Just as important as the people who meet you at your home to build your covered patio, are the wonderful voices of the people who answer your calls and help guide you in the right direction! Today we are putting the spotlight on two young ladies that have worked hard for Texas Custom Patios each day for the last few years. They hear it all, now it’s time to hear from them!

Name: Brandi Howard

How long with TCP? 4 Years

How long in this business? 4 years

What do you enjoy most about what you do? Getting to talk to different people and learning what outdoor projects they need help with.

Do you have a favorite project from the past? High end finishes in Royal Oaks and the contemporary outdoor living room in Montrose because they are totally different. I love the clean lines in the Montrose living space and all of the details that were done in the Royal Oaks space.

What’s the one thing that most clients say they HAVE to have? Covered patio!!

What do you think outdoor living space does for a home and person? Provides additional space for family.

Now meet, Kendall!  She prefers to stay behind the telephone lines and not be pictured.

Name: Kendall

How long with TCP: 2 years

How long in this business: 2 years

What do you enjoy most about what you do?  I really enjoy the people that I work with at TCP.  They are all such great people to be around!

Do you have a favorite project from the past? My favorite project is the Hill Country Charm with Scandinavian Accents with the outdoor fireplace and kitchen. It’s a beautiful outdoor living space!

What’s the one thing that most clients say they HAVE to have? Outdoor entertainment space

What do you hear most often from clients when everything is completed? They love the new addition to their home!

What do you think outdoor living space does for a home and person? Helps create their favorite place to go in their home.

September 29th is National Good Neighbor Day, so breakout your culinary skills, get to grillin’, and invite them over for a patio party.  We brought the heat by kicking up the spice on traditional burger recipe for this edition of our Recipe of the Month.

Green Chili Cheeseburger

Ingredients

Instructions

Autumn air brings just another reason to get outdoors and live life. This Thursday marks the beginning of a new season … fall is here, and we are so excited to help you get in the spirit with style. Creating a cozy outdoor living space can be both stylish and affordable.  There are just a few fall decor must-haves when crafting an alfresco common area.

Illumination

Whether the illumination shines from a beautifully lit gas fire pit or groups of strategically placed candles … lighting both sets the mood and brings warmth to your outdoor experience.  While traditional string lights are synonymous with the holidays you can also change up the style of string lights and make them a permanent fixture for a European vibe.   Lighting in any fashion will add to the ambiance and can be done on many levels, flip the switch and add some light … you’ll illuminate the mood and the experience.

Cozy up with Color

Harvesting warm colors to match nature is exactly what you should do when designing your outdoor living space.  Take a muted mustard color and make it pop agains a rustic red.  Accent pillows, chargers, candles, throws, and rugs … these are all places where you can play with pigments.  It’s fun to accessorize with color as it’s not permanent and easy to move around. 

Create a Focal Point

Pick one area in the outdoor living space on which to focus, make it a place that really draws the eye.  It could be as simple as an over-sized beautiful plant, a piece of art or even furniture (like the hanging sofa below).  Make one part of the space something you’re proud of, something that makes you smile. It not only makes for a great talking piece, but can also make for a great picture backdrop.

The Gathering Place

Within the outdoor living room or outdoor kitchen, have a place where 3 or more people can sit comfortably.  Have a few billowy deep-set seats, a sofa with large pillows or even comfortable barstools to belly up to the bar.  Your guests will enjoy the surroundings and remember the experience.

Happy FALL, Y’all!  Get outside … live life … enjoy!

Click the image below to discover details about this gorgeous traditional covered patio in Allen.

IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

2016 Star Awards & Excellence under 45 Awards Winners

The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced the 2016 Star Awards winners at the Gaylord Texan® Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine. The highly-coveted Star Awards are given annually in conjunction with the Sunbelt Builders Show™ to recognize excellence in all areas of the home building industry. In 1992, the Texas Association of Builders launched the Star Awards – the only statewide tribute to excellence in the home building industry.

