How can you get a beautiful, inviting and functional backyard retreat?
Franklin Lifestyle spoke with Willow Branch Landscapes’ COO, Aaron
Gunter, and Residential and Custom Home General Manager, Landon
Chambers, about trends in outdoor living rooms.
ARE OUTDOOR LIVING ROOMS GAINING POPULARITY?
Yes! Homeowners are extending their living rooms outdoors through the
use of softscapes, hardscapes, irrigation, lighting, and audio. This
additional entertainment space enhances property values. When properly
executed, outdoor living rooms can correct grading and drainage issues
and provide landscape buffers to create privacy that pulls you outside to
enjoy your property.
WHAT ARE THE MOST DESIRED OUTDOOR SPACES?
Many homeowners are looking to expand their kitchen space by
incorporating outdoor culinary appliances such as grills, pizza ovens, wine
fridges, and kegerators. Covered living areas (pergolas and porches) with
outdoor TVs are also big now. Many homeowners are adding fire pits,
stone or paver patio spaces, hardscape seating walls and play areas.
Lighting and audio options provide a subtle and calming ambiance. We are
also helping homeowners update antiquated outdoor living rooms to fit their
current needs. When it comes to outdoor living rooms, the possibilities are
endless. And that is exciting to us!
WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS?
Our process is customer-driven. We partner with our clients from start to
finish with design, construction, installation and maintenance. We listen to
how our client plans to use the space. Having seen a lot of designs in our
almost 20 years in business, we are uniquely positioned to present our
clients with ideas they may not have considered. From the initial consultation to the final walkthrough, all outdoor living rooms start with design. Armed with our client's list of “needs and wants,” our in-house
design team creates detailed 3D designs highlighting locations for irrigation,
lighting, audio systems, water features, pavers and stone surfaces,
masonry work, landscape, hardscape and more. Because all the work is
done in-house, the client's vision is never lost in translation. Additionally,
we facilitate and oversee every aspect of the project so our clients can relax
knowing they do not have to deal with multiple contractors.
ANY ADVICE TO HOMEOWNERS LOOKING TO CONTRACT AN
OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM?
Make sure the contractor has the right credentials to be working on your
property. At Willow Branch Landscapes, each of our 80 dedicated team
members is vetted, bonded and insured. In this business, your name and
reputation are everything. We do what we say we are going to do and
provide top-notch service at a fair price.
willowbranchlandscapes.com
