As our focus turns toward mothers this month, we want to stop and honor the women in our lives. Her job is never done and she does it with such love. She deserves a chance to take it outdoors and relax in a beautiful space. We chose this collection of gift ideas for her to give her even more enjoyment in her own back yard.

Outdoor Pouf

Price: $229

Why we love it: This gift says, “relax and put your feet up” all over it. It’s both stylish and durable for outdoor use. Sometimes she simply needs permission to take a break. You’ll give her permission to rest and a comfy spot to do so.

Sur La Table® Outdoor Stemless Wine Glasses, Set of 6

Price: $39.95

Why we love it: These wine glasses are shatter resistant, but they are designed to look like traditional glassware. Whether it’s a family dinner on the patio or a gathering with her girlfriends, these BPA-free stemless glasses are perfect for Outdoor Style entertaining.

Succulent Living Wall Planter Kit

Price: $100.00

Why we love it: It’s a green gift in more ways than one! The kit comes with plenty of succulents and instructions for planting. The frame is handmade from recycled wood and designed to either hang on a wall or fence or lay on a table as a living centerpiece. Succulents are easy to care for and ideal for busy people – like mom!

Cedar Wood Doormat

Price: $99.99

Wine of the Month Club Membership

Price: Starts at $21.95 monthly

Big Blue Party™ Indoor-Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker

Price: $299.99

Cotton Hammock

Price: $109.00 large / $119.00 extra large

Why we love it: L.L. Bean says this hammock has been a customer favorite for over 30 years. No doubt! There is a certain type of relaxation that only happens in a hammock. It’s almost as if a nap is a requirement. She works hard. She deserves it!

Stylish Monogrammed Hat and Tank Set

Price: $38.00

Drink Dispenser + Wood Stand

Price: $103.00

Why we love it: She’ll be able to serve up a cool and refreshing beverage all summer long right on the patio with this drink stand. Fewer trips to the kitchen = more outdoor style relaxing and talking.

Wood Slat Double Lounger

PRICE: $599.00

Why we love it: She’ll feel glamorous when she reclines on this double-lounger. She can’t help but nap, read or soak up some rays on this chaise lounge… which is exactly the kind of Outdoor Style living we were looking for!

 

Solar Light Garden Stake

Price: $42.00

Why we love it: Hand-blown from 100% recycled glass, these orbs each contain a solar-powered LED light that allow her to enjoy the enchanting swirls after dark. It’s a beautiful addition to the garden surrounding her patio.

Which item in this gift guide would the woman in your life most want? Tell us in the comments below!

Whether it’s college basketball or patio construction, the road to the final four is an exciting one!

Choosing the best design elements is a tough game. It’s best to approach it with a strategy in mind and a good knowledge of all the players. We’ve pulled out the Sweet 16 of the following categories to help you narrow down your options through the Elite Eight and down to the Final Four, including one in each of the following categories:

Download our Patio Bracketology PDF to discover which patio options will make it to your Final Four.

Take your patio options through these elimination rounds on the road to the final four to discover which options will come out on top!

The Brackets

Flooring

The flooring you select sets the stage for your outdoor living space. Pavers and tile give a good showing with predictable patterns. Natural flagstone brings home the Texas Hill Country look. A stamped overlay gives a lot of versatility on the floor. It is flexible enough to look like random natural stone, patterned tile or even wood. Based on its performance, it is a favored pick among homeowners. Some flooring options that did not advance to the Sweet 16 are plain concrete (which is the base for almost all of our flooring options) and acid stained concrete. Both options are virtually maintenance free and durable.

Your choices in column options can help your patio blend seamlessly with the architecture of your home or make a powerfully contrasting statement to bring interest to your outdoor living space. A full brick column easily ties into a home, especially if the back of the home is all brick. Many homes in our area have hardie siding on the back, so the combination of masonry and Hardie® does a nice job of reintroducing the stone or brick from the front of the house again in the backyard. Masonry and cedar gives a rustic, Hill Country look. Full stone is a popular option for pool owners, who have a lot of stone around their pools and also for home owners whose facade features a lot of stone work. Stucco and decorative fiberglass column surrounds are column alternatives that didn’t make the round this time, but are fantastic options on stucco or very traditional homes, respectively.

Ceilings

In the design process, the ceiling is often underestimated in its ability to bring the entire project together. A ceiling, done right, can make an outdoor living space project a slam dunk. Let’s take a look at the contenders. A painted Hardie® ceiling is a good option to match an existing patio cover, as many builders choose this option during construction. Tongue and Groove Wood (spruce, pine or cedar) adds richness and warmth. Reclaimed wood brings a rustic, old-world charm. Tin tiles can give a unique, vintage flavor to the ceiling.

Roof Shape

The roof shape brings new definition to the architecture of the entire home. For most homes, a hip roof, one that slopes on all sides, will allow the patio cover to blend seamlessly into the architecture of the home and provide plenty of shade. A shed roof is a great fit on a two-story home with windows above the patio space, because it is a single-sloped roof with vertical sides. The loftiness of an open gable roof provides height and a soaring view. When the existing roofline and windows present tie-in challenges, a combination hip and gable roof is a solid and versatile player.

