outdoor living Archives - Page 4 of 13 - DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Creating an Adult Treehouse

June 6th, 2018|Life On Deck, Outdoor Living|

Years ago, (I won’t say how many) when I was growing up as a young child in Maryland, our community was surrounded by wooded areas that came to form an important part of my elementary school years. When summer arrived and school was out, my three brothers, my friends and I seemed to live and play in those woods from morning until night. After playing our usual round of games several kids of all ages would invariably get together to create some kind of makeshift “Swiss Family Robinson” style treehouse. We would do this by wedging, notching and nailing whatever tree limbs we could find laying around. We made our own fun and it didn’t get much better. I think I got tuned into that unique feeling of elevation, having a private sanctuary for my friends and I that was literally above it all. Speaking of elevation, I eventually moved [...]

Time to Plant Sweet Berries and Fragrant Herbs

May 16th, 2018|Blog, Gardening, Outdoor Recipes|

Berries and herbs tend to grow slowly, and because of our short growing season here, are best cultivated from starts, which are available now at garden centers, farmers markets, supermarkets and hardware stores. If you try to grow these from seed, well, it might be winter before you see anything! Keep in mind that container plants in general are considerably more exposed to the elements, (heat, cold, moisture and dryness) than plants in the ground. In Colorado it’s advisable to go with plastic pots which won’t evaporate water as quickly than the porous earthen terra cotta pots. (That being said, there’s good news for diehard terra cotta lovers – Sturtz & Copeland in Boulder, 303-442-6663, is now carrying a line of waterproof German terra cotta that will work just as well as plastic.) Herbs Herbs in general can tolerate our hot and dry Colorado summers and because of that are [...]

Spicy Lime Grilled Salmon

April 25th, 2018|Outdoor Recipes|

Try this light salmon recipe the next time you're looking for something new to try! SPICY LIME GRILLED SALMON Serves 4 Ingredients 1 lime 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes salt and pepper to taste 1.5 lbs. wild Alaskan salmon lime wedges (optional garnish) olive oil to coat grill Directions 1. Using microplane, zest lime into small mixing bowl. 2. Juice lime. Add juice to zest. 3. Whisk together juice, oil, garlic, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. 4. Lay fish in small baking dish, filet skin side up so marinade soaks in. Pour marinade over fish, turning to cover completely. 5. Cover salmon with airtight lid in fridge for 30-60 minutes, or until you’re ready to eat. 6. Heat outdoor grill (or grill pan) over medium-high heat until piping hot. Brush olive oil over grill [...]

Spring Has Sprung!

April 4th, 2018|Life On Deck|

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to head outside, especially since we have “sprung forward” and the days are steadily getting warmer. With the Rockies home opener this Friday, I know summer is on its way. With summer comes all of the graduations, weddings, BBQs, and outdoor parties that are ideal for celebrating in your outdoor living environment. I can’t remember the start of a Colorado baseball season where the team has had such promise. Even though I’ll have many opportunities to see the Rockies play at Coors Field, I’m sure I’ll have many more wonderful evenings watching from my covered patio. With our amazing climate, there’s no better place for outdoor living than right here in Colorado. Just thinking about it gets me excited for another season. As we begin to spend more time outdoors we’re always looking for ways to enhance our pleasure and enjoyment, from [...]

Get Ready for Outdoor Living

March 7th, 2018|Blog, Life On Deck, Outdoor Living|

You look out over your deck every day from your family room and kitchen. What are you seeing through those back windows and doors? Is your deck neglected, or the outdoor oasis that you originally intended? I certainly hope it’s an oasis. For some folks, decorating and designing seems to come so naturally. I’m awed by the time and care that our clients invest in making their decks truly their own. I love to see the furniture, art pieces, flowers and other greenery that people have so thoughtfully arranged. It’s always an experience for me because each one is so individual, reflecting the homeowners’ personal tastes. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than seeing our carefully-crafted decks enhancing your backyard environment. For others, decorating can seem a bit daunting or overwhelming. Some people just don’t know where to start or how to approach things. Perhaps you’re looking out over [...]