Bringing in the Beauty of Nature

Architectural Digest recently did a feature titled Garden Rooms.  The beautiful gallery of images features elegant conservatories, atriums and sunrooms that according to AD “celebrate the immediate presence of nature.”  At Outdoor Environments we hope that in providing your custom outdoor living needs we are bringing a little nature into your lives as well.

Below are some of our favorite rooms inspired by nature.

This 1929 Dallas-area residence features a vaulted breakfast pavilion, or conservatory that AD says “resembles a domed tempietto”.

The solarium at The Cloister at Sea Island, in Georgia, was rebuilt by architect Peter Capone, who wanted to capture some of the 1928 original while making sure the guests had all of the benefits of today’s amenities.

The enclosed porch in this weekend residence in southwestern Michigan features walls and ceilings that are done in the same corrugated metal on the house’s exterior.  Architectural Digest writes that “With doors and windows on three sides, the room spills easily onto the lawn.”

“It’s English in style—Lutyens with a Palladian twist,” designer Marshall Watson says of the circa 1897 Summit, New Jersey house.  AD writes that, “A porch at Old Westbury Gardens inspired the conservatory’s airy design. The porcelain-and-gilt chandelier is a reproduction of ones found in the orangery at Versailles.”

For more on the Garden Homes featured in Architectural Digest click here.

For information on how Outdoor Environments can create your own beautiful outdoor living space click here.

Maintaining Your Deck

Now that the weather has turned warm it is time to get your deck ready for barbeque season. To extend the life of your deck you will need to routinely clean it.

Before cleaning your deck, remove everything from the floor and sweep away all debris.  Now to the cleaning, you can use a oxygen based cleaner, which is safe for the environment, pets and kids.   Dissolve the cleaner into water and apply across your deck with a mop, handled brush or sprayer.

You will need to wait 10 minutes before you wash away with either a garden hose or pressure washer.  If you use a pressure washer it is very important to set the dial to 1,500 pounds of pressure per square inch, any higher and you can risk damaging the wood.

For further instructions please watch this short clip from DIYNetwork.com.

Spring Training

The warm weather has arrived and it is now time to enjoy your backyard in all its glory.  At Outdoor Environments we take pride in our finished product and want you to be able to spend as much time outdoors as possible.  And one way to do that is by bringing your exercise regime out.  We pulled a couple of our favorite ways to make your deck multi-functional from Design Milk, read what they have to say below.

The yoga deck

Your deck or outdoor patio is a great place for yoga, whether your alone or with friends.

Also, invest in a set of hand weights so you can also do some strength training in this same space.

The water bike

Bring the joy of your spin class home for the summer season.  This underwater bike from Hydrorider works even in a smaller pool.

The water treadmill

If you are lacking in an Olympic-sized swimming pools, there’s the Swimmill.  Swimmill is the aquatic version of the treadmill as it lets you swim without changing your position. The water current produced by Swimmill is the one that moves. Swimmill allows you to adjust the speed of the water current to satisfy all kinds of swimmers, from beginners to the most advanced. It makes the length of your pool infinite and allows you to enjoy swimming for any time or distance you choose in your own home.

Want to enjoy exercising outdoors all year round.  Move your workouts to your custom built detached porch from Outdoor Environments.  You’ll have the beauty of being outdoors with the warmth of an enclosed structure.

Now off the couch and hit the deck!

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