Save more of what you like on Houzz or Pinterest with us

Visit us on Houzz and begin adding your favorite outdoor style images to your Ideabooks! Or check us out on Pinterest and pin your picks to your own Boards.

Hiring a contractor can be a scary and intimidating decision. How can you know you’re making the best choice before you sign on the dotted line?

When it comes to finding a great contractor, the bottom line comes down to trust.

Here are three marks of a trustworthy contractor:

Warranty A contractor who backs up his work with a good, strong warranty gives you reason to trust him. When a contractor has been in business for a while and continues to offer this assurance on his work and materials, you can have confidence that the job will be done well.

Fixed Pricing Some surprises are good. Surprises in price are not. A contractor who gives you an exact quote at the onset of a contract proves that he has enough experience to account for all aspects of a project. Approaching pricing in this way also makes the contractor ultimately responsible for any mistakes or unforeseen costs. A contractor who is willing to be subject to this level of accountability on the bottom line is going to be as accurate as he is able. No surprises, period.

3-D Renderings Knowing what your finished project is expected to look like on your home brings confidence in the product you are purchasing. The contractor who provides what-you-see-is-what-you-get 3-D renderings, when applicable, eliminates doubts about the aesthetics of a project. You can see that your project designer is able to bring your dream project to life before any work has begun.

You can rest assured that you have found a great contractor, when he places such a high value on trust that he chooses to be characterized by these marks!

To learn more about Texas Custom Patios warranty and price guarantee, visit our website. To request a free consultation for your outdoor living project, call 281.265.1994 or drop us a line here. We’d love to show you how we can improve your quality of living in your backyard!

As Texas Custom Patios approaches its tenth year in existence, it has cause to celebrate. Not only is the company commemorating the longevity of that decade milestone, it has also been included for the first time in Houston Business Journal‘s Fast 100 list.

The list, ranked by revenue growth from 2010 to 2012, includes innovative businesses that have overcome obstacles and find time to give back to the community, all while growing at whopping rates. ~Houston Business Journal

The company saw a 96% growth rate between 2010 and 2012. In light of an unstable economy over the last decade, to see this kind of growth in a company that offers luxury outdoor living spaces is significant.

Texas Custom Patios was honored to be named among the seven Enterprise Champion finalists, who were selected based on demonstrating outstanding innovation, corporate culture and community service, in addition to thriving in revenue growth.

One initiative that has kept the company ahead is including sales duties in every job description. Increases sales present new challenges. “Our greatest challenge is managing growth. We have a sizable backlog of work, and we don’t want our lead time to increase from our current eight to 10 weeks out,” said Rob Douglass, the company’s president and founder. “That means more qualified crews in every trade and more sales consultants/project managers.”

Quality is a central focus as Texas Custom Patios moves forward. It boasts an A rating with the Better Business Bureau and is committed to maintaining a high quality product and level of service as it expands its services and presence in the greater Houston area.

If you have been following Texas Custom Patios in social media, you may have come across a term we’ve been using: Outdoor Style.

Knowing the type of work Texas Custom Patios does, you may think that has everything to do with lush woods, gorgeous stonework and inviting lighting. But, it actually doesn’t. We want to clear things up.

What is Outdoor Style?

#OutdoorStyle more about an attitude, a mindset and a lifestyle than it is about materials and design. Don’t misunderstand, we love beautiful outdoor living spaces around here. We pour ourselves into creating them! The exquisite spaces we build are custom-made as a setting where living happens for the person with #OutdoorStyle.

Let’s dig in a bit more to the elements of #OutdoorStyle.

An Attitude

It’s Relaxed

#OutdoorStyle is taking your down time at a slower pace. It’s taking a moment to just breathe. It’s savoring a weekend with no schedule. #OutdoorStyle is the high life that steps away from the hamster wheel. It’s enjoying the peace and soaking in whatever this moment brings.

A Mindset

It’s priorities

#OutdoorStyle recognizes that relationships are first. It values belly laughs and making memories. It says, “Stay and talk.” #OutdoorStyle is the house on the block with the open front door and a back patio full of company who feels more like family.

A Lifestyle

It’s How you do What You Do

#OutdoorStyle loves entertaining, relaxing and dining. It’s the first to pop open a bottle and celebrate for a milestone or just because it’s Friday. It’s finesse and fun, but with an uncommon ease.

What about you? Does your outdoor living space express your #OutdoorStyle? If your current outdoor design doesn’t match your #OutdoorStyle, call Texas Custom Patios (281-265-1994) or contact us to request a free consultation.

How would you describe your #OutdoorStyle? Leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!

Our Project of the Month is this 30-year-old home, which sits on an acreage lot with plenty of room. Prior to our project, however, it had no covered outdoor living space. The new homeowner wanted to create an inviting space for entertaining and lounging while enjoying the views of their gorgeous backyard.

The home has lovely extensive windows in the back, so we decided to build the patio cover off the 2nd story roof. We added the arches to give the feeling of a more enclosed space and to add protection from the elements under the cover. When we couldn’t match the brick of the home, we went with a contrasting Oklahoma Chop stone (rustic blend).

The project includes a dramatic corner fireplace and beautiful stamped concrete in a flagstone pattern. Sconce lighting on the house and columns provides a great accent to the project.

See larger versions of these photos in our Flickr Photostream.