Custom Outdoor Living Spaces in Michigan
Fire pits, outdoor kitchens, water features, and entertainment areas designed to extend your Michigan living season.
Outdoor Living Designed for Michigan
A well-designed outdoor living space adds usable square footage to your home, increases property value by 15-25%, and creates a gathering place for family and friends that connects your home to the natural landscape around it.
Earth Art Landscaping designs and builds complete outdoor living environments for Michigan homeowners. With 39 years of experience working in Oakland County's climate, we know which materials perform in four-season conditions, how to position features for maximum comfort, and how to design spaces that remain inviting from April through November.
Every outdoor living project begins with Joe Hagen's design philosophy: landscaping with a purpose. Your fire pit is not just a fire pit. It is a focal point that defines the seating area, provides warmth on cool Michigan evenings, and creates an atmosphere that draws people outdoors. Every element in your outdoor space serves a specific function within the larger design.
Outdoor Living Features
From intimate fire pit areas to complete outdoor entertainment zones, we design and build every feature from the ground up.
Fire Pits & Fireplaces
Custom fire pits extend Michigan's outdoor season by 8-10 weeks. We build wood-burning and gas-fired options using Techo-Bloc, natural stone, and custom masonry. Integrated seating walls create permanent gathering spaces. Gas fire pits offer push-button convenience; wood-burning pits provide the traditional campfire experience that Michigan homeowners love.
Outdoor Kitchens
Complete outdoor cooking stations with built-in grills, countertops, storage, and prep areas. We construct weather-resistant kitchen islands using Techo-Bloc and natural stone veneers designed to withstand Michigan winters. Options include built-in refrigeration, sinks with running water, and integrated lighting for evening cooking.
Water Features
Pondless waterfalls, bubbling boulders, and stream features add movement and sound to your landscape. Water features mask neighborhood noise, attract beneficial wildlife, and create a calming atmosphere. We design features that can be winterized easily and restarted in spring with minimal maintenance.
Entertainment Areas
Multi-zone outdoor spaces designed for hosting. We create defined areas for dining, lounging, cooking, and conversation using level changes, seating walls, and strategic plantings. Proper layout ensures traffic flows naturally between zones while maintaining intimate scale within each area.
Extending Your Outdoor Season
Michigan's outdoor living season runs from late April through early November. With the right design features, you can add 8-12 weeks of comfortable outdoor use to that window. Fire features provide warmth on cool spring and fall evenings. Covered structures protect from rain and extend afternoon use. Strategic windbreaks reduce exposure on breezy days.
Material Choices That Last
Every material we use is selected for Michigan's freeze-thaw cycle. Techo-Bloc products are engineered for extreme climates. Natural stone withstands temperature swings without cracking. Stainless steel grill components resist corrosion. We avoid materials that deteriorate in Michigan conditions, saving you replacement costs in the long term.
Integrated Landscape Lighting
Outdoor living spaces are used most often in the evening. We integrate low-voltage LED lighting into every project: path lights for safe navigation, accent lights to highlight features, and task lighting at cooking and dining areas. A properly lit outdoor space is usable and inviting after sunset, which is when most Michigan families use their outdoor areas during the warmer months.
Design Integration
Your outdoor living space is not a separate project. It is part of your overall landscape design. We ensure that patios, fire pits, kitchens, and plantings work together as a unified composition. Sight lines, grade transitions, drainage, and plant placement are all coordinated to create an outdoor environment that feels intentional and cohesive.
What Every Outdoor Living Project Includes
- Custom design using professional landscape software
- On-site consultation and property assessment
- Materials selected for Michigan freeze-thaw durability
- Proper base preparation and drainage integration
- Techo-Bloc products with extended warranty (Techo-Pro certified)
- Integrated landscape lighting design
- Gas line coordination for fire pits and outdoor kitchens
- Electrical coordination for lighting and appliances
- Planting design to complement hardscape features
- Post-installation walkthrough and maintenance guidance
Outdoor Living FAQ
Outdoor living costs vary widely based on scope. A simple fire pit with a paver patio runs $8,000-$15,000. A mid-range project with a fire pit, seating walls, and expanded patio is $20,000-$40,000. Complete outdoor living environments with kitchens, fireplaces, water features, and multi-zone patios start at $40,000 and can exceed $100,000 for premium builds. We provide detailed, transparent estimates for every project.
Yes, when built with the right materials and methods. We construct outdoor kitchen islands with concrete block cores, waterproof membranes, and stone or Techo-Bloc veneers rated for freeze-thaw conditions. Stainless steel appliances resist corrosion. We recommend winterizing water lines and covering countertops during the off-season. With proper care, a well-built outdoor kitchen lasts 20+ years in Michigan.
Gas fire pits require a natural gas or propane line. We coordinate with licensed plumbers to run gas lines during the installation process. Gas fire pits offer push-button ignition, adjustable flame height, and no ash cleanup. Wood-burning fire pits do not require gas lines and provide a traditional fire experience. We build both types and can help you decide which is right for your lifestyle and budget.
The ideal construction window is May through October, when soil conditions and weather support excavation and installation. We recommend starting the design process in late winter or early spring to have plans finalized and materials ordered before the construction season begins. This ensures your project is completed and ready to enjoy by early summer.
Create Your Dream Outdoor Living Space
Schedule a free consultation with Joe Hagen to discuss fire pits, outdoor kitchens, water features, and custom entertainment areas for your Michigan home.