Tulsa Outdoor Living - Plan Now to Revamp Your Space

Now is the best time to think about all the things you would can build for your Tulsa outdoor living space this summer. And now is the time to make a plan so that you can start in the spring!

The Tulsa outdoor living experts at Oklahoma Landscape can help design and build the best outdoor environment for your home. We can work with you from concept to creation in designing and building your dream Tulsa outdoor living space. Here are some ideas to get started . . .

Add an outdoor kitchen. These outdoor cooking areas make entertaining a breeze. Today outdoor kitchens in Tulsa can be built to care for all your cooking needs. They not only caninclude a grill but also stainless steel refrigerators, pizza ovens, wine coolers, sinks for easy cleanup, storage, outdoor televisions, burners, and more. Everything you need for game day or an elegant outside dinner with friends is right there in your outdoor kitchen. 

Create a dining area and plenty of seating. What goes better with an outdoor kitchen than an outdoor dining area? There are a variety of design options when it comes to outdoor dining tables, but creating a designated dining area adds sophistication and structure to your Tulsa outdoor living space. More and more homeowners are bringing the indoors outside so that they can enjoy all the comforts of home while also enjoying the outdoors. An outdoor dining area does just that, creating the perfect area for family picnics and dinners to entertain friends or clients.

Creating plenty of seating areas is another addition you may consider for your outdoor space. Whether you add benches, chairs, or even outdoor sofas, your outdoor living space will be more inviting if there is plenty of seating space for guests. However, be careful not to have too much seating so that it overcrowds your outdoor living space.

Build an outdoor fireplace or fire pit. The crisp spring, fall, and even summer nights can be enjoyed by the glow of an outdoor fireplaces or fire pit. These outdoor amenities create a great place for people to gather around and share old stories. Outdoor fireplaces in Tulsa can be constructed using a variety of materials to match your outdoor environment. Not only are they a great entertaining spot, but they also can help to increase the value of your home and property. Whether for a chilly fall night or just to create a romantic ambiance, Tulsa outdoor fireplaces are the perfect makeover addition to your outdoor living space.

Create a focal point in your outdoor space. Some backyard areas can begin to seem a little unplanned or haphazard, but creating a focal point in your outdoor space adds the design needed to create a stunning outdoor space. Maybe it’s an elegant water feature or custom swimming pool. Often the outdoor fireplace or outdoor living/seating area can be the focal point of the space. Whatever outdoor element you use, a focal point can bring direction to your outdoor space and transform your backyard from ordinary to spectacular!

For more ideas on Tulsa outdoor living space design, please contact us at 918.296.9679 or check out our Outdoor Living Gallery.

The Advantages of Using Pavers in Your Tulsa Landscape Design

Using pavers in your Tulsa landscape can offer numerous advantages over other hardscape materials.

Pavers can be used in an array of outdoor living spaces such as the pool area, driveway, patios, walkways, and more. These often interlocking, modular paving stones deliver a world of durability and variety, making them ideal hardscapes to use in transforming your outdoor space.

Tulsa pavers are made of different materials such as concrete, brick, and stones such as granite, slate, travertine, and more. These landscaping elements can be laid in a wide variety of patterns and come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. From an Old World cobblestone design to a modern, urban look, pavers give you the options you need to make your outdoor environment look uniquely yours.

Add more definition to your front yard.  Pavers are perfect for adding a walkway or path to your front door or great for transforming the look of your driveway. Tulsa pavers really define the look of your landscape and provide great contrast for natural elements like flowerbeds.

Driveways. Many are now choosing to install pavers for their Tulsa driveway instead of resurfacing or replacing cracked concrete driveways. Whereas concrete driveways are likely to crack with age, changes in weather, shifting of the soil, or under pressure, pavers can usually withstand tougher weather conditions and are often more durable and lasting than concrete.

Unsightly cracks in concrete can sometimes be hidden with resurfacing or staining, but these cracks may later return or not be completely hidden. Thus repairing or replacing a cracked or damage concrete driveway can be a major issue. 

