Custom Outdoor Living Spaces in Minneapolis-St. Paul Contact Ground One Today
Outdoor living design transforms a yard into a functional extension of the home. Ground One combines architectural planning, durable materials, landscaping, and features such as kitchens, patios, fireplaces, and shade structures to create one connected environment designed for your lifestyle, family, and Minnesota’s weather.
Rather than treating each feature as a separate addition, we consider how you will use and move through the entire space.
Designing Your Ideal Twin Cities Outdoor Retreat
Everyone has a different idea of how best to enjoy their yard. Ground One creates outdoor environments around the way each homeowner wants to live.
The Culinary Host: A custom outdoor kitchen can combine grills, prep space, storage, dining areas, and pizza ovens for outdoor entertaining.
The Cozy Retreat: Built-in seating, private gathering areas, fire pits, and outdoor fireplaces create an inviting place to gather on cool evenings.
The Shaded Sanctuary: Pergolas, pavilions, strategic plantings, and cooling features provide relief from direct summer sun while adding structure to the landscape.
Premium Features for Comfort and Entertainment
- Custom patios: Natural stone or premium pavers create a durable foundation for dining, gathering, and relaxation. The material choice, scale, and layout set the feel for everything else in the space.
- Chef-grade outdoor kitchens: Integrated appliances and work surfaces make outdoor cooking more capable. We design each kitchen around how you cook, so the layout and appliances fit your habits.
- Artisan fireplaces and fire pits: Gas or wood-burning options add warmth and help extend Minnesota’s outdoor season. Fireplaces often slip clients’ minds but quickly become one of the things they wish they’d done sooner.
- Architectural pergolas: A pergola provides partial shade, bug protection, and gives an outdoor room a strong vertical anchor. It takes a patio from feeling unfinished to finished.
Ground One designs for properties of many sizes. A compact yard may benefit from built-in seating and multifunctional features, while a larger property can support distinct cooking, dining, pool, and lounge areas.
Maximizing the Minnesota Outdoor Season
Outdoor living design in Minnesota has to fit the climate. Fireplaces, fire pits, and infrared heaters add warmth on cool spring and fall evenings, and they’re consistently one of our clients’ favorite additions. Pergolas, shade structures, and plantings manage summer sun while preserving airflow.
Low-voltage lighting extends the day further, keeping paths, stairs, kitchens, and gathering areas active after sunset and through Minnesota’s longer winter nights.
Expert Design-Build for Your Outdoor Living Area
Ground One does more than install products. Through our Landscape Design + Build process, our designers plan the environment before construction begins, considering kitchens, fireplaces, patios, structures, lighting, drainage, and landscaping together. We account for how wind patterns, sun exposure, social flow, and sightlines shape the overall look and gets used.
Outdoor Living Frequently Asked Questions
How does an outdoor living space increase home value?
A well-designed space can expand the home’s usable living area, improve curb appeal, and make the property more attractive to future buyers. Value depends on design quality, materials, functionality, and market conditions.
What material is best for a low-maintenance outdoor kitchen?
Masonry, natural stone, concrete, and outdoor-rated cabinetry are popular because they withstand moisture and changing temperatures. Materials should be selected as a complete system suitable for Minnesota weather.
Can I add a fire pit or fireplace to an existing patio?
Often, yes. The patio, available space, utilities, setbacks, and surrounding materials must first be evaluated for safe installation.
Should I choose a pergola or pavilion?
A pergola provides filtered shade and an open-air feeling. A pavilion has a solid roof and offers more protection from rain and direct sun.
Ready to Move the Living Room Outside?
Schedule your consultation today. Explore our outdoor kitchens, fire pits, custom patios, and project portfolio for inspiration.
