Monday, July 23, 2018

What Size Pergola Do I Need?




One of the most common questions we encounter at Denver Pergola Systems, is “What size pergola do I need?” This is partially because consumers are accustomed to being boxed-in by box-store standard sizing. With Arcadia adjustable aluminum pergolas, however, this is not the case, as each shelter solution can be customized to meet your exact needs. How do you determine those sizing needs? Pergola sizing is ultimately tied to patio size.

Determining Patio (& Pergola) Size
Patio size is influenced by a variety of factors, including yard size, your intention for your outdoor space (cooking, dining, office, etc.), and furnishings. Many homeowners unintentionally end up with a patio that is either too small, feeling cramped by furniture, or an overly large space that lacks intimacy. The trick is ensuring adequate space to allow for movement around furnishings and proportioning each correctly to avoid a warehouse-like feel.

Finding the Patio Type that’s Right for You:
        Bistro
Tucked away in smaller spaces, bistro patios can be a challenge to design large enough for function yet small enough to squeeze into tight, typically 6-7-foot in diameter spaces.  Want more in your bistro-size space?
Check out these tips.

        Kitchen
Like home kitchens, there’s a huge array of amenity and sizing variations here.
What best suits your needs? Shop, get dimensions, create a chalk outline, then navigate your imaginary kitchen space to ensure adequate elbow room.
        Dining
How many will you be serving at evening meals? Allocate at least a 10-foot space for the typical 4-person dining round table; 11-feet for a 6-person round. Going rectangular? The typical setup (seating 2 on each side and one at each table head) takes approximately a 13x10 patio space. 3-feet surrounding furniture is ideal for movement. Adding more furnishings? You should likewise add to your patio footprint.
        Living Room
Outdoor living rooms are hugely popular. Featuring technology and furnishings just as plush and large as indoor options, they are likewise supersized: 16-18 feet across, with an ideal 3-feet of clearance surrounding furniture for traffic flow. As outdoor living spaces incorporate multiple functions, a central
conservation area, such as a fire feature, is integral to creating intimacy. Paver designs/colors, masonry seat walls, and outdoor rugs are ideal for defining key areas.
Avoid these common mistakes.
        Sundeck
Calculate a sundeck space featuring a 2x6-foot space per lounge chair, with cocktail tables in-between. Ensure a 3-foot walking space at the foot of chairs – 5-feet to prevent an accidental splash in the pool.
        Bar
Like kitchens, there’s a nearly
endless number of bar variations, from portable models to all-out Irish pub fare for the extended family.
        Bath
Outdoor baths and showers are growing in popularity. Is this addition an ideal choice for your outdoor space?
LINK: Recent bath/shower blog
        Outdoor Office
Personalize your outdoor office for form, function, and productivity with
these tips.


Shop for Furniture First
After deciding on your outdoor living space ‘theme’ and checking with your local municipality and homeowner’s association to verify how much of your outdoor real estate is up for grabs, take your measurements, shopping for furnishings and appliances first. This can help you design a patio properly sized to meet ‘must-have’ features without any space-hogging surprises. This should include seating/lounges, tables and chairs, and other integral functional and design elements such as grills, bars, fireplaces/fire pits, water features, and large planters/greenery. All the ‘stuff.’ Keep a detailed list, taking photos, and before you purchase, go home and consider the sizing and placement of your intended additions. This chart is a great reference for estimating furniture/patio dimensions.

Calculate Your Ideal Pergola Dimensions
Now that you’ve put in the prep work, it’s time to order your pergola. Patio size = pergola size, so it’s crucial not to cut corners. Sleek and space-saving, your Arcadia adjustable aluminum pergola will prove the linchpin of your design, preserving your outdoor enjoyment rain or shine with iLouver app or remote operation and 170-degrees of rotational flexibility for the perfect amount of sun, shade or shelter. Add the finishing touches with comfort control solutions ranging from lighting to motorized screens for pests and privacy, and ceiling fans/patio heaters for year-round comfort, incorporating your pergola seamlessly into the design of your home with custom color and accessory options.

Unsure of your patio design? Our professional design team can help. Ensure an outdoor living area design that serves as an extension of your home, enjoying its use year-round. Open up to new ways to use your outdoor space with Denver Pergola Systems today.

This post was originally published at http://www.denverpergolas.com/what-size-pergola-do-i-need/


Monday, July 16, 2018

Refresh Yourself with an Outdoor Bath or Shower




Throngs of Americans are moving their daily activities outdoors. Outdoor cooking and dining. Green office spaces. And the latest outdoor living space trend? Outdoor baths and showers.
Why an Outdoor Bath or Shower?
Standing under a burst of water while taking in the warm sun or enjoying the breeze invigorates in a way tiled indoor bathing spaces cannot. What could be more refreshing (and practical) than rinsing off comfortably in a cool shower after a sweaty run or following an afternoon of gardening? Better still, how relaxing would a warm bath under the stars with a glass of your favorite wine be?