Pavers, on the other hand, are often made to be stronger and more durable than concrete. Because they are interlocking blocks, they are made to more easily adapt to shifting surfaces and changes in weather. And in the event that they do get damaged, pavers in Tulsa can easily be removed and replaced. In this way, you can remove individual pavers that become stained or damaged and not have to completely redo the entire driveway or path.

Pool and Patio areas. Building your pool or patio area with Tulsa pavers can give outdoor environment an entirely new, sophisticated look. The wide array of styles and colors of pavers available also makes them ideal to use in constructing your poolside area or patio. They are also very practical. If repairs need to be made to underground piping, pavers can easily be taken up and then reinstalled later. 

Pavers have so many advantages over other hardscape paving materials. Many Tulsa homeowners are choosing to remodel their outdoor environments and driveways with these very versatile landscape design elements. 

Oklahoma Landscape can design and install the best paver patio, pool, walkway, or driveway for your home. As a certified paver installer in Tulsa, our designers have been trained, tested, and certified by the I.C.P.I or Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute.

Top Patio Furniture Trends

From outdoor sofas to al fresco dining sets, Tulsa patio furniture allows many to enjoy the comforts of the indoors while being able to “find yourself outside.” So what’s going on in the patio furniture world? Let’s look at some trends.

Basics

Selecting patio furniture can be considered an individual art. What works for one space and home may not work for another. Each designer has his or her own style and preferences and certainly should feel free to express that in their own Tulsa outdoor living space. That being so, there are some patio furniture trends that many homeowners may want to take a point or two from to join with their own style to set up a Tulsa patio space that they and their guest will definitely love.

Bigger Could be Better

Conversation sets or sectionals are popular in many outdoor living spaces. Often the life the party, these patio furniture options make for a great space for entertaining and relaxing with family and friends. Sectionals with neutral colors can be changed dramatically by simply adding colorful throw pillows, allowing for versatility with hosting. 

Quality is King

Of course, you'll want to enjoy your Tulsa patio for years to come with minimum maintenance. So no surprise that quality outdoor furniture is on the upswing. There are many high-quality, long-lasting outdoor furniture materials to choose from like wrought iron and synthetic rattan. In addition many pieces also can have weather resistant fabrics that are highly durable.  While the initial invest with these pieces might be greater, their long-term usefulness and enjoyment can be well worth it.

Out with the Old, in with the New

Modern design elements are definitely in vogue right now with patio furniture.  So if you like minimalist style and clean lines that don't sacrifice convenience and comfort, then you’ll love much of the patio furniture selections in stores now.  Modern pieces reflect a chic, structured look that often brings cohesion and elegance to an outdoor living space. 

So with all that’s going on in the outdoor patio arena in Tulsa, you’re sure to find ample reason to “find yourself outside.”

This Winter Add Color to Your Tulsa Landscape Design

Landscapes can look a little bleak during winter. What can you do to add a little color to your landscape, even in the dreary days of winter? We have some tips to brighten your Tulsa landscape design. 

Add mulch to your garden. Mulching your flowerbed or garden during the winter can help add color to your landscape and help insulate plants for winter. Mulch also offers plants vital nutrients they will need in the spring. 

Plant what will flourish in a winter garden. Some plants and shrubs can survive pretty well in the chilly winter weather and even bloom during the winter months, adding significant color and interest to your garden. Camellias are blooming evergreen shrubs that grow to be about 6 to 8 feet tall with showy pink or white flowers. There are numerous varieties of camellias including super hardy ones like “Winter Joy” and “Snow Flurry” that do well in even really cold weather. Pansies are another plant that does well even in colder weather. These cute little annuals can remain stalwart with their bright and fragrant blooms through much of the fall and winter weather. 

Add color to your hardscapes. Although the plants in your landscape might not have much color, the hardscapes in your garden can shine through. Paint your fence or gate a bright color that complements your home and outdoor environment or paint your garage door or front door a bright, new color. You can also take the winter months to revamp some of your exterior structures by adding decorative hardware to your garage door or adding new fixtures to other areas of your home and landscape. 

Add light to your landscape. If you don’t already have lighting in your outdoor living space and garden, why not add lighting design this winter? Professional landscape lighting design can transform your outdoor environment and create warmth and interest all year long. Plus, you’ll be able to use your outdoor living space more with outdoor lighting. The Tulsa landscape lighting design specialists at Oklahoma Landscape can help create the best outdoor lighting for your pathway, deck, or pool area to match your home and outdoor décor. 

