Top 5 Upgrades to your Outdoor Living Space for Summer Entertaining
Last month we covered the top 5 outdoor living upgrades to maximize value & enjoyment. Last month’s features build the foundation for your outdoor space. With summer approaching, we are taking this month to highlight more specific features to boost summer entertaining!
1. Outdoor Kitchen
When entertaining, as the host it can be a struggle to relax, enjoy or even stay involved with a conversation if you are constantly running in and out of your kitchen with food, drinks & dishes. It can make you dread using your outdoor space to entertain friends & family, which was likely a core vision when investing in your patio from the start! Don’t let this prohibit you from those summer cookouts! Adding an outdoor kitchen makes entertaining a breeze! Not only can you stay involved in the conversation, but you can have a fully equipped kitchen in your own backyard, that’s right, we are not talking about a grill or a blackstone, a fully custom outdoor kitchen upfitted with all you need to keep the party outdoors!
Most outdoor kitchens will come equipped with a built-in gas grill, some storage & electric for lighting or countertop appliances, such as a slushy machine for the kids! However, outdoor kitchens built by Arborvine are highly customizable. We can incorporate refrigerators, freezers, storage drawers, trash cans, side burners & even a sink! Additionally, adding bar seating is a great way to keep guests close while the food is prepared. Another popular upgrade is to add a pergola or shade structure over the area!
Finish your kitchen with marble, quartzite, granite or concrete countertops & youll be ready for the best cookouts in the neighborhood! Each kitchen is custom built around your unique needs, using pavers or natural stone, this could be the upgrade you are missing to take your outdoor living space to the next level!
2. Outdoor TV
Perhaps you have a few sports fans in your family or a favorite show that premiers on Friday nights in the summer. Sometimes you just want to be outdoors in the summer time enjoying the warm, fresh air! An outdoor TV is a great way to gather friends and family around and enjoy some time together outdoors. A true outdoor TV is rated for the elements and can be left outdoors for all year long. Whether your TV is mounted to a fireplace, inside your shade structure or on a custom built TV wall, it will be a great addition to your outdoor space!
Maybe you’re hosting the annual baseball or softball team party for your kids’ little league or school team. Imagine being able to turn on the highlight reel to recap their season. These TV’s work just like the ones indoors with bluetooth capabilities allowing you to connect your phone or other devices!
3. Outdoor Sound System
No summer get together is complete without some music or your favorite sports teams radio broadcast in the background! Integrating an outdoor sound system is an easy way to set the vibe for your summer gathering. Our professionals install only the best outdoor sound system & can mount speakers in landscape beds, shade structures & even hardscape surfaces. Keeping the system discreet, easy to use and powerful enough to cover your entire outdoor living space! Easily pair your phone to the system & you are set & ready to kickoff your next summer gathering! There is no better way to elevate your summer entertainment events than a custom sound system!
4. Custom Pool
Adding a custom pool is one of the best ways to entertain your guests on even the warmest summer days! Pools serve as a great source of entertainment for adults & childen alike. A serene space custom built for priceless memories to be made. Incorporating custom slides, water falls, tanning ledges or deck jets can make your pool stand out from the rest. Incorporating a spa will also become a favorite for you & your guests!
Maybe you love the idea of a pool, but are concerned about space, maintenance or cost. A plunge or cocktail pool may be your answer. These are smaller pools that allow for a great space to sit, relax & enjoy a cool drink on a hot summer day! Plunge pools are becoming popular for the everyday homeowner who just wants a spot to cool off or wants to keep yard space open for other activities. Plunge pools are also a great fit for homeowners who are constricted by impervious surface requirements!
5. Quality Outdoor Furniture
When investing in a premium outdoor living space, it is important to ensure that your furniture selections are not only high quality and outdoor rated, but also that they complement the design & style of your outdoor space. Arborvine works with multiple outdoor furniture suppliers who can help select the right furniture for your space! Adding a few throw pillows or an area rug can really help soften the space and make it feel like a seamless extension of your home!
Considering these thoughtful upgrades as part of a new outdoor space or as additions to an existing space are sure to make entertaining family & guests a blast. Not only will they want to keep coming back, but with a carefully designed setup, you will want to have them back, time & time again!