The 2016 Star Awards recognized the outstanding work of builders, remodelers, architects, designers, sales professionals, marketing professionals, construction professionals and industry leaders in Texas and the Southwest. Entries were judged by a distinguished panel of industry experts from across the country.

Winners will be featured in the September/October issue of Texas Builder magazine. Click here to see a list of complete award winners.

Texas Custom Patios grabbed, “Remodeler – Best Outdoor Living Space” in two different price categories!  We are thrilled and honored.

Each month we like to put a spotlight on someone or something that helps make Texas Custom Patios the best in the business.  This month we are taking spotlight to a whole new level by turning on the lights and  setting off some major sparks with our electrician extraordinaire!   Let’s flip the switch and meet Milan!

Full Name:  Milan Tadic

 

How long have you worked with TCP? Four great years!

 

How long in this business? Fifteen years.

 

What’s your “specialty?” Anything that has to do with electrical!

 

What do you enjoy most about what you do?  I’m always in a different place, meeting new people, and overcoming new electrical challenges, it’s so fun to do something different each day.

 

What’s inspiring in the construction/build world to you?  I love to see all of the new styles of projects being built and more than anything I love to see people happy.  When a homeowner sees the progress made and they light up because they are so thrilled, that’s worth it to me!

 

Do you have a favorite project from the past? I have so many that I love, but one that really shines brightly to me is this one …

 

I love it because it’s just so different !

 

What trends have you seen in outdoor design in the last few years? I’ve seen a lot of “cozy” projects … smaller, but very customized!

 

What do you see to be popular in the future? I imagine everything becoming more digital and lots of LED lighting!

 

What’s the one thing that most clients say they HAVE to have? Lighting, of course!  And fans … Texas needs fans!

 

What is your biggest obstacle you face during the design/build process?  Figuring out the perfect spacing between lights.  You have to be very careful or you will end up with a strobe effect … and that’s not what you want!

 

What do you hear most often from clients when everything is completed? They always say the completed project exceeded their expectations and they love it!

 

What do you think outdoor living space does for a home and person?  It builds value to the home and a place where memories can be made!

 

What do you hope to build/design in the future?   I just want to keep being creative!

 

It’s that time of year where everyone gets together for a football and food frenzy.  If you can’t be at the game, aim for the next best thing:  watch the game with friends in the comfort of your own outdoor living room.    So ditch the truck tailgate and fire up the grill in your backyard for a “pigskin” pregame party.

• Built-in gas grill
• Sideburner
• Pizza oven
• Drawers and cabinets
• Raised bar top and counter space
• Sinks
• Refrigerator
• Ice maker
• Wine cooler

… just something to think about!

Now to the game day grub!

• 101 Plank Grilling
• How to Grill the Perfect Burger
• Guide to Perfect Salmon on the Grill
• Simple Recipe for Grilled Corn on the Cob
• How to Cook Pizza on the Grill
• Grilling the Perfect Filet
• How to Roast a Chicken on the Grill
• Perfect Grill Marks 
• Smoking Techniques
• BBQ Techniques
• Searing Techniques
• Direct Grilling vs. Indirect Grilling 

How ’bout something to wash it all down?

Party on the Patio Cocktail

Ingredients

2/3 cup pineapple juice, chilled

1/3 cup vanilla flavored vodka

1 dash grenadine syrup

2 pineapple wedges

2 maraschino cherries

Directions

Pour the pineapple juice, vodka and grenadine into a shaker full of ice.  Shake, then strain into two glasses.  Garnish with a piece of pineapple and a cherry on a skewer!

Click the image below to discover details about this modern stucco covered patio in Bellaire.

Pretty and practical Outdoor Room addition expands the usable living space of this 1,800-sq.-ft., 1929 bungalow home by nearly 25 percent. The soaring wood ceiling, painstakingly hand-cut and crafted from natural-finish, smooth cedar, makes a dramatic first impression upon entering the space.

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We are so excited, one of our gorgeous patios was recently featured on KHOU-TV CH. 11’s Great Day Houston!  They sipped coffee and discussed how to create your own backyard oasis!  What are the musts?  Watch here!