By Lisa Allen Design • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Extend the Seasonal Use of Your Outdoor Living Space by Adding an Outdoor Fireplace

outdoor fireplace olathe

Extend the Seasonal Use of Your Outdoor Living Space by Adding an Outdoor Fireplace

It’s happening: the mornings are a bit cooler. Evenings, too. As our Olathe temperatures drop below the sweltering point of high summer, it becomes easier to think about the seasons to come.

But those seasons also bring colder temperatures, which means less time spent outdoors. Sure, autumn can be cozy during the day; but when night falls and the sun is no longer warming our outdoor spaces, even fall nights can be uncomfortably chilly.

One way to keep using your outdoor space, even when colder temperatures set in, is by adding an outdoor fireplace.

Types of Outdoor Fireplaces

To say that outdoor fireplaces come in different shapes and sizes is to say that Pumpkin Spice Lattes are a simple coffee drink. There is no “typical” outdoor fireplace. An outdoor fireplace can be a simple fire pit or fire bowl; a fire table or fire column; a chiminea or a pizza oven. It could also be a simple patio heater or an elaborate fire and water feature.

The point is this: no matter your budget, your design aesthetic, or how often you might use an outdoor fireplace, there is one that fits your needs.

What to Consider When Deciding on an Outdoor Fireplace

Like other landscape decisions, installing an outdoor fireplace requires thought and planning. How often you’ll use it is a good place to start. Also consider what you’ll use it for: do you simply want a spot to gather with friends and family? If so, a fire pit that can be used whenever the temperature warrants might be the perfect choice. You can even toast a marshmallow or two or make s’mores over the flame of a fire bowl.

But if you want to cook outdoors, you’ll need something better suited to that purpose. Or, if you want a show-stopping, breathtaking, architectural attraction as part of your landscape design, you’ll need more than a simple fire pit.

Of course, the more elaborate the fireplace, the more you’ll need to budget. And remember to think of the space you have available, too; some spaces will only accommodate a small fireplace while others can handle something larger.

The Advantages of Outdoor Fireplaces

It’s easy to see how cozy an outdoor fireplace can make your space. By adding a fire element to your outdoor landscape, you can extend the length of time you’re happy while outdoors. Because you can add warmth to a colder evening, you might venture outside more often in the cooler autumn and even winter months.

Other advantages might not be so immediately apparent, but they’re nonetheless important. You’ll not only be creating an ambiance that makes entertaining more fun, but you can also increase the value of your home.

Regardless of which outdoor fireplace is best for you, we’re adept at helping homeowners create outdoor spaces they enjoy year-round. Give us a call and let us show you how beautiful your outdoor space can be.

By ddmg Landscape • Renovation • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

Finishing Before Fall: Seasonal Olathe Landscaping Ideas

Here in Olathe, we’ve had a pretty mild summer. Most grass stayed green and the heat was easily beat. We’ve been lucky. As fall rolls in, the prep and prepare work shouldn’t be too dubious this year. Still, there a few Olathe landscaping ideas to look at before the first freeze of the year.

At Huston Contracting, we know Olathe landscaping like the back of our hand. So, we wanted to detail a few things you should finish up before fall. 

Finishing Before Fall: Seasonal Olathe Landscaping Ideas

By getting these things done before it starts freezing, you’ll set your yard up for an ideal spring. Let’s dive in and look at a few seasonal Olathe landscape ideas:

  • Olathe Outdoor Kitchens

By installing your Olathe outdoor kitchen before it gets too cold, you’ll get to have a few grill outs and get togethers with the warmth. This is ideal because you’ll get a feel for the space and have all winter to think how you’ll use the space when it heats up, again.

  • Plant Some Trees

By planting trees in the early fall, you have one huge advantage over other times of the year: the soil is already warm. With warm soil, the trees roots grow faster and dig deeper. You get better overall root growth, which leads to a healthier tree. If you can plant a few trees before the first freeze, they’ll be prepped and prepared to bloom next spring.

  • New Patio Furniture

This one is a bit basic, but hear us out. As Olathe landscapers, we know that patio furniture can be costly. However, if you buy as the summer season winds down, you’ll find prices are significantly lower than before. In fact, many stores offer up to 75% to get rid of inventory before winter rolls in.

  • Olathe Retaining Wall Installation

Fall is a great time to hire a professional contractor to install an Olathe retaining wall. The soil is warm and the ground is ripe for moving. Fall is a great time to install a retaining wall.

  • Clean Up

If you only handle one fall landscaping item, cleaning up your yard should be it. Prune your plants and bushes. Focus on keeping everything tidy. Rake up leaves. This will make your spring landscape that much prettier when the time comes.

Olathe Landscaping Professionals For You

If you’re in the Olathe area and looking for landscaping services this fall, we hope you’ll reach out. At Huston Contracting, we offer a wide range of services sure to fit every one of your Olathe landscaping needs.