For over the last 11 years, we’ve been in the business of building beautiful and long lasting outdoor living spaces for homeowners in the Kansas City and surrounding areas. Hardscapes are our passion and, over time, they’ve become our specialty. In the last decade we’ve been able to learn a lot about the do’s and don’ts of hardscape design. Here are 5 things to consider when designing your outdoor living space.
Enough Space
Your patio doesn’t have to be huge, it just needs to be the right size for you and your family! Most of our clients purchase their outdoor living project because they want an awesome space to entertain. Usually this includes sharing a meal with those that they love most. It’s important to consider the number of guests that you’ll be entertaining at any given time. If you prefer to entertain a smaller crowd, you’ll have plenty of room with a 400 sqft patio. If you’re planning on hosting birthday parties, milestone celebrations and the annual block party, you might want to consider extending the patio.
When determining if a patio will be large enough, consider the furniture that you plan on using. Make sure to include room for the grill and your potted plants. Often, people find that their patio design can look much larger on paper than in reality. This is why it’s important to lay out your patio design before signing a contract with a hardscape designer. If you want tips on laying out your patio design, click here to watch our step-by-step video tutorial.
Develop A Focal Point
Creating an awesome focal point can be one of the most exciting aspects of building a patio project. Many of our clients opt for a fire pit and seating wall combination. This is a fantastic addition to any patio because it’s something that the whole family can enjoy! The kids will love hosting sleepovers around a warm fire. After all, who doesn’t love roasting s’mores, telling ghost stories and singing songs?
If you’re the ultimate entertainer, you will love a fireplace or an outdoor kitchen. Serving a delicious meal with the ambiance of a fireplace will make your dinner parties very memorable. Adding a fireplace also allows you to enjoy the space even when the sun goes down or the temperature drops.An outdoor kitchen is also a great addition for anyone looking to keep the party at their pad. We can incorporate grills, smokers, sinks, mini refrigerators and even a sleek granite countertop! Most of our clients who incorporate an outdoor kitchen into their hardscape design, also opt for a drink rail. The drink rail allows the chef to cook while mingling with the guests.
Delve Into Draining Issues
Dun, dun, DUNNNNNN!!!!!! We can’t stress this enough. In order to create a successful hardscape design, you MUST have a drainage plan in place. This will ensure that the patio is beautiful and structurally long lasting. A pour drainage plan is probably one of the biggest reasons why hardscape projects fail. This is why it’s so worth it to hire an expert. Sure, you can probably find a guy that can install a half price patio – but you’ll just end up paying more in the end.
