Houston Chronicle Sunday

New year means new plans for outdoor spaces

- By Christina Kooker

With 2017 coming in strong, you’ll be telling yourself, ‘I’ll just make it my New Year’s resolution to start next year’.”

With regard to resolution­s, here are the Top 10 resolution­s made year after year:

10. Read more

9. Travel more

8. Learn something new 7. Don’t make a resolution

6. Get organized

5. Spend more time with family and friends

4. Spend less, save more

3. Enjoy life to the fullest

2. Lose weight

1. Stay fit and healthy (we have all done that one before)

While it’s important to stay fit and healthy, No. 3 is one of the best. Everyone should enjoy life to the fullest. So when you’re brushing your teeth, do a little dance. When you’re checking out at the grocery store, stop to smile and say hello to the person behind the counter, and most importantl­y, when you’re in your backyard, have a place you are proud to call home.

Go ahead, fantasize for a moment. What would your dream backyard look like? What would you like in a custom patio? A beautifull­y wooded pergola? How about an outdoor kitchen with a covered seating area for dining? Even in Houston it’s nice to have a fire feature three days out of the year. Either way it’s nice to have a place to escape, a place where you can sit back, relax and enjoy life to the fullest (for those who are choosing No. 3 as their New Year’s resolution).

Realize that you may have to do a little of No. 4 before you can start ripping up grass and laying concrete, picking out grills and paint colors, but you can get there. Remember that any time is a good time in Houston to improve your outdoor space.

This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Associatio­n. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting profession­alism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certificat­ion and service to the Houston community. For informatio­n on this article, please contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsu­lting.net. To join the council or to find a profession­al remodeler in your area, please visit www.ghba.org.

 ?? Photo courtesy of Texas Custom Patios ?? This outdoor living space was built by Texas Custom Patios.
Photo courtesy of Texas Custom Patios This outdoor living space was built by Texas Custom Patios.

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