Outdoor Living | Dream Retreats Landscape Design

Sports Entertaining in your Arizona Landscape Design

Posted on January 29, 2013 in Backyard Landscaping, Landscaping Design, Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living with No comments

Arizona residents are lucky to be able to enjoy year-round weather! We have the ability to not only entertain in our homes but also have the option to entertain outdoors. Sports entertainment is growing in popularity in backyard landscape designs.

Sport courts are a popular option in landscape designs. If you have the room in your backyard a basketball or volleyball court make for fun entertainment. You can be as fancy as having a professional court installed to being as functional as pouring concrete then having basketball and/or volleyball court lines painted. Often clients request a half court or just a basketball key installed when their backyard space is limited.

Horseshoes & bocce ball are growing in popularity in Arizona outdoor living. Since side yards are often wasted space in many Arizona backyards, it’s an optimal place to build a horseshoe pit or bocce ball court. Both options are relatively inexpensive to install.

For those with small children, a spash pad with shooting streams of water is a fun option! They are a safe way to keep the kids cool in the Arizona heat because there is no standing water.

It might be a great time to consider transforming all or a part of your backyard into a functional outdoor living space that offers sports entertaining! Contact us for a FREE design consultation!

Keeping Warm In Your Arizona Landscape Design

Posted on January 15, 2013 in Backyard Fire Pit, Outdoor Living, Patio Fireplace with Comments Disabled

Temperatures in Arizona have recently been colder than recent years past and many homeowners are staying indoors to keep warm. We in Arizona have to remember that we’re lucky enough to live in a place that isn’t completely frozen throughout the winter. We have some landscape design ideas for keeping warm outdoors during the winter months no matter what your style is.

If your style is more classic and timeless then an outdoor fireplace could be a great choice for you. An outdoor fireplace is an instant focal point for your outdoor living space. It looks great on a patio and creates a relaxing place to relax and unwind.

Backyard Fireplace by Dream Retreats

If you love the outdoors and appreciate nature’s beauty then a fire pit make be best for you. Fire pits can be built with many types of natural textured blocks, so they work will within all types of Arizona landscape designs. You can recreate fond family memories of sitting by the campfire and making s’mores without leaving your yard!

Patio Fire Pit by Dream Retreats

Or do you prefer something that is classic with a flair of contemporary style? If so, a firebox or fire bowl may be what you prefer. Not only will it integrate function by creating warmth but will also add eye-catching flair to your backyard landscape design.

Fire Feature by Dream Retreats

Today’s fire feature designs are endless and great for entertaining or relaxing on our crisp Arizona nights!

Outdoor Putting Greens = Outdoor Entertainment

Posted on December 3, 2012 in artificial turf, Backyard Landscaping, Outdoor Living, Outdoor Putting Greens with Comments Disabled

Gilbert Landscape Design Backyard Putting Green Visualize countless hours of fun spent with family and friends. You can create a backyard dream retreat that everyone will enjoy! Backyard putting greens aren’t just for practice. You can actually play golf! Chipping and putting contest and mini games can create endless entertainment for you, your family and your friends. What a better way to introduce the kids to the game than with their very own putting green?

Outdoor Putting Greens Add To Arizona Landscape Design

Posted on November 9, 2012 in artificial turf, Backyard Landscaping, Outdoor Living, Uncategorized with Comments Disabled

Arizona Landscape Design Artificial Grass Putting Green Arizona homeowners spend a lot of time and money with their Arizona landscape design. A backyard putting green is a beautiful addition to your home. It’s manicure and flowing design can be incorporated into your existing or planned landscape design. These days the quality of artificial turf is amazing! The feel, look and performance of artificial turf is often hard to distinguish from real grass. Not only wil an outdoor putting green add to the value to your home but it will always look great while being maintenance free! One major benefit of having a personal putting green is you may take a few stokes off your game!

Perfect Steaks Using Your Arizona Outdoor Kitchen

Posted on June 4, 2012 in Outdoor BBQ, Outdoor Kitchens, Outdoor Living with No comments

Grilling the perfect steak is easy!

