An outdoor fireplace does more than keep you warm

As the hectic pace of daily life seems to get faster and faster each year, it’s good as a homeowner to invest in things that keep you and your family together and grounded in this crazy world. We know, we know…the kids have basketball practice, dad’s working late this week, the electrical outlet in the upstairs bathroom stopped working yesterday, grandma’s coming over for dinner tomorrow, and the family dog needs to go for her yearly checkup. Whew!?  Imagine trying to squeeze in some family time in the midst of all that! It’s tough and it doesn’t look like it will be getting any easier anytime soon.

Investing in your home’s outdoor living spaces can offer a great opportunity for making the most of your time with close friends and family. That’s why when the talented team at Harmony Hill Landscaping creates an amazing backyard oasis that features an outdoor fireplace, they are really creating memories. Instead of struggling to think of an activity that the whole family will enjoy, your own backyard becomes a special place to spend time together without the hassle of leaving home.   

As the weather here in the Hudson Valley starts to dip down into the 20’s and 30’s, remember that the fire pit just outside the backdoor does more than keep your fingers and toes toasty warm; it brings your family closer together. So clear off the patio, grab a bundle of wood, and round up the family for hot chocolate and hot toddy’s and see how a regular ole’ evening can become something truly special. 

Design your new outdoor kitchen in the winter

As soon as the weather here in Hudson Valley turns warm, landscaping and outdoor living become top of mind. After all, who wants to think about doing anything outside when the temperatures in Dutchess and Orange counties are nearing the freezing mark? The problem, however, is that come the spring sunshine, you really want to be enjoying your outdoor home, not beginning the construction process. Trust us, it’s a lot more fun to welcome summer sitting on a beautifully installed patio looking at your new outdoor kitchen than it is to spend May and June with dirt piles taller than your SUV. So how do you make sure your grilling burgers on your new grill come June? You plan your outdoor living space in January and February.    

Sitting indoors by the fireplace with a hot cup of tea watching the snowflakes fall is not a bad setting for researching your new outdoor kitchen. Flipping through outdoor living magazines and scouring the Internet for industry professionals and design ideas can be a fun way to pass the winter months. And aside from this being a relaxing introduction to the process, there are also a few big advantages of using the winter months for planning.  For one, landscape contractors here in the Hudson Valley have more time in the “off” months to really dive into your project, planning all the details for a perfect installation come spring.

Another advantage to winter designing is that because of the nature of the work, the best Dutchess County landscape companies book up very quickly early on in the season. But if you have been getting a jump on things by planning throughout the winter, your chances of getting on the schedule early are far greater than if you had waited until spring to get started. The early bird gets the worm as they say, and this is no less true when it comes to designing the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.  

Happy planning! 

-image courtesy of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet.