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Spring in the air.... share pics of your outdoor spaces?

15 years ago

I would love to see your outdoor spaces!! Patios, decks, outside kitchens, landscaping, etc.

Also, can you build a surround for a charcoal grill to make it look more integrated? Anyone have a Big Green Egg? I am envisioning a kitchen look for my grill & Green Egg but don't have the vision in my head!! (DH will only use charcoal no gas grill)

I look forward to see your pics or inspiration pics.

Smiles:)

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Comments (29)

fnmroberts
15 years ago
I've linked photos of our patio and lawn.

We have a gas grill but DH has built a screen around it. It is included amongst the other photos. Can't imagine that your charcoal grill would be any hotter than gas but you could always have the set-back a bit more.

Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Backyard and Patio
cliff_and_joann
15 years ago
Scooby,
What is a big green egg?

BBQ arbour area close up

from a distance.

Big company table

from a distance, that's a wet bar and refrigerator between the two doors, It's all about comfort! :)
I just water all the deck plants using a big watering can,
the tub on the counter is my sink. :)
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Lars, accessibility is pretty much catered to the individual disabled cook. You will find this is true when you talk to different people with disability. I had lived in this home & kitchen for 4 years. By the time I had the money to modify it, I knew exactly what I needed more and what I needed less. ie: A kitchen designer advised me to take some floor cabinets out to yield feet area. It would have been nice but my kitchen was so small that I needed cabinets more than I needed room for my feet. If I modified this kitchen right when I moved in, I would have done it all wrong. I wouldn't have had enough time to learn its unique spaces and surroundings (location of appliances, cooktop, sink, etc.). A full wheelchair accessible kitchen can be very expensive! I had looked into moveable wall cabinets or hardware and they were very pricey. I had so much kitchenwares that I needed to keep all the cabinets. Since I could kneel on my power wheelchair to give me height, I could reach the lower and middle shelves of the wall cabinets. As for the upper shelf, I put items that I use a few times a year. To reach that top shelf, I use a drafting chair. For everyday items, they're all stored in the floor cabinets and in the dishwasher. Yes, the DW makes a good cabinet too. I do use the DW daily but instead of taking all the clean dishes out and put them away every day, I just leave them in there. Take them out when use them and put them in the sink after usage. At the end of the day, they go back in the DW for a good shower. If there are still clean dishes in the DW, then, they get to be cleaned again. The plexiglass did not go over the DW. The lines you saw were scratches from the old wheelchair. I have since replaced the front panel of the DW and replaced the wheelchair. Since it's inexpensive to replace the panel, I figured it didn't need plexiglass. With the pullout shelves, kitchenwares became more accessible. However, the pullout were only done to the center shelves. We couldn't do much with the bottom/floor shelves. So, I store my items in rectangular shape baskets with handles. I can pull the baskets out and push them in like pullout shelves. That's something you may want to try. When talking to kitchen designers, one tip I give that I know can be very useful to all wheelchair cooks is to have 180-degree (or more) hinges on all floor cabinet doors. When the door is opened all the way, the door does not take any hallway spacing for wheelchair to move back and forth. My house was built in the mid 70's. At the time, these were the type of hinges installed on kitchen cabinets. Unfortunately, these useful hinges are no longer used in today new built homes. Or at least, in the new homes that I've seen around here. That wallpaper was not bad but it was too busy looking. It made the small kitchen and the small breakfast area looking even smaller. Decorating was even hard. The wallpaper was very intact after 30+ years. So, my handiman texturized it with plaster (to match with the rest of the house) and painted over with a neutral color. It was inexpensive to do and made a whole lot of difference. In the end, money dictated which modifications I could live with and which I couldn't live without.
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I stacked in close to my last load and hopefully it will be all Oak or Ash or Pecan mixed in. I did think to face the bark up and can easily see the advantage of resisting water and not holding water in the grain. The squirrels were nice and did not show after running into the wood as I started. Approximate 6- 6.5 feet off the ground I appreciate their cooperation. LOL!
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neesie
15 years ago
fnmroberts, cliff_and_joann: what lovely outdoor patios you have! Now, I'm guessing the Big Green Egg goes with Green Eggs and Ham? Do tell!
eliza_824
15 years ago
Well, pictures from our little humble home are going to look pretty contrasting compared to cliff & joann (what beautiful pictures you have, by the way!!)

Okay, so I'm cheating a little.. these pictures were all taken last summer, but I thought they were so pretty. Just thought I'd share :)

A mama bird laid some eggs in our front porch wall cross! My kids looked forward to peeking in there every day. When they hatched, we got pics of the wee baby birds. It was really neat!