1. Let the steak reach room temperature.

2. Trim the steak of excess fat. Strips of fat should only be 1/4 inch thick.

3. Season to your liking. Some fresh cracked pepper, garlic powder, whatever you like.

4. Preheat gas grill on high.

5. Oil the meat. Oil on the grate will burn off so brush a light coat of oil on the steak.

6. Place steak on grill and close the lid for one minute.

7. Lift lid and turn steak over. Close lid and continue grilling for another minute.

8. Turn again and continue for 2 plus 1 minute per 1/2 inch (1 1/2 inch equals 3 minutes). These times are, of course, estimates. Depending on your grill and other conditions it might take less or more time. This is where experience comes into play.

9. Turn for the fourth time and continue grilling for 2 plus 1 minute per 1/2 inch.

10. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer.

11. Let steak rest for 5 minutes before carving or serving.

Tip: Letting the steak rest before you eat it is an important trick. This allows the juices to seep throughout the meat and gives you a much more flavorful steak.

Entertaining Tips Using An Arizona Outdoor Kitchen

Posted on May 24, 2012 in Outdoor Kitchens, Outdoor Living with No comments

Now is a great time to host an outdoor get-together! The kids are out of school, the evening weather is nice, and the pool is refreshing. A few tips for planning your next outdoor party.

arizona landscape design pergola

Choose a Theme – Selecting a theme for your get-together helps create a festive atmosphere. All-American BBQ with burgers and hot dogs to celebrate Independence Day, or margaritas and a mariachi band for a fiesta.

Make Guests Comfortable – Offers guests a beverage upon their arrival, and provide seating to accomodate the crowd you’re expecting.

Keep Food Simple – Use your backyard BBQ for preparing most of the food. It’s usually easier with less mess and gives you the opportunity to socialize while preparing the food.

Keep The Conversation Flowing – Brainstorm topics to bring up should the conversation turn stale.

Picture Memories – Snap photos before and during the party. Before pictures will be your reference of what you did with your party decor and set-up. Party pics will inspire you to have your next get-together!

Relax and Have Fun – Remember it’s a party. Relax and enjoy yourself!

Outdoor Kitchens in Arizona are a Hot Trend!!

Posted on May 2, 2012 in Outdoor Kitchens, Outdoor Living with No comments

Arizona outdoor living remains one of the fastest-growing segments of residential construction. As homeowners look to extend living and entertainment spaces without greatly impacting budgets, more are choosing to build out formal outdoor spaces. Increasingly, buyers and homeowners are demanding more sophisticated features that can serve their needs year-round. This trend is evidenced by the growing popularity of Arizona outdoor kitchens.

With Arizona’s climate, homeowners have the ability to use an outdoor kitchen all year. It’s a great spot to entertain with friends and relax with family. In addition, it adds value to your home by adding additional living space. Finally, lets not forget the money homeowners can save on electricity by not heating up their indoor kitchen throughout the summer!

Arizona outdoor kitchen designs are endless! Dream Retreats Landscape & Design custom designs and builds each outdoor kitchen. Each outdoor kitchen we build will fit perfectly in the space is was designed for. All of our outdoor kitchens are 100% masonry built which will withstand the Arizona weather.

Whether entertaining with friends, relaxing with family, adding value to a home, or saving money on electricity an outdoor kitchen in Arizona is a great feature for homeowners!

Arizona Landscape Designs Showcased

Posted on February 27, 2012 in Landscaping Design, Outdoor Living with No comments

If you are in the market to begin a landscape project, the Maricipa County Home & Landscape Showis the perfect place to get great ideas and meet landscape designers & contractors who can get the job done! Dream Retreats Landscape & Design is an Arizona Landscape Design specialists who has been showcasing their work at each of the Maricopa County Home & Landscape Shows for many years. Whether you are looking to add a Backyard BBQ to your Gilbert Landscape Design, or an Outdoor Fireplace or Patio Firepit to your Chandler Landscape Design, or maybe even transform your old pool deck to a stunning Travertine Paver Deck to renovate your Scottsdale Landscape Design we do it all! We’ve been transforming Arizona backyard designs for over 20 years.

The upcoming Maricopa Home & Garden Show is this weekend, September 28th thru 30th at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. Come visit us in the Exhibit Building at Booth #129! We offer FREE consultations and will love the opportunity to talk with you about your Arizona landscape and outdoor living ideas!

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