This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
10. Prep Your Pipes
In cold-winter regions, shut off any exterior water systems before cold weather hits. Then open the tap and drain the lines to prevent damage. Finally, disconnect any hoses. Do the same for any water lines leading to an outdoor kitchen.
At the same time, drain and clean any outdoor water features, such as fountains and ponds.
In warmer regions, check that your irrigation system is still working correctly. Repair or replace any sprinkler heads or drip system components as needed. Cut back on watering frequency as the weather cools. If rainfall is sufficient, turn the system off.
Even if you live in a warmer area, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on winter forecasts. Insulate exterior pipes and taps if a freeze is predicted, especially one that will last several days. Another option is to open the taps slightly to allow water to slowly drip out.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
This Austin, Texas, couple loved their home, but they did not love that it had no covered parking or place to safely store electric bikes, throw an outdoor party or let their French bulldog, Cash, roam free. They embarked on a long design journey with Dick Clark + Associates and Stephen Thomas Construction to add style and functionality to their steeply sloped front yard.
“This project required a variance, and the permitting process was long and challenging,” project manager Bob Perez says. “From the time the architects started the design to the time we finished building was about two years.” Luckily, the couple’s patience paid off. They now have a two-car carport, a protected bike garage, a reworked entry and an expanded patio that includes an outdoor kitchen, a covered area and full smart home technology outdoors for fans, heaters, lighting, speakers and misters.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Before Photo
“After” photos by Becky Rees Creative; staging by Catherine Heleniak
3. Modern Rustic With Japanese Influences
Patio at a Glance
Who lives here: Two doctors who like to relax outside
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Size: 590 square feet (55 square meters)
Designer and builder: Outdoor Dreams
Before: Two busy doctors loved relaxing outside at their Richmond, Virginia, home but were frustrated by their small patio and patchy lawn. They turned to landscape designer Greg Koehler, whom they found on Houzz, with a wish list that included a wood-burning fireplace, an outdoor kitchen, a lounge area and a beautiful view.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
7. Celebrate Leaves
Take in the fall foliage on a hiking trail, at a local park or in your yard. Turn raking leaves from a chore into a chance to appreciate Mother Nature’s show. Once you have a pile of leaves, it might just be time to channel your inner child and jump in.
Rather than immediately bagging your leaves, consider using some or all of them as a natural mulch. You can spread a thin layer over your garden beds or lawn, allowing the leaves to decompose and add nutrients to the soil. Don’t make the layer too thick, especially over a lawn, as you don’t want to kill whatever might be growing underneath. Use a lawnmower or garden shredder to turn the leaves into smaller pieces.
5 Ways to Put Fall Leaves to Work in Your Garden
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Fall days are still long and bright enough to make being outside pleasant but cooler than the summer heat, so the idea of taking on a landscape project is inviting. If you’re looking for ways to take advantage of fall days and also get a jump on gearing up for winter or spring projects, think about what you loved about your landscape over the past few months. What could use some improvements and what might be a good idea to tackle before winter closes in? Below are eight ideas that can give you a head start.
Some of these are fairly simple. Others might take more time and require help from professionals. If you’re looking at building projects, check first with local pros about availability and timelines, especially if cold weather will curtail further progress. You’ll also need to check local regulations and requirements for required permits, as they can vary widely for even small projects.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Get Down to Eye Level
It’s tempting to run upstairs and take a photo of the yard from a top floor window. After all, an aerial shot will show the whole space clearly. However, this isn’t necessarily the best way to showcase your projects. Photographs taken at ground level look more attractive and will give an idea of how it feels to be in the space.
This image, taken by Fine House Photography, provides a potential client with the view they would have if they were walking along the gravel path, with the greenery either side of them. A photo like this can be much more evocative than a wider shot taken from higher up.
To get the best results, it’s a good idea to invest in professional photography. Someone with skill and experience with a camera knows how to achieve images that are framed beautifully.
Find a professional photographer near you
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Many people give their outdoor furniture, pillows, pads and rugs a good cleaning in spring, but late summer and early fall also are opportune times for sprucing things up. They’ll have a sparkle that you can enjoy the rest of the season. And if the end of spending time outdoors is coming up, you’ll get a head start on buttoning down the yard before a cold-climate winter.
Read on to learn how to clean different types of outdoor furniture and accessories. Here’s a hint: Start with the simplest option, then move on to more aggressive methods. You also should consult any available care instructions.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
1. Make It Feel Like an Extension of the Home
If you’d like to create an outdoor space that feels as comfortable as a room in your home, it’s worth considering the flooring. A soft material underfoot can tempt you out, even before you’ve put on your shoes.
The owner of this yard had a dream of being able to walk out barefoot and be surrounded by plants. “I said, in that case, we need to build you a deck,” landscape designer Pippa Schofield says. Two levels of the soft wood planks are roughly split into dining and lounging areas. “The top deck is nice for having breakfast, then, the way the light goes, the owners use the sofa and lower deck for afternoon and evening entertaining,” Schofield says.
Wood decking was used in this project, but for added durability and ease of maintenance, you could consider composite decking. These wood particle and plastic boards look the same as the wood versions, but without the need to clean off mold or repair areas that have rotted.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Algozzini often uses seamless bluestone or granite for outdoor counters. “They can be honed, polished or, in the case of granite, even have a leather finish,” he says. “We also use some newer synthetics, which generally provide a lower profile with a crisper, slightly more contemporary look.” The counters seen here are outdoor-grade engineered quartz.
Douglass also recommends granite. “It’s durable, looks great and cleans easily,” he says. For outdoor installations, he suggests a 3-centimeter-thick granite counter instead of a thinner one. “The extra thickness will help with laminated seams,” he says. He also advises against using a full, laminated bullnose, saying that “extreme weather will cause problems in the long run.”
Work with a landscape contractor in your area
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
No one has to shiver for long while hastening into the house after soaking in this backyard hot tub in Los Angeles, thanks to its proximity to a doorway. The homeowner got rid of an unused swimming pool so landscape designer Catherine Bosler of Bosler Earth Design could install the hot tub and deck seen here, plus a covered lounge area and plenty of drought-tolerant plantings interwoven with pathways.
Being that the homeowner is British, Bosler looked to the English countryside for inspiration, infusing the space with softness, texture and color. Climbing jasmine grows on the cable railing panel between the deck and hot tub, adding greenery and an enticing fragrance to the space.
Extra-nice touch: The hot tub has built-in shelving along the side for towels and other necessities.
Read more about this project