Our front planters after a fresh summer rain.

God's beautiful creation :)

More pretty flowers!
Christine Decker
15 years ago
Here are some of my outdoor/patio/portico and garden areas.
I love Spring!
pics of outdoor garden and patio areas
teacats
15 years ago
Cliff and Joann -- Your outdoor rooms are simply FANTASTIC!! Just gorgeous -- did you build them yourselves? Wonderful place for a party! :)

Here's some information on The Big Green Egg -- my DH always wanted one -- but NOT in the budget at this time ......

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Here is a link that might be useful: Info on the Big Green Egg grill
amac
15 years ago
Ok, I have a question.... I need a new grill - we gave away our last gas grill when we moved from one house to the next. Now we have been without a grill for 4 years. I would like a new one - what is the main difference between charcoal and gas? Does the food taste better with charcoal? I know it smells great.... Just curious why your husband prefers charcoal?

Thanks!
brutuses
15 years ago
Eliza, that is so cute, eggs right there to look at. I use to work with an old groutch who had doves coming to nest in her hanging pots. Instead of wanting to help them, she'd throw out the nests. How hateful is that? I'd tell her all the time how horrible she was for doing it too. LOL I couldn't understand what plant was worth more than a family of little birds.
cliff_and_joann
15 years ago
Isn't that funny. last week I bought an Asian tea pot
with a basket inside for tea leaves. It is cast iron on the outside and ceramic on the inside. The tea in it is delicious.
Reading the instructions, it says to use the tea leaves two or three times. The tea pot is pretty and looks nice on the counter.
Teacats, my hubby is a gardening nut, loves the outside. Yes, we did the outside rooms ourselves. I dream these things up and he makes them happen. We do a lot of our upholstering outside on the deck in the nice weather.
When I can't find him I just look outside, he's either gardening or playing with the fish.
amysrq
15 years ago
I recently saw a photo of a BGE incorporated into an out door kitchen. The made a hole in the "counter" and just sat it in there. Pretty cool. I know BGE sells stands/tables, too.

As for charcoal vs. gas, I have always been a charcoal girl! But, I have a Weber charcoal grill with a gas starter. The best of both worlds, IMO.
ronbre
15 years ago
I also have only mud and snow for 2009 (Mich) so photos will have to be 2008.

grape arbor in front yard

more front yard

under the rear apple tree

a snippet of the back garden

front step....well here are a few snippets..the garden is so big you don't want me to keep going right now ..not enough time or space.
brutuses
15 years ago
ron, very pretty. What is that growing up the side of your step? It looks like some type of rose???
threedgrad
15 years ago
My covered patio at my new rental:

It's nice to sit out on the patio in the morning with some coffee. The backyard has a 6' tall concrete block wall with stones and landscaped flowering bushes and trees on a watering system which is already programmed by landlord. I have a few potted rose bushes and a tomato plant spaced along the wall which I water every other day or so. We are in the upper 70's or low 80's right now, so the plants are very happy.
loribee
15 years ago
Here is our shaded back deck...

Here is a link that might be useful:
imsoconfused
15 years ago
Gorgeous photos everbody! I can't wait to get my yard fixed post Ike. The floodwaters left mud in the low spots and it still smells awful when it gets wet. The flower beds, we've been told need to have all the dirt replaced because of salt in the dirt now. Don't think I have that much energy! Will probably just till some new dirt in with the old.

ON the BBQ subject, there is a grill at Lowe's that is the best of both worlds! Chargriller I think is the name of it. But it has gas on one side, and charcoal on the other. DH loves the charcoal side, especially when HE wants to cook, and I love having the gas side, if I get the notion to grill something and we are in a hurry or something, I can still get that grilled look and taste without the wait!
msrose
15 years ago
Joann - You posted a picture of your backyard before that I just fell in love with. I know it had your dog in it and I think there was a wooden dock (not sure if I'm remembering that right).

Laurie
reeny
15 years ago
We have the Big Green Egg and absolutely love it - nothing grills or smokes as good as the egg. If you are wondering whether or not it is worth the investment I believe it is definitely at the top of the list.

Reeny
funkyart
15 years ago
Beautful spaces, everyone.. and I am envious of those of you with big green eggs! I have wanted one for a number of years but there is always something else I need to spend the $$ on. This year, I am splurging on new bedding and vietri pottery (ok, I guess I don't NEED them but they are higher priority splurges).

