Long before the events of last year got us spending so much more time outside, the trend of building, expanding or improving our outdoor living spaces was well under way.
The quarantines enacted in 2020 significantly accelerated that trend and today it’s not unusual to see families gathering in elaborate outside kitchens or around patio fire features in expansive outdoor living rooms.
“Even before COVID outdoor living was popular,” says Fran Quinn Knights, Sales Manager of E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting in Glastonbury. “In the past year, with more people staying at home they’re thinking about these projects. They’ve cancelled their vacation plans and they’re investing in their homes to build or improve and enjoy their outdoor spaces.”
E.A. Quinn, a family-owned business, prides itself on being the premier provider of landscaping services in the state.
Ed Quinn, Fran’s brother, started the business in 1984 as a one-man operation.
Today, E.A. Quinn employs 80 people and has clients throughout the region and state.
The company has four key divisions that cover hundreds of clients: Design Build, Commercial Install, Commercial Maintenance and Residential Maintenance.
The Design Build division is the one that helps homeowners create outside living spaces and with the growing popularity of outdoor spaces, Fran says, that department has been especially busy.
“People are investing in their homes and the demand is for unique outdoor spaces,” Fran says. “They want to create spaces that are well thought out and multi-functional to accommodate their families. Most projects Include a number of elements including dining areas, soft seating, outdoor kitchens, and fire features. With people working from home and remote learning they also want to include workspace areas.”
There are so many choices of elements in an outdoor kitchen, Fran says. In addition to a grill, most outdoor kitchens include a refrigerator, storage, sink , trash and recycle receptacles. Griddles, ice makers, side burners and Green Eggs are popular additions to outdoor kitchens as well.
“Another trend we are seeing is that clients want to extend the seasonality and uses of these spaces,” Fran adds. “Pergolas, pavilions - sometimes with lighting, heating lamps - are often included, as well as large screen TVs and sound systems. We recently designed and installed an outdoor space that had a retractable roof on the pergola. The homeowner wanted the ability to allow the sun to shine through during the earlier and later months of the year, close the roof in the summer months when the sun was stronger, and also be able to use the space when it was raining!”
Many times E.A. Quinn is contacted by clients who are installing a pool and want to encompass and create resort-like outdoor space, which will include a kitchen, fire feature, pergola or pavilion, as well as a significant area for lounging by the pool.
“In addition to providing clients with superior craftsmanship on their projects, E.A. Quinn provides the quarterbacking of other trades that are often involved in projects of this nature,” Fran says.
Designing an outdoor space “starts with a conversation with the client as to what they’re looking for. We spend a lot of time talking to them about their family and their lifestyle and how they envision utilizing their outdoor spaces."
“Every project we do I fall in love with. Some of them can get pretty elaborate. At EA Quinn we love to make our clients dreams a reality.”
For more information visit eaquinn.com, where you can view time-lapse videos of a project and email the company. You can also call them at 860-633-0115.
