Move It Outdoors! – Themerrythought

Transform Your Backyard into an Outdoor Sanctuary This Spring

by Karyn Brodsky

If you’re seeking a serene spot to embrace nature, your backyard may be the perfect solution! Outdoor living environments combine the serenity and excitement of a vacation right at home, featuring advanced electronics, appliances, custom structures, and luxurious furnishings. It’s a fantastic venue for socializing and bonding with family, friends, and neighbors.

“An outdoor living area provides more bang for the buck than any other room. The return in Texas is about 150% of your investment.” - Ann O’Blenes, Broker-Associate, RE/Max Dallas Suburbs — “An outdoor living area provides more bang for the buck than any other room. The return in Texas is about 150% of your investment.”
– Ann O’Blenes, Broker-Associate, RE/Max Dallas Suburbs

Ann O’Blenes, a Broker-Associate with Performance Partners Group at RE/Max Dallas Suburbs, highlights an increasing demand among buyers for outdoor living areas that include barbecuing, cooking, and dining zones. She observes a trend toward versatile outdoor spaces that might feature items such as fire pits, combined fireplaces, and even pizza ovens.

Pat Wilson, manager at Ed Kellum & Son in Dallas, notes, “Sales for pizza ovens are booming!” Wilson appreciates the appeal of a fully functional outdoor kitchen, stating, “It combines all the perks of an indoor kitchen while enjoying the outdoors.” Essential features include built-in grills, with the company offering a wide selection of sizes from top brands. Wilson also mentions the rising intricacy of outdoor retreats, which may now feature under-counter refrigerators, ice sinks, wine coolers, dedicated pizza oven preparation areas, and beer taps.

“Outdoor retreats are getting more elaborate. Many include under-the-counter refrigerators, ice sinks, wine coolers, pizza oven prep stations and beer taps.” – Pat Wilson, Manager, Ed Kellum & Son

The advancements continue with outdoor entertainment options. Chris Vaughan, a sales manager at the award-winning audio and video retailer Starpower, points out that they provide outdoor TVs specifically designed for outside use. “These outdoor TVs are fully weatherproof; they can easily be cleaned with a hose,” Vaughan explains. “They deliver excellent picture quality, even in direct sunlight.” Starpower often sees customers gravitating toward larger models, starting at 55 inches, for their outdoor havens. The latest sound systems are crafted to fill the yard with sound, featuring discreet speakers that resemble landscape lighting and subterranean subwoofers for rich bass and robust stereo sound. Best of all, these systems can be managed from a smartphone app.

“Outdoor TVs are completely encased and weatherproof; if they get dirty, they can be hosed off, and the picture is great, even in direct sunlight.” - Chris Vaughan, Sales Manager, Starpower — “Outdoor TVs are completely encased and weatherproof; if they get dirty, they can be hosed off, and the picture is great, even in direct sunlight.”
– Chris Vaughan, Sales Manager,
Starpower

No outdoor space is complete without stylish furnishings. Designer Deborah Cowart from Beaver Creek Interiors in Frisco advises combining different materials and extending the color palette from your interior to the exterior, ensuring a cohesive flow. Cowart recommends opting for neutral tones for sofa and chair cushions while incorporating vibrant colors through pillows and decorative items. “Investing in high-quality cushion fabric from the start will ensure longevity,” she states, “as many items can deteriorate under the intense Texas sun; it’s wiser to replace less expensive accessories more frequently.”

Are these enhancements worth the investment?

Absolutely, declares O’Blenes. She enjoys an impressive outdoor living area equipped with retractable screens, gas heaters for chilly weather, and an overhead misting system that cools the area to 20 degrees lower than the outside temperature in summer, allowing for year-round enjoyment. O’Blenes asserts that outdoor spaces yield the highest return on investment compared to any other room in the house, estimating that homeowners can expect about a 150% return in Texas.

Beyond financial returns, having an outdoor living space promotes neighborly connections. Stephanie Liebbe, marketing coordinator at Dallas-based Republic Property Group (RPG), notes that at Light Farms, a community in Celina, residents are forging friendships while sharing outdoor amenities. RPG has added various facilities, including hike and bike trails, tennis courts, resort-style pools, and extensive green spaces to Light Farms. Liebbe mentions that builders in the community are heeding buyer preferences for homes with outdoor living areas that extend the interior, fostering interaction similar to that of bygone days when neighbors gathered for barbecues. “Neighbors create a sense of community,” Liebbe observes. “Home goes beyond just a physical address; it becomes a place where friends are made.”

If you’re looking for a space to host gatherings or dreaming of a peaceful retreat without the hassle of traveling, creating an outdoor living area may be the perfect solution for you!

Ann O’Blenes, RealtyPerformancePartners.com

972.898.6600 | ann.oblenes@tx.rr.com

Pat Wilson, Edkellum.com

972.503.6000 | Pwilson@star-power.com

Chris Vaughan, Star-power.com

972.503.6000, ext.1049 |Cvaughan@star-power.com

Stephanie Liebbe, Republic Property Group/Light Farms, lightfarmstx.com