I will make small improvements to my outdoor spaces.. and your photos are all inspiring.
cliff_and_joann
15 years ago
msRose, Don't encourage me to post more outdoor pic's I may crash this forum! :))))
This is from last June.

{{gwi:178573}}

{{gwi:178583}}

The dock from the back

{{gwi:216855}}

The Head Groundskeeper...when I can't find him, I just have to look out the window. :)))
amac
15 years ago
How much is a big green egg?
texanjana
15 years ago
I bought my husband the large one with the stand several years ago, and I am thinking it was around $600. We love it.
ladyamity
15 years ago
My Cousin has two Green Eggs...the jumbo massive thing (with all the extra bells and whistles) and a little one for just him and his wife.

I will say, they are the greatest invention since sliced bread.....cook foods to perfection, and once surrounded by some potted plants, don't stick out like a sore thumb quite as much. *smile*

We had been saving up for one but Fathers Day the kids showed up with a huge Charcoal BBQ/Smoker combo for their Dad.

We incorporated the Huge Black Beast into a large planter we already had (we used reclaimed tile for the top and added a small sink we found at Goodwill to give the Beast a more built-in appearance) and used the money we had saved for the EGG to do some great Yard Sale shopping. :)
amac
15 years ago
Thanks for the big egg info - I think I must check it out. I was thinking about buying a Weber gas grill - but I'm intrigued by the big green egg.

Many thanks!
ladyamity
15 years ago
eliza_824 wrote: "Well, pictures from our little humble home are going to look pretty contrasting compared to...."

I say DITTO.

Eliza,
You have wonderful color and beautifully laid out!
But I'm going to steal your words quoted above after seeing all these spectacular gardens....obviously created with pride and lots of love.

Here I thought I had some colorful surroundings, some not-so-average ideas and ....then I saw all these pictures, drooled, and then had second thoughts about sharing pics of my little piece of Humble Haven.
I THANK EVERY ONE OF YOU who have shared pics/links of your beautiful surroundings, your pics....each one...have inspired me, left me jaw-dropped, made me smile with their color and given me more ideas!

I'm in Southern California so most of the pics were taken within the last week...except for the "before" pics in the album linked below.
All pics in album have explanations.

Here is a link that might be useful: More Back Yard Pics
twizzis
15 years ago
Such beautiful pictures from those whom shared. We lost about 60 mature trees after Katrina. I'm slowing getting my yard back into shape. My next project is spiffing-up my little tea house gazebo.

{{!gwi}}
ronbre
15 years ago
all the photos are beautiful, I enjoy mine but wish I had the warmer temps like some of you to be able to do more tropical..i have a pond but it still needs work..as it was dug by a bulldozer and backhoe to fill when we had our fire ..around our new house..it is still rough..it is a clay pond..no liner..but it is 60 x 60 approx..maybe bigger, and not regular..son wants to make it bigger..always bigger for guys eh? Cliff and Jo your yard is scrumptious..where do you live..and i love the tropical yard twiz..and amity..we still have snow here so no tropical plants..can't even grow a jap maple here..
twizzis
15 years ago
I forgot a picture of my angel. I love when my toddler grandbabies stoop and kiss him on his face. Thanks, ron, we had rare snow flurries this past winter. You can see how it burned my holly ferns.

{{!gwi}}
saltnpeppa
Original Author
15 years ago
I had to take a quick peek while away from home to see the pics:) I wish I had time to respond to each person b/c every picture is gorgeous!!

OMG - this is amazing. You all are incredibly talented taking your love of your house & expressing it so beautifully. Really, I am just glad I have grass. When we moved to our house it was 2 acres of mud!! I wish my thumb would turn green:)

BTW, the Big green egg is the best!! I am not trying to brag but this grill really took my DH's grilling to a new level. All of our friends joke that DH should be the BGE spokesperson :& get commissions for the eggs he has helped sell! Since I am in the South (Memphis - BBQ capital of the world) we do alot of BBQ & ribs. Ummmmmmmm everything comes out tender & oh so juicy - steaks, chicken, burgers - you name it:) Some people do pizzas & bread - I haven't tried that.

Smiles:)
sis3
15 years ago
Thank you so much everyone for the great inspirational photos.
Special thanks to cliff and joann as I have never forgotten some glorious photos of your garden that you posted years ago. What I did forget was who had posted them! I searched and searched but couldn't find them again. Now, at last, here are more! Your garden is gorgeous, I would never be indoors if it were mine! Any chance your husband would like a vacation (read 'unpaid job') in our garden (read 'barren wasteland') in Florida?

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