard with an outdoor fire feature? Here are 5 popular fire features to help you make your decision. Share on X

1) Built-In Fireplace

A built-in fireplace is a perfect way to enjoy an outdoor fire all year. A built-in fireplace fits perfectly when designed to match your covered patio. Choose from a variety of materials, colors, styles, and finishes. Make sure to talk to an outdoor living design expert to help you create your perfect built-in fireplace.

2) Fire Pit

The most popular outside fire feature these days is the fire pit. They literally come in every shape and style and can, like the built-in fireplace, be made from a plethora of materials, and finishes. In addition to providing heat and a comforting place to sit and relax, your pit can also help you cook up some tasty food, too.

3) A Bowl of Fire

While they seem similar, the fire bowl is different than a fire pit, in that a bowl is not usually built into the ground, but is usually portable and much more lightweight. Fire bowls can be useful in areas that have regulations set by landlords or housing authorities.

4) Fire Column

A fire column is a newer fire feature that combines the best of a fire bowl, but into a sleek and stylish column that is typically fueled by gas. They take up less room and are, like bowls, usually portable. Fire columns, however, should only be used for heating, and not for cooking foods.

5) Chiminea

A chiminea is another fire feature that comes from the American Southwest and Mexico areas. The word chiminea is Spanish for chimney and that is exactly what it is–a portable chimney. It provides heat and comes made in terracotta or even metal.  The shape of this fire feature sends the smoke upwards and also allows it to be used while it’s raining outside.

Outdoor Fire Features

ProTip: Fire features can instantly transform your yard, creating a natural gathering place you and your family can sit around relaxing, making smores, and creating memories.

Whether you choose to have a fireplace built into your covered patio or a fire pit with cozy chairs seated around it, an outdoor fire feature is one of the best ways to help boost your home value and also creates a great focal point in your yard.

Contact us to learn more ways to transform your backyard with an outdoor fire feature.

Patio Problems: When to Repair and When to Renovate

Is your patio old and outdated? Is your paver patio cracked, leaving it uneven and causing a tripping hazard for your friends and family? Or is your wooden patio warped and aged and giving people splinters when they walk barefoot? Just like everything else in your home, your patio needs maintenance and upkeep. You might be asking: Can these patio problems be fixed by a simple repair, or do I need to renovate?

How Big is Your Patio Problem?

To determine whether your patio issue can get by with a repair or if you need to take the plunge and just get it renovated, you must first assess the different types of patio problems to determine what you are experiencing. Here are five common patio problems so you can better determine what the best plan of action is for you.

Different Types of Patios & Their Problems

Trying to determine whether to repair or renovate your patio problem? Here are four common patio issues and information to help you make the best decision. Share on X
  1. Failing Flagstone
  2. Shifting Patio Pavers
  3. Cracked Concrete
  4. Warped Wooden Decking

1) Failing Flagstone

Flagstone is a popular choice for patios because of its natural look and earthy, timeless appearance. Unfortunately, flagstone is subject to erosion, and without proper installation, you might run into drainage problems, as well as splitting. To determine whether your flagstone simply needs little repair work or if it’s time to renovate, contact a local landscape professional to discuss your options.

2) Shifting Patio Pavers

Paver and brick patios look terrific, but after some time, the pavers settle, leaving dips and uneven areas, and even create tripping hazards. In order to repair this patio problem, you need to remove the old bricks so you can re-establish a firm base. This can be a tedious and time-consuming endeavor. Consider hiring a professional to complete this job–whether you opt for a repair, or to do a full patio renovation.

3) Cracked Concrete

Concrete patios can create a number of patio issues. After time, the concrete can end up with cracks, holes, and pitting. When this occurs, you have the option of filling the cracks or completely resurfacing it. Another option is to install something completely different on top of the cracked and aging cement, like interlocking tiles to prevent further cracking in the future.

4) Warped Wooden Deck

According to statistics, there are over 40 million wooden decks in the United States that are over 20 years old. The typical life expectancy of a wooden deck or patio is approximately 15 years. If yours falls around this age, it is a good time to have your patio renovated to prevent rotting beams and other issues that revolve around aging wood.

Patio Repairs & Renovations

Whether you decide to repair or renovate your patio, it is always best to talk to a professional first. If you decide on a renovation, you should also consider upgrading your outdoor space by adding a patio cover, or even an outdoor kitchen. You can never go wrong with making upgrades to your outdoor living space!

Contact us to learn more about whether your patio problems can be resolved through repairs, or if you need a renovation.

6 Creative Design Ideas For Your Backyard Renovation

Summer is settling down and the weather is a little more bearable making it the perfect time to spend it relaxing (or entertaining) friends and family in your backyard. Or, if you have been neglecting your outdoor space, this fall season is ideal for getting creative with a backyard renovation. There are so many ways to update your boring backyard to make it more inviting at your next get-together or to just create a serene place to relax after those long days at work.

Creative Backyard Renovation Ideas

Your backyard is an important part of your home and it should not be neglected. With the right upgrades and upkeep, your outdoor space can greatly boost the overall value of your home. Here are six ways to elevate your backyard and make it a place everyone will want to spend time in.

  1. Mood Lighting
  2. Add a Spark
  3. Luscious Landscaping
  4. Themed Inspiration
  5. Get Cooking–Outside
  6. Outdoor Dining

1) Mood Lighting

Create the perfect ambiance in your backyard with mood lighting. Whether you place solar lights around your landscaping to highlight walkways and pretty plants, or you hang lights from your pergola or arbor, you will create the right mood for relaxing or entertaining al fresco with friends and family.

2) Add a Spark

Adding a fire pit or outdoor fireplace to your outdoor space is another terrific way to add value to your home and create a cozy place for your loved ones to gather around at the end of the day to chat, make smores, and create memories.

3) Luscious Landscaping

The easiest way to renovate your backyard is to add some landscaping! Having a yard with only a lawn to upkeep and mow each week looks plain and bland. Consider your climate first to decide which plants will grow with ease in your area. Share on X Add character by incorporating flowering shrubs, vining plants, and container gardens to your outdoor space.

4) Themed Inspiration

Another creative design idea for a backyard renovation is to choose a theme for your space. Your options are endless! Some popular themes are tropical, Tuscan, English garden, desert, or beach-house to name a few. Again–get creative and see what themed inspiration you come up with!

5) Get Cooking–Outside

An instant way to renovate your backyard space is to add an outdoor kitchen! An outdoor kitchen can be the new focal point of your yard and allow you more ways to spend time outside. There are so many design options for your new outdoor kitchen and you can custom tailor them to the look or theme you want.

6) Outdoor Dining

Even if you aren’t able to get an outdoor kitchen at this time, creating an outdoor dining space is another easy way to renovate your backyard. Dining areas are the new must-have for any backyard. Make sure to have comfy chairs for all your guests who will be begging to come over and hang out in your newly renovated outdoor space.

Renovating Your Outdoor Living Space

One thing is for sure, renovating your outdoor living space not only boosts your home value, but it will get you and your loved ones spending more time outside. By implementing some of the above design ideas, your backyard renovation will be done in no time and you will be enjoying time together eating by the fire pit.

Contact us to learn more creative design ideas for your backyard renovation.