Do you build pools?
No. We build the structures and living space around the yard, not the pool itself. If a project involves a pool, we work alongside the pool contractor rather than taking that scope on.
OUTDOOR LIVING
Outdoor Living Spaces in Kansas City
Most companies that build backyards in Kansas City come at it from the landscape side. We come at it from the house. Built by Design plans and builds outdoor living spaces the same way we plan a room addition, so the covered patio, the fireplace wall and the grill station read like they were part of the original home.
BUILT LIKE THE HOUSE
An outdoor space should be built to the same standard as the room it opens onto
The difference shows up in the details. Rooflines that match the house instead of hovering next to it. Materials that carry the same finish level as the interior. Structure, drainage and framing handled by the same team that handles them inside.
On one Overland Park project we opened a glass wall between the living room and the covered deck, so the main level simply kept going instead of stopping at a door. That's the goal every time: a space that reads as part of the home, not an attachment to it.
WHAT WE BUILD
Scope we handle outdoors
Covered patios and decks
Structure, roofline, ceiling detail and finishes planned with the house they attach to.
Shade structures
Covered areas that make the space usable across more of the year.
Fireplaces and fire features
Fireplace walls, fire pits and the hearth detailing that anchors the space.
Grill stations
Built-in cooking areas planned around how the space actually gets used.
Water features
Waterfall and water detailing integrated into the hardscape and the structure.
Media walls and lighting
Exterior media, layered lighting and the wiring runs they depend on.
Tie-in work matters as much as the new build. Where the outdoor space meets the house is where most projects give themselves away.
Outdoor details should hold up close
PLANNED WITH THE REMODEL
Outdoor work goes better when it isn't a separate project
Backyard projects often get scheduled after the interior remodel is finished, which is usually the expensive way to do it. Roof connections, exterior materials, electrical runs, door and window openings and drainage all touch both sides of the wall.
When the indoor plan and the outdoor plan are drawn at the same time, those decisions get made once. Our design-build process is set up to handle both under one team.
FEATURED PROJECT
Overland Park Basement Remodel and Outdoor Living Space
View projectCLIENT STORY
Repeat client testimonial
“Two major remodels with Built by Design: an addition and outdoor work in our first home, then a finished basement and outdoor space in our second. Detail and communication were excellent, schedules were clear, and we will hire them again.”
Overland Park, KS Homeowner
FAQ
Outdoor living questions
Do you do landscaping?
Not as a standalone service. We're a remodeler, so our work is the built structure: covered patios, fireplaces, grill stations, water features, lighting and the tie-in to the house. Planting and lawn work go to a landscape contractor.
What does an outdoor living project cost?
It depends entirely on scope, structure and finish level. A covered patio with a fireplace wall and a grill station is a different project from a simple deck. We walk the space with you at your home and talk about real scope before anyone quotes a number.
Can outdoor work be combined with an interior remodel?
Yes, and it usually should be. Rooflines, exterior materials, electrical and door or window openings touch both. Planning them together means fewer surprises and less rework.
Where do you build outdoor living spaces?
Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe and Shawnee in Johnson County, plus Parkville, Missouri.
READY TO TALK?
Start with a walk through the space
Tell us what the backyard is now and what you want it to become. We come to you.