Don’t Be Shy – Step Out & Enjoy Outdoor Bathing
It’s easier than you think to add an outdoor bath or showering space (without inadvertently inviting the neighbors for a free show)…


  1. Decide the ‘theme’ of your space.
    Relegate the bathing experience from an obligation to a pleasure, creating a theme for your space. Go rustic with wood and stone, create a tropical paradise, or a spa-like retreat in the comfort and privacy of your home.

  2. Ponder your shower location.
    If there are natural amenities or amazing views, situate your shower to take advantage of your home site. Locate your bathing site in direct sunlight for a more pleasant bathing pleasant, and to keep accoutrements drier. A sunlit, airy location is critical to preventing mold, mildew, scum, and moisture-related wear-and-tear. Avoid areas with trees overhead, which can cause debris accumulation and pest issues. If your shower will share an exterior wall, be certain to add a waterproof membrane between surfaces. 
  3. Consider creature comforts.
    Specifically: Hot water. While a hose may get the job done in the dead of summer, it’s far from ideal in spring or fall. Adding hot water involves tapping into your home’s hot water supply or adding a new line specifically for your outdoor bathing area with the help of a plumbing professional or general contractor. Interested in a greener, energy-saving option? A solar roof heating system may be just the ticket. (Tip: Don’t forget a shutoff valve to avoid winter pipe issues.)
  4. Protect your home.
    Plan proper draining for your space to ensure water buildup does not affect your property, draining away from the foundation/basement. Options include permeable pavers, artificial turf, a French drain, draining to a storm ditch, gutter system, or graywater tank. Be certain to verify compliance with local building codes before beginning your addition. 
  5. Embellish your space.
    Emulate the theme of your outdoor bathing space with an antique claw-foot tub, modern and sleek teak wood panels, or design a stunning shower stall encased in natural stone. Stainless steel fixtures ensure resilience and withstand corrosion better than brass. Create a space that’s is a true getaway with extravagant landscaping, sculptures, unique accent lighting, gas or electric fireplace, and more.
  6. Add privacy with a pergola.
    Instead of boxing-in the lovely space you’ve created for yourself with run-of-the-mill privacy fence panels or blocks, let the sunshine in while ensuring privacy with an adjustable aluminum pergola. With a full 170-degree range-of-motion, adjust the angle of your pergola roof to prevent peeping from surrounding multi-storied homes, while preserving access to sunshine and sky views. Create further privacy without detracting from the experience with the addition of motorized retractable screens and curtains, while also keeping pests at bay. Ensure air circulation and sunlight critical to safeguarding against moisture issues, and to create an incredible bathing ambiance in Mother Nature without offending the neighbors. No upper-level neighbors? Incorporate the Arcadia Slide for amazing views, especially on those clear starlit nights, and indulge in the ultimate bathing experience.





Turn your home into the relaxing sanctuary you’ve always yearned for. Contact Denver Pergola Systems and discover new ways to customize your outdoor living space today.
This post was originally published at http://www.denverpergolas.com/refresh-yourself-with-an-outdoor-bath-or-shower/




Monday, July 9, 2018





Today’s companies are luring employees out of their cubicles, enticing them outdoors to green, open spaces. Why the change in corporate real estate? A major selling point for workers, the move is drawing in new talent, inspiring creativity and innovation by placing the focus back on the human psyche, which unsurprisingly, is uninspired by bleak, gray cubicle walls.

Cut the Cubicles & Open Things Up
As the outdoors moves its way into American workspaces, cramped cubicles are being demolished in favor of lush vegetation and open spaces with a direct link to nature. As seen in Amazon’s ‘Sphere’ concept, it’s all about opening things up and breaking the mold: Hold a meeting in a treehouse or ‘bird’s nest.’ Confer or work solo on communal tables. Get out of your ‘hole’ and get out of the rut. 



Expand Your Horizons
Innovative workspaces are nothing new, especially within the tech industry. However, with various studies pointing to the benefits of human connection with nature, a number of business genres are migrating outdoors, exchanging draining office fluorescents for the warmth and energy natural sunlight has to offer, providing a refreshing alternative to the traditionally stuffy corporate work environment.

Transform Your Locale & Office Culture
As few can go to the extremes of Amazon’s ‘rainforest in a bubble,’ it’s good to know even the most modest of outdoor spaces can boost creativity and help workers de-stress. From bottom floor patios to balcony additions and rooftop gardens, green office spaces are rising in popularity nationwide, enticing the bulk of workers out of private offices, and fostering a more collaborative office culture supportive of productivity and innovation.

Growing a Green Setup
How can you achieve an outdoor office space certain to grow a maximum return on investment?
        Capitalize on unused space.
Whether that be an existing green space, neglected patio, private side yard, or overlooked rooftop.
        Zero-in on surroundings.
A ‘blah’ concrete wall fares no better than a generic cubicle. Find (or create) inspiring natural, green settings to realize the true benefits of an outdoor office.
Ensure success with these tips.
        Don’t neglect creature comforts.
Providing necessary lighting, electricity, internet access, and comfortable, ergonomic furnishings. Enhance comfort and extend seasonal use with fans, heating solutions, and motorized screens for added shade and pest protection. 
        Create a year-round refuge.
With the flexible, dependable shelter of an Arcadia adjustable aluminum pergola. Provide a shady, cool respite, deliver the sun’s warmth, or provide reliable, electronics-friendly rain protection, choosing from 170-degrees of louver positioning via remote, iLouver app operation, or optional rain and wind sensors programmed to respond on-demand.