Create interesting focal points to your Tulsa landscape. Creating focal points in your garden or landscape will also add visual interest amid the dreary winter weather. Outdoor structures like gazebos, pergolas, arbors, etc. can provide interest while also being practical additions to your landscape. Building a fire pit or outdoor fireplace in your backyard will create a focal point while providing a place to relax and entertain friends, even in winter. Other additions to your garden could include statues, birdbaths, or even a decorative pond. 

The Tulsa landscape designers at Oklahoma Landscape can help you create the perfect winter wonderland for your landscape and home. We can design and build complete outdoor living spaces to match your lifestyle and complement the architecture of your home as well as take care of all your landscaping and lawn care needs.

Best Tulsa Pool Design Trends This Year

Winter is a great time to begin planning the design for your new Tulsa pool. Here are some of the latest trends in Tulsa pool design for the coming year!

Glass Tiles. 

A lot of people in the pool design industry has been talking about the use of glass tiles in place of ceramic tiles inside pools and to accent the edges of a pool. Glass tiles are more durable and less likely to crack or break than the traditional ceramic tiles. They also bring a gorgeous iridescent look to the pool, and are available in wide variety of styles and sizes.

Knife-Edge Pool Design. 

Known by many names such as “knife-edge,” “Lautner knife-edge,” “slot-edge,” or “wet-edge,” pools, this type of pool design is quickly becoming very popular for its “impressive visual style.” Like infinity or vanishing edge pools, knife-edge pools provide a stunning visual effect my having the water in the pool reach the same level as the pool deck creating a mirror-surface effect. This look is accomplished by having a slot edge around pool’s entire perimeter so that water can spill over into this slot. This knife-edge pool design creates an incredibly luxurious, resort-like look for the outdoor living space but does require different maintenance and construction techniques than traditional pools.

Water Features. 

Another huge trend in Tulsa pool design for 2014 and going into this year is the increase in water features for custom pools. Water features like waterfalls, fountains, sconces, and other artistic and playful features are popular in Tulsa pool designs. Not only do these added features create visual interest, but the soothing sound of water trickling over stones or in a fountain creates a relaxing tone for your outdoor space. Splash pads, slides, and spraying jets can entertain the kids in this resort-like outdoor environment. LED lighting is another feature that is becoming increasing popular in pool design as are fire features.

Beach Entry. 

Another great pool design is what’s often called a “beach entry” or “zero entry” pool feature. This pool design creates a gradual slope into the water to allow swimmers to walk into the pool slowly, much like they would at the beach or allows them to sunbathe in the shallow water. Baja shelves are another pool design feature that creates a ledge or “shelf” at the edge of the pool that’s perfect for sunbathing or relaxing on lounge chairs in the water.

These are just a few of the latest trends in pool design that are sure to make a splash in 2015. The Tulsa pool designers and pool builders at Oklahoma Landscape can design and build you a custom pool to fit your lifestyle and outdoor environment. We can also remodel your existing Tulsa swimming pool to include some of these new features that will make your pool area even more enjoyable.

Makeover Ideas for Your Tulsa Patio & Outdoor Living Space

Whether you want to just spruce up your Tulsa patio or totally revamp your outdoor living area, we have some great ideas for transforming your outdoor environment.

Outdoor seating. Of course, to have a practical outdoor entertaining space, you definitely need plenty of seating for your guests, and there are numerous creative ways to add more seating to your Tulsa patio – from the simple to the elaborate. You could add benches, even storage benches, bar stools, or repurpose old chairs you already have for use in your patio. Outdoor sofas are popular decorative features of outdoor living spaces.
These sofas are made particularly to withstand the elements provide a cozy and relaxed atmosphere for entertaining while better defining the seating area for guests. If you’d like more elaborate and permanent seating, you could build a sitting wall for guests. Often these decorative walls are built around fire pits or as part of a retaining wall. These hardscapes bring an elegant charm to your outdoor living space by complementing the style of your other outdoor elements.  

