At Hardwick General Contracting, we specialize in designing and building homes with outdoor living spaces that truly embrace the Florida lifestyle. With our state’s beautiful weather and casual way of living, your backyard has the potential to become an extension of your home’s living space. We can transform your outdoor area into a luxurious, resort-style retreat that adds value and enjoyment to your home.

Crafting an Outdoor Oasis

The key to an incredible outdoor living space is seamlessly blending form and function while creating an oasis-like ambiance. Every element should work together to provide beauty, convenience, comfort and the feeling of an escape right in your own backyard. We pay close attention to the layout, functionality, lighting, landscape design, and all the amenities to craft spaces our clients absolutely love. When designing your outdoor living space, we consider how you want to use the area. Do you love to entertain and host large gatherings? Are you an avid grill master looking for an outdoor kitchen? Do you envision lazy summer days spent lounging by the pool and soaking up the Florida sunshine? Determining the functions you need guides us in laying out functional zones and incorporating the appropriate amenities into each area.

Perfectly Designed for Relaxation and Entertaining

A key advantage to living in Florida is being able to enjoy the outdoors for most of the year. Thoughtful design allows you to get the most out of every gorgeous day and balmy evening. Seating areas give you designated spots to relax, chat with friends and family or simply unwind with a good book. When it comes time to entertain, a spacious patio or poolside area accommodates guests comfortably. We ensure hosting duties stay easy and enjoyable by incorporating amenities like an outdoor kitchen, bar area and dining space into the design. With a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen, you’ll have everything you need to prepare drinks and meals al fresco. Integrated lighting sets the mood for effortless entertaining from happy hour cocktails to poolside dinner parties.

Tranquil Water Features

The sight and sound of flowing water has an instantly calming effect. Fountains, ponds and splash pads are wonderful additions that bring serenity to your outdoor living space. Water features come in endless shapes, sizes and designs to match your style. For backyard ponds, you may opt for a simple lily pond or a more elaborate koi pond complete with a waterfall. We can install fountains that range from striking tiered styles to more subtle single spouts. Splash pads make for refreshing family fun on hot summer days. We design custom splash pads to delight kids of all ages integrated seamlessly into the landscape design.

Luxurious Pools and Spas

No outdoor living space in Florida is complete without a swimming pool. A resort-style pool creates an at-home vacation spot where you can relax in the sunshine, get some exercise with laps or simply float the day away. Today’s pools boast innovative features that make them more enjoyable, convenient and eco-friendly. Options like infinity edges, sun shelves, waterfalls, integrated hot tubs and negative edge skimmers give your pool an ultra-luxurious feel and look. We also design poolscapes to align with your priorities whether they include lap swimming, games and sports, lounging, or even poolside entertaining. The pool deck provides a critical transition from your home to the pool area. We use premium finishes like natural stone, brick, and pavers to create stylish, high-performance pool decks. Pool maintenance also matters for safety, aesthetics and extending the life of your investment. New technologies like electronic chlorine generators, salt chlorinators and mineral purification simplify upkeep. Automatic pool cleaners, covers and high-efficiency pumps and filters also take the hassle out of maintenance.

Ambiance Enhancing Fire Features

The flickering glow and warmth of a fire embodies relaxation. Fire features like fire pits, fireplaces and tiki torches bring that ambiance straight into your outdoor living space. Grouping cozy seating around a fire pit encourages conversation and connection. Tiki torches add mood lighting and the essence of the tropics to any patio or poolside area. An outdoor fireplace makes a stunning focal point while providing additional functionality. We design custom fire features to match each client’s unique style and priorities with the outdoor space. The placement, materials and styling options are virtually endless to create your ideal backyard retreat.

Shade Solutions

While Florida has plenty of glorious sunny days, you’ll still need shade solutions for when you’ve had enough direct sunlight. Pergolas, pavilions, cabanas and umbrellas are excellent ways to find refuge from the heat without having to go back inside. We incorporate shade structures strategically throughout outdoor living areas and position them to take advantage of prevailing breezes. There are hundreds of pergola designs to choose from that align with any style. We love incorporating vines and other climbing plants over pergolas to provide natural shade. Freestanding pavilions work well to define seating areas in larger patios or poolscapes. For more portable shade options, cantilever and tilt umbrellas can be repositioned as needed. Cabanas give you a shady escape plus a bit of privacy and coziness.

