Our Top 5 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Living
We’ve compiled the top questions our clients have when they’re starting to plan their outdoor living spaces. Read below to get in the know!
What is an outdoor living space?
Outdoor living spaces are increasing in popularity as homeowners want to expand their living area into their yards. It’s about more than adding a patio - an outdoor living transformation can increase your enjoyment of your home by creating another room or series of rooms that encourage more entertaining, play, and togetherness for you and your family.
It’s about maximizing the potential of your outdoor spaces just as you would inside your home.
What are you dreaming of?
When speaking with new clients, we work together to get to the heart of how they envision themselves living outdoors, and use that to craft their custom design. Our goal is to increase these three main factors:
Versatility: Outdoor living spaces are thoughtfully integrated to create a cohesive whole that feels just right for any size gathering or activity
Comfort: Added shade and fans for hot summer nights or fire and heaters for cooler ones, improved lighting for hanging out into the evening hours, improved privacy, and space to spread out and relax
Easy Care: Materials that can stand the test of time, and plant selections that look beautiful year round
#5: Can I work with the existing elements I already have?
Absolutely! It’s fun to reimagine the flow and function of existing decks, patios and porches. We may suggest refinishing what you have, reworking the flow around these elements with paths and garden beds, or updating their footprints.
Your existing patio could be transformed into an outdoor lounge by adding a screened porch or roof extension.
If you have a pool, it can be updated with a new surround and coping, new interior color or new tile.
Your existing deck can be expanded to add room for your dining table and sofa.
We are experienced at building and renovating all kinds of landscape features, and love thinking of creative and unique solutions to find just the right design for you.
#4: Does outdoor living only involve hardscaping?
While the main blocks of your new outdoor living landscape will likely be hardscaped, we don’t consider your landscape complete without plants. Plants bring everything to life, adding a critical layer of softness and change with each passing season.
Flower beds, pathways, trees, and vines add a dynamic layer to your space that greatly improves your experience outdoors.
We are passionate plantspeople who take these elements seriously, choosing just the right plants for you based on your style, your environment, and your desired use of the space.
#3: How do I choose materials that will match my home?
When designing your new outdoor living space, we study the architectural details and materials of your home and choose materials that match or coordinate with what you have. It’s important that your indoor and outdoor worlds feel cohesive and connected with each other.
We will provide 3D visualizations of your design so you can see exactly how all of these pieces fit together. Without this, it’s easy for miscommunication to creep into your project, which can lead to frustrations and disappointment with the end result. Our goal is to eliminate surprises and work together with you to dial in on just the right look for your new space so you are confident that you’re getting exactly what you’re dreaming of.
#2: What are some of the outdoor living trends that add the most value?
Adaptability is the name of the game for your outdoor living space. For instance, when placing a wall along the edge of your new patio, we like to imagine it being used as a seat wall for extra guests during a party, as an extra table to lay out snacks and drinks by the pool, as a structural element to show off the bank of grasses planted along the back, AND as a sunny spot for your cat to lounge during the day. Or maybe you’ll want to grab some pillows and a book and lounge there yourself!
We incorporate three main elements into a new deck or patio: dining, cooking, and lounging, and make sure that all three of these are considered in the space we design for you. Then, based on your specific wish list, these areas can be scaled up or down to accommodate you but also give you flexibility to expand for an event.
Once your project is complete, you may find yourself using different areas of your new space in ways you didn’t imagine in the beginning of your project!
#1: How do I build an outdoor living space within my budget?
In addition to your wish list and site conditions, budget is the third important factor we consider when we’re designing your new space. We will talk with you about scope and budget early on in the process, and continue to provide you with budgetary information as we work together to create your design. This ensures that there are no surprises once your design is finished, and that you have a design that is tailored to fit you and your desired budget.
The worst outcome would be for us to design a landscape for you that you can’t install because it’s over budget.
You may also decide to have us design everything on your wish list and then phase your project. We will provide you with recommendations on which elements should be completed with each phase, and show you how your new landscape will look after each is completed.
Now What?
Now that you’ve learned more about some of the larger topics to consider when planning your new outdoor areas, it’s time to start your wish list.
What elements and features do you want? Which of these are top priorities and which are nice to haves?
What kind of experiences do you want to have in your new yard?
Have you always dreamed of being the one to host the family gatherings?
Does it warm your heart to picture yourself watching your children and pets play in the yard as you prep dinner on the grill?
What kinds of memories may your kids form as they have their friends over to swim in the pool or sit by the fire?
Do you long for a serene getaway for yourself with a book and a glass of wine at the end of the day?
What kind of investment would you like to make in your new outdoor living space? Do you want to complete the project all at once or would you prefer to phase it over time?
Let’s get started!
When you’re ready we would love to speak with you to turn your dreams into reality!
We understand the importance of getting value for your investment, and don’t want you to have the hassle of working through the complex process of designing and installing a custom outdoor living space on your own. We partner with you for the entire process:
Creating a custom design through our collaborative design process
Management of every detail of your installation: permitting, inspections, contractor scheduling, timeline management
Plant and material care and maintenance information, watering schedule and strategy, support and advice as needed
You’ll be surprised at how fun and easy it is to create the outdoor living space of your dreams!
