An outdoor paradise is what you desire. An outdoor kitchen and living area are what you crave. While the economy has hampered the landscaping business some, outdoor living spaces are becoming more and more in demand as homeowners are staying home instead of taking big vacations.

Brian Goehring of Design West Landscaping in Lodi recommends as a person gets started in the process be sure and look  for reputable contractors. “Check out their portfolios and pictures. The key is to look for someone who will work closely with the client and their vision to give them what they want.”

Outdoor living areas can include decorative wall seating and water features all the way to outdoor lighting.

“Exterior lighting is big. We can add it to any landscaping. And it adds a nice element to the yard.”

Kitchen areas range from the large barbecue to sinks. Fireplaces, fire pits, outdoor cooktops, smokers, refrigerators and even beer taps can also be included in the finished product.

A typical job with creating a barbecue can begin about $4,000 to $5,000 and take about a week to complete. Larger jobs can take from four to six weeks to complete and can reach upwards of $10,000 to $16,000.

Trends for the outdoor kitchen include granite and polished concrete. “Concrete we do the most. We polish and give the poured in place concrete and give it a finished edge. Tile is also popular,” says Goehring.

“The concrete can take the elements and last a lifetime,” says Lear.

Mike Lear, also says that with water meters being installed, some people are now looking at synthetic grass. Water use can be a problem with over watering. The two agree that a lot of people over-water their lawns to begin with. They work on smart irrigation plans  and water management depending on the type of lawn, slope of the yard and other conditions that apply.

 The two owners of Design West are even putting greens in homeowners backyards.

Design West Landscaping can be reached at (209) 327-9661 or by visiting their website at info@designwestlandscaping.com