Designing for Florida’s Climate

Florida’s climate is defined by abundant sunshine, high humidity and heavy seasonal rains. We carefully factor the environment into every aspect of our outdoor living space designs from material selection to incorporation of shade and drainage.

Wind and Rain Considerations

Our state experiences forceful winds, thunderstorms and hurricanes. It’s critical for all structures and elements in outdoor spaces to withstand high winds and heavy precipitation.

• Permanent structures are reinforced to meet wind load requirements.
• Shade structures and umbrellas use weighted bases for stability.
• Fabrics, cushions and decor items are constructed of durable, weather-resistant materials or stored safely when not in use.
• Drainage systems and grading prevent flooding and pooling.

We also design outdoor kitchens and storage for optimal weather resistance. Cabinets and surfaces should be non-porous and appliances well-ventilated and covered to prevent rust.

Managing Sun Exposure

While Florida’s abundant sunshine powers our Vitamin D production and happy dispositions, too much direct sun can take its toll. Managing sun exposure promotes health, comfort and functionality in outdoor living spaces. We utilize shade structures, trees and shrubbery strategically throughout patio and pool areas to block direct sunlight during peak hours. This allows you to enjoy the outdoors longer without overheating. For pools, water features and play areas, position shade to cover a portion of the space while leaving some full sun areas. It’s also important to provide shade over seating areas, dining spaces and entries to allow guests a shady spot to relax. Movable shade solutions like umbrellas, drapes and screens let you adjust as needed to block changing sun angles during the day.

Embracing the Tropics

Florida’s sub-tropical climate means embracing lush, tropical-inspired landscapes. Vibrant flowers, palms, and foliage plants thrive year-round in our climate adding natural beauty. We incorporate tropical landscaping into every outdoor living space design to transport you to a luxury resort right at home. Tropical plants also provide practical benefits. Lush garden beds prevent erosion from heavy rains. Trees and shrubs add visual interest, privacy and shade. Flowering plants attract pollinators adding lovely pops of color and life. We carefully curate plant selections to provide year-round beauty with minimal maintenance required.

Seamless Indoor/Outdoor Flow

A key advantage to Florida’s temperate climate is the ability to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living spaces. Expanding your home’s living area to include the outdoors essentially doubles your usable space for entertaining, recreation and relaxation. We specialize in creating indoor/outdoor connections through wide openings, transitional spaces and unified design aesthetics.

Wide Openings

One of the easiest ways to create indoor/outdoor flow is by incorporating oversized openings. French doors, sliding glass walls and retractable screens allow your home to open completely to the outdoors. The wide openings eliminate physical barriers between spaces making them feel cohesive and connected. Open floor plans also facilitate free circulation between interior rooms and outdoor living areas. We ensure sight lines remain clear between indoor and outdoor areas. This might mean tweaking the placement of structural elements, furniture, and landscaping to preserve an unobstructed view. Truly experiencing that indoor/outdoor connection relies heavily on the ability to see straight through to the outdoors.

Transitional Spaces

While removing walls makes a big impact, you can also use transitional spaces to link indoor and outdoor areas. Covered porches, patios and lanais provide a gradual transition moving you through different zones. The visual connection remains while still offering protection from the elements. We incorporate overhangs, pergolas and shade structures to craft versatile covered spaces. Outdoor ceiling fans, lighting and furniture make transitional areas equally welcoming and usable as interior rooms. These “in-between” spaces expand your living footprint immensely.

Unified Design Aesthetics

Finally, cohesive design aesthetics also facilitate indoor/outdoor connections. Repeating design elements, materials and decor themes creates harmony between adjacent living spaces. For example, if your home features a coastal design style, we’ll incorporate textiles, furnishings, lighting, plants and decorative details evoking the seaside. Keeping colors, textures and styles consistent enhances the flow. We pay attention to hardscape choices that can further connect spaces through the use of cohesive materials. Using the same stone, tile, brick or concrete finishes indoors and out enhances continuity. Even small details like matching fixtures, hardware and accessories make a difference in tying everything together.

Bring Your Vision to Life

The possibilities for upgrading your outdoor living space are truly endless. At Hardwick General Contracting, we turn dreams into reality through thoughtful design, integrated functionality and expert workmanship. Our team brings decades of experience delivering luxury homes and outdoor improvements. We handle your project from initial concept through completion with seamless management. We can’t wait to bring your dream home to life!