Outdoor living rooms create spaces where you can truly immerse yourself in the outdoors—but with all of the amenities and comforts of an indoor space. For many, it’s the ideal extension of their home so it’s unsurprising that interest in these spaces is not waning but instead continues to grow. For Keith Frederick, president and CEO of Environmental Landscape Associates (ELA), outdoor living is the entire crux of his business. Frederick got his start in residential design/build, spent some time doing commercial landscaping and excavation, but ultimately circled back to residential work. In 2000, he built his first outdoor kitchen and from there, specialized in high-end residential outdoor living spaces as he watched interest soar.

 “We’re focused on creating an outdoor living experience for our clients,” explains Frederick. “It’s a lot like building an outdoor addition to your home. It’s a room—in some cases, more than one—and it has any number of features that help make the space more comfortable and suited to your needs.”  For many, that includes a pavilion with a full roof so that the space can be used any time of year and in any weather condition, though Frederick says that pergolas are also a popular trend right now. He also gets quite a bit of interest in fire features which, whether gas-burning or wood-burning, add both aesthetic interest and functional light and warmth to a space.

 “The idea is to create a space that is customized to you,” Frederick says. “Whenever we begin a consultation on a new project, we ask three key questions: What’s your budget? What’s your wish list? And, what’s your style? That’s the starting point for any great project.”

In terms of style, Frederick says it’s not uncommon for him to begin meetings inside of his clients’ homes so that he can really get a taste for their style preferences. He says that the views from inside of the home (looking out) are also very important to consider when creating an outdoor living space.  

Of course, these are the kinds of details that your average landscape contractor isn’t going to think of. If their forte is building cookie-cutter patios, you can be sure that they’re not going to take the time to explore all of those little details that could help make your space truly unique. That’s why Frederick has found a niche in working with clients who are looking for more. Since Frederick has a degree in environmental design and ornamental horticulture, he has the perfect combination of experience and know-how (including an extensive knowledge of plant material) to fully complete outdoor living projects.

 Oftentimes, those exterior projects lend themselves to ongoing work—either adding to or maintaining that outdoor space. Sometimes,  a project may even lead to interior work. ELA has helped existing clients to renovate  interior bathrooms or add windows. Clients come to know and appreciate Frederick and his team and ask about what other work they can do.

I have been in building and construction my entire professional life,” says Frederick, who started ELA in 1989. “To build these kinds of projects you must have knowledge and skill in a little bit of everything—masonry, carpentry, electrical and plumbing. As clients get comfortable with us and trust our work, they often ask us about completing other projects for them. We’re the go-to for everything outside but sometimes we’ll work on interior renovations as well.”   

It says a lot that customers keep coming back to ELA for future work and Frederick sees it as an honor and a privilege. He says his primary goal has always been to fulfill his clients’ “wish lists.” He adds that there’s nothing like seeing a project go from a conceptual idea to a completed space that they can enjoy to the fullest.

He sums it up: “We’re in the business of making our clients’ dreams a reality.”

Environmental Landscape Associates, Inc.
(215) 794-2400 | ELAOutdoorLiving.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 19, Issue 7 (January 2019). 
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