Water features. The soothing sound of water can add so much to your outdoor living space. Whether in a small fountain or an elaborate water feature like a babbling brook, pond, or full water garden, water trickling over stones creates an instant peaceful ambiance for your Tulsa patio.
 

Custom walkways. Paths that guide guests to your outdoor living space add an elegant dimension all their own. Using a variety of hardscape materials, you can build a custom walkway to your patio using pavers, stamped or stained concrete, or even just stepping stones or concrete pads.

Pergolas, trellises, and gazebos. Having a patio in your backyard is nice, but when the heat of summer returns, you may want some shade on your patio area. Pergolas and gazebos can provide some shade for your outdoor space while also adding dimension and character to your landscape. These outdoor structures help to define various areas of your outdoor environment. Pergolas are perfect for accompanying an outdoor kitchen and dining area.

Flowers and climbing plants. One of the easiest ways to spruce up your Tulsa patio area is to mix in some new flowering plants. Add a flower border of annuals and perennials around the edge of your patio to really enliven the outdoor space. Better Homes & Gardens even suggested planting flowers that are known for their rich aroma such as licorice-scented sprays of hyssop or moonflowers to create a fragrant path. If you have a trellis, you can add vines or other climbing plants to accent your trellis and patio area.

Outdoor lighting. To extend the time you can enjoy your Tulsa patio and simply to create more interest and a romantic ambiance, you can add an outdoor lighting design.

Fire pit or outdoor fireplace. Nothing goes better with a Tulsa patio than a fire pit or outdoor fireplace. These bring a unique and elegant charm to your outdoor living space while affording practical warmth and a place to gather around and talk with old friends. Fire pits and fireplaces can be custom-designed and built using a variety of hardscape materials to match your outdoor living space and home.

The Tulsa patio builders and outdoor environment specialists at Oklahoma Landscape can help you create an amazing outdoor living space. We can design and build the entire space to best meet the needs of your family and that will perfectly complement your landscape and home. Call us today to see how we can help you “find yourself outside.”

Perfect Gifts for The Person Who Loves Outdoor Living

Looking for something to give the person who loves the outdoors and outdoor living in Tulsa? From running to biking to just relaxing or entertaining friends in their outdoor living space, many Tulsa area residents love being outside on a nice Oklahoma day. What can you get someone who spends all their free time in the garden or who has an outdoor environment, outdoor kitchen, or fireplace?

Here are a few outdoor living Tulsa gifts . . .

Backyard Movie Theater – Get something for the entire family with this outdoor entertainment amazon.com)

system. Show movies in HD in your own Tulsa outdoor living space. With a flat screen, WiFi Bluray player, and speakers, you can have everything you need to watch a movie or play Xbox or Wii right outside. (

Gardening Book: Fine Foliage – Better Homes & Gardens recommends the book Fine Foliage by Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz for the gardening enthusiast, which offers guidance on plant combinations and container gardens. (amazon.com)

Motorized Grill Brush – If you have an outdoor kitchen, this motorized grill brush with heavy-duty steam cleaning power may help you save time cleaning. This motorized grill from Brookstone has a built-in mist sprayer that turns to steam on the hot grill to loosen tough grease and then the motor and dual stainless steel brushes scrub for you. For the man who loves to grill, this may be just the gift. (brookstone.com)

Hammock – After you’ve enjoyed grilling in your outdoor kitchen or while your kids play in the pool, relax the afternoon away in this cozy hammock. This Amazonas Naturalesa Brazilian Fabric two-person hammock bed is perfect for enjoying a nice afternoon nap in your Tulsa outdoor living space. (yardenvy.com)

Herb Garden – Does someone you know love fresh herbs? Help them start their own herb garden with Rootcup. Grow herbs or succulents in these small sub-irrigation plants made of durable, BPA-free, food-grade silicone that won’t scratch your countertop. (rootcup.com)

These are just a few of the great gifts you can find for your Tulsa outdoor living enthusiast. Of course, a great gift for the entire family is a complete outdoor environment with a custom pool, outdoor fireplace, and outdoor kitchen.

At Oklahoma Landscape in Tulsa, we can design and build your family the perfect outdoor living space. Call us today at 918.296.9679 for more information.