How I created my Dream Outdoor Room

With the great mortgage rates in today’s world, I decided to take advantage of a refinance and improve the value and aesthetics of my home. I live in the city and have a smaller home and lot. With the cost of indoor remodeling, I decided to invest some dollars into my dream outdoor room.

I started by digging up a 16’ square section of my backyard running alongside my fence then I installed a patio as the footprint. Knowing that I want to add an outdoor fireplace in the future, I had a gas company run the gas line for that and also to the outdoor kitchen I currently have; this preplanning stage is very important for any outdoor room.

Sierra Pergola

I have a craftsman style home and decided the Sierra Pergola from the Outdoor Greatroom Company would be a perfect fit. I was sold on their products years ago after purchasing one of their cook number grills. So with the framework set I installed my outdoor kitchen, pergola and some great wicker furniture.

My outdoor room is complete for now and I have several months to enjoy before the snow falls. Cheers!

Paul Nigon, Minneapolis

Gertens’ adds Outdoor Rooms to product line

Gertens’ Garden Center, a premiere store for landscaping and gardening needs, is adding Outdoor Rooms to their product line.

“Each room was designed using complimentary materials; color and style of paving, retaining wall, furniture, pergolas, and plant material were all coordinated to achieve the final effect. For instance, the Valder’s room showcases a cool Mediterranean look with light colored stone and billowy grasses accented by dark purple & green specimen plants, and comfortable patterned furniture. It’s a must see…..Which one is your favorite?”

Colleen Moran
Landscape Design Director
Gertens

See the Tuscany and Sonoma Pergolas as featured at Gertens Garden Center.

Tuscany Outdoor Pergola

Create your Dream Outdoor Room today

Outdoor Rooms by the outdoor Greatroom Company.

Summer fun in your outdoor room

Summer’s here and with the great weather comes great parties! What better place to entertain friends and family than in an outdoor room? My outdoor room has become the place to be this summer which makes living at home great and I don’t have to worry about traveling too far with high gas prices and road construction. Here’s what I do to get my outdoor room ready to jam:

1. Make sure the propane on my cook number grill is ready and full – the bonus part of this is that my cook number grill is a convection grill and uses half the gas of my neighbors grill so I rarely have to worry about running out mid-party
2. Clean up my grill. I like it to look it’s best to impress family and friends.
3. Clean off my outdoor furniture. With a simple hose, my Kate’s Collection wicker furniture is clean and dries quickly
4. Put propane in my French Colonial Lanterns. With the flip of a switch these add ambiance to the party
5. Fire up the fire pit. My Crystal Fire fire pit is a great place for everyone to gather.
6. Put the Beer, Soda and Water on Ice! Nothing goes better with a spicy bratwurst than a Surly Furious, brewed here in Minnesota.
7. And most importantly, Enjoy the backyard life!

San Juan Outdoor Kitchen

Our Outdoor Room – Cozy and perfect

The weather is perfect here in Minnesota and we have been out enjoying
our outoor room. The evenings are perfect for grilling on our cook
number grill.

Our St Martin outdoor kitchen provides a great space for
cook number grilling and entertaining. As the sun goes down we’re able
to enjoy our wicker seating seat surround our crystal fire gas firepit.
We have seating for the whole family to wind down our days. Looking
forward to the rest of summer!

Paul and Ann Nigon

Light up your backyard with a firepit

Want an instant way to add ambiance and beauty to your outdoor living room? A cozy firepit will transform your room into a magical place to relax with family and friends.  I found an extraordinary firepit that is both a table and firepit all in one! The  San Juan Firepit is truly amazing and compliments many styles of outdoor furniture– from classic to modern.

San Juan Firepit

What makes the San Jaun firepit unique is the  Crystal Fire center.  A mesmerizing fire dances atop a glowing bed of beautiful tumbled glass. An entire line of Crystal Fire firepits is offered by The Outdoor Greatroom Company.

Outdoor Electric Grills – The Green Choice

Cooking in your outdoor room can be very easy, clean and economical. It’s as simple as plugging in your grill wherever you want it.

Electric Grills are the clean fuel choice but with today’s techology, your food will still have that broiled flavor that you get by cooking over an open fire.

The Cook Number Electric Grill is one very good choice. It is a line of portable electric grills that give you all the power of a full-size grill but they’re powered by ordinary household current.

Outdoor Electric Grills-
The Green Grilling Choice

Outdoor Rooms becoming more popular

Don’t pass up the opportunity to include an Outdoor Room in your next home remodeling project. According to the August 2008 issue of Hearth & Home Magazine:

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reports outdoor living is the number one growth category.

AIA estimate home values increase 15 to 20 percent when an outdoor room is added. They also return more than 100 percent of their cost.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, outdoor rooms and kitchens will become standard in all new construction and in existing upscale homes within five to 10 years.

Dan Shimek, Owner of the Outdoor Greatroom Company states “With today’s housing market and energy crunch, people are focusing more on enhancing their homes with an outdoor room. The trend is to create a living space outdoors – which can be anything from a kitchen and barbecue area, to a relaxing sitting area with a campfire or fireplace”

Sonoma Outdoor Room

Outdoor Rooms: Design and Create

How to design an outdoor room.

Written by:
Becky Amundson -Interior/Exterior Designer
Designer’s Detail 952.913.8987

What is your client/customer’s vision for their Outdoor Living area?

Some examples might be:
• An area that fits the family dynamics
• Casual yet elegant
• Fireplace or Fire-Pit?
• Outdoor Durable furniture (table & chairs? glider?)
• Lighting (Gas or Electric)
• Large enough to entertain groups up to 30
• Cook area, refrigeration, water, clean-up ease
• Low maintenance; ease of use
• Privacy
• Functional yet aesthetically pleasing
• Increased value to home

About the client/customer:
Through questions and conversation find out what your customer likes and some information about their background. This will help in assisting them in their selections for their outdoor room.

Some examples might be:
• Grew up in the UP of Michigan; likes the outdoors, water & trees
• Likes an open floor plan; however, must have some intimate spaces
• Likes to entertain; group size
• Plans to add a pool in the near future

Home and yard layout:
• Style of home (traditional, country, Spanish, etc.)
• Finish (brick, stucco, wood or vinyl siding)
• Roof line
• Size and orientation of exterior area to work within (am or pm sun; wind direction, trees/tall shrubs)
• Condition of platform (decking, brick, concrete, etc.)

What products will best fit their vision?
The six categories are:
• Pergolas (shade structure)
• Grills and Grill Islands (gas or electric)
• Fireplaces (wood or gas) and Fire-pits
• Lighting (gas or electric)
• Heaters (gas or electric)
• Furniture

Scope:
• Assist with layout and product selection
• Assist with future purchases to complete outdoor living area
• Assist with permits, contractors and/or sub-contractors
• Budget of $____________
• Completion date__________

Outdoor Greatroom Company
12400 Portland Ave. South, # 195
Burnsville, MN 55337
866-303-4028

Outdoor Pergolas

One way to make your outdoor room cozy and unique is to add a pergola. It helps to define any outdoor space and create a place for furniture and other outdoor amenities such as campfires, fireplaces and barbecue appliances.

Tuscany Outdoor Pergola and Greatroom