After an in depth consultation, our design experts will capture your needs, vision and translate it into a creative design seamlessly integrating all features. Our seasoned craftsmen & project managers ensure flawless execution of even the most complex spaces featuring multiple elements. When it comes to highly customized, complex outdoor spaces Arborvines attention to detail, clear communication & standards of excellence ensure a seamless process from design, planning, construction and enjoyment!
Reach out today to schedule a consultation and get your property ready for the seasons ahead.
If you’re considering a design-build outdoor project and want clarity on scope, timeline, budget, and next steps:
- Property evaluation and design possibilities discussion
- Preliminary budget guidance
- Timeline and process overview
- Next steps if we're a mutual fit!
Testimonials
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We have used Arborvine for several years and they have a great team. We have one of the best yards and outdoor spaces in the neighborhood thanks to them. Erica is very responsive and helpful, and Greg, the owner, is attentive and always willing to discuss whatever comes up. Special shout out to Angel and Nathan who put down our mulch and did our landscaping bed clean up recently – they paid much attention to detail and did an amazing job!
Cynthia MarshallWilmington, DE -
Love the workmanship, professionalism , design, and outcome of our outdoor project. Always on time, friendly, beautiful workmanship, cleaned up every day and on final day. Would highly recommend Arborvine for anyone. Thank you for an amazing outcome!
Karen RockwellSpringfield, PA -
We worked with Greg and he was very responsive and helpful as we iterated over several different designs for our outdoor space. I was very impressed with the quality of workmanship during the project, and when an issue did arise Greg work with us to adjust the design as needed, I would highly recommend Greg and Arborvine and plan to use them again for my next project.
Robert CurlWilmington, DE -
Everything was done quickly and efficiently. They make sure that you are kept aware throughout the process.
Quideya ColemanBoothwyn PA -
So very glad that we had the opportunity to work with Greg and his team to upgrade the gardens at our new house in North Wilmington as well as get a VERY thorough Fall clean up. Fabulous design, and redesign too, when our plans needed to change.
His team, headed by Alex who answered all of our questions about maintenance as well as the day to day work, were very responsive as well as conscientious. They were on top of things after they left as well – answering our email questions about watering in a very timely fashion to make sure that our investment was taken care of.
Would highly recommend them to anyone for installing new gardens as well as maintaining and cleaning up what you have.
Cheryl KuchlerWilmington, DE -
Working with Greg & his crew was a smooth & seamless experience. I live in a new build and needed a front walkway & Greg was able to bring our vision to life. Even our neighbors all had positive comments on the work that was done. We also had some landscaping done (installing flowerbeds + mulch, plus pruning/trimming of some tree branches). It was a bit pricey but, in the end, it’s definitely worth it since now our property has higher curb appeal. There are also warranties too, so Greg/his team will come out to check on the walkway in a few years. Greg is responsive and communicates in a timely manner, which was a big plus. Super professional and friendly. Will definitely hire him again for future projects.
Zef BergadoWilmington, DE -
Very flexible and hard working company. Reasonably priced and were able to transform our entire landscaping, front and back, in just a couple of days. Highly recommend!
James HoffmanWilmington, DE -
From my initial meeting with Greg, it was always a very efficient process which took much of the stress of home projects off my shoulders. Greg and his entire crew were always punctual, professional, and truly a pleasure to work with. I would recommend to anyone in need of home improvements in many different areas including but not limited to hardscaping, landscaping, drainage issues, and so much more. They do a great job and take immense pride in customer satisfaction!
Sarah RyanWilmington, DE -
Greg and his team are a fantastic group. They do fantastic work, are responsive, courteous and take pride in their work. Our paver sidewalks were aging and coming apart on the sides. After Greg and the team cleaned them, reset the bricks and added a much needed edge, they look brand new again. I cannot thank him enough and for being great to work with. Not many companies out there today take the time to talk to the customer and listen to what they say. I would recommend him for any landscaping work you might need. Thanks again Greg.
Todd HeckerMiddletown, DE -
I recently had the pleasure of working with Greg and the Arborvine Landscaping team, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their knowledge, service and the results. From start to finish, the team demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and a genuine passion for their work.
The staff at Arborvine Landscaping worked tirelessly to transform our front and back yard into a beautiful and serene outdoor space.
I highly recommend Arborvine Landscaping to anyone looking for top-notch and creative landscaping services. Their team’s dedication to excellence and their ability to deliver stunning results make them the best choice for any landscaping needs. Thank you, Greg and team!
Whitney AerensonWilmington, DE