Enhance your business’ productivity, creativity, and recruitment potential with an outdoor office space. See your office in a new light with the help of Denver Pergola Systems. Schedule your complimentary design consultation today.
This post was originally published at http://www.denverpergolas.com/goodbye-corner-office-hello-outdoor-workspace/



Monday, July 2, 2018

Celebrate Eat Outside Day with the Addition of an Outdoor Living Space




One of the most common questions we encounter at Denver Pergola Systems, is “What size pergola do I need?” This is partially because consumers are accustomed to being boxed-in by box-store standard sizing. With Arcadia adjustable aluminum pergolas, however, this is not the case, as each shelter solution can be customized to meet your exact needs. How do you determine those sizing needs? Pergola sizing is ultimately tied to patio size.

Determining Patio (& Pergola) Size
Patio size is influenced by a variety of factors, including yard size, your intention for your outdoor space (cooking, dining, office, etc.), and furnishings. Many homeowners unintentionally end up with a patio that is either too small, feeling cramped by furniture, or an overly large space that lacks intimacy. The trick is ensuring adequate space to allow for movement around furnishings and proportioning each correctly to avoid a warehouse-like feel.

Finding the Patio Type that’s Right for You:
        Bistro
Tucked away in smaller spaces, bistro patios can be a challenge to design large enough for function yet small enough to squeeze into tight, typically 6-7-foot in diameter spaces.  Want more in your bistro-size space?
Check out these tips.

        Kitchen
Like home kitchens, there’s a huge array of amenity and sizing variations here.
What best suits your needs? Shop, get dimensions, create a chalk outline, then navigate your imaginary kitchen space to ensure adequate elbow room.
        Dining
How many will you be serving at evening meals? Allocate at least a 10-foot space for the typical 4-person dining round table; 11-feet for a 6-person round. Going rectangular? The typical setup (seating 2 on each side and one at each table head) takes approximately a 13x10 patio space. 3-feet surrounding furniture is ideal for movement. Adding more furnishings? You should likewise add to your patio footprint.
        Living Room
Outdoor living rooms are hugely popular. Featuring technology and furnishings just as plush and large as indoor options, they are likewise supersized: 16-18 feet across, with an ideal 3-feet of clearance surrounding furniture for traffic flow. As outdoor living spaces incorporate multiple functions, a central
conservation area, such as a fire feature, is integral to creating intimacy. Paver designs/colors, masonry seat walls, and outdoor rugs are ideal for defining key areas.
Avoid these common mistakes.
        Sundeck
Calculate a sundeck space featuring a 2x6-foot space per lounge chair, with cocktail tables in-between. Ensure a 3-foot walking space at the foot of chairs – 5-feet to prevent an accidental splash in the pool.
        Bar
Like kitchens, there’s a nearly
endless number of bar variations, from portable models to all-out Irish pub fare for the extended family.
        Bath
Outdoor baths and showers are growing in popularity. Is this addition an ideal choice for your outdoor space?
LINK: Recent bath/shower blog
        Outdoor Office
Personalize your outdoor office for form, function, and productivity with
these tips.


Shop for Furniture First
After deciding on your outdoor living space ‘theme’ and checking with your local municipality and homeowner’s association to verify how much of your outdoor real estate is up for grabs, take your measurements, shopping for furnishings and appliances first. This can help you design a patio properly sized to meet ‘must-have’ features without any space-hogging surprises. This should include seating/lounges, tables and chairs, and other integral functional and design elements such as grills, bars, fireplaces/fire pits, water features, and large planters/greenery. All the ‘stuff.’ Keep a detailed list, taking photos, and before you purchase, go home and consider the sizing and placement of your intended additions. This chart is a great reference for estimating furniture/patio dimensions.

Calculate Your Ideal Pergola Dimensions
Now that you’ve put in the prep work, it’s time to order your pergola. Patio size = pergola size, so it’s crucial not to cut corners. Sleek and space-saving, your Arcadia adjustable aluminum pergola will prove the linchpin of your design, preserving your outdoor enjoyment rain or shine with iLouver app or remote operation and 170-degrees of rotational flexibility for the perfect amount of sun, shade or shelter. Add the finishing touches with comfort control solutions ranging from lighting to motorized screens for pests and privacy, and ceiling fans/patio heaters for year-round comfort, incorporating your pergola seamlessly into the design of your home with custom color and accessory options.

Unsure of your patio design? Our professional design team can help. Ensure an outdoor living area design that serves as an extension of your home, enjoying its use year-round. Open up to new ways to use your outdoor space with Denver Pergola Systems today.

This post was originally published at http://www.denverpergolas.com/what-size-pergola-do-i-need/