Our Design + Build Process

At JM Outdoor Living, every project begins with a thoughtful design. By planning before construction starts, we're able to establish a clear vision, realistic budget, and defined scope of work. This process helps reduce surprises, improves communication, and ensures every detail is considered before construction begins.

Whether your project is a patio cover, outdoor kitchen, custom patio, or complete backyard transformation, our goal is the same—to create an outdoor living space that is both beautiful and built to last.

From the initial consultation through final construction, you'll work with one team focused on bringing your vision to life with quality craftsmanship, clear communication, and attention to detail every step of the way.

Explore curated outdoor furniture, lighting, fire pits, accessories, and specialty products selected to complement the spaces we design and help complete the overall outdoor environment.

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The initial consultation takes place at your property so we can see the space, understand how you want to use it and discuss your priorities, ideas and budget. We’ll also talk through opportunities, potential challenges and the overall scope of the project. From there, we can determine the appropriate next step and whether a design agreement is needed.

The design phase is tailored to the project and may include site planning, layout development, material and finish selections, construction details and 3D visualization where appropriate. The goal is to define the overall vision, scope and key decisions before construction begins so the project can move forward with fewer surprises.

Design fees vary depending on the size, scope and complexity of the project. After the initial consultation, we define the design scope and provide a clear design fee before conceptual work begins. This allows the design process to be tailored to the property and the level of planning required.

We provide an initial budget estimate early in the process based on the project goals, scope and overall direction. As the design develops and selections are made, the budget is refined so you can make informed decisions along the way. Once the design and scope are finalized, we prepare the detailed construction proposal before work begins.

Your project remains personally led by the owner of JM Outdoor Living throughout construction. We coordinate the trades, materials, scheduling and day-to-day project details while keeping you informed as the work progresses. This gives you one consistent point of contact from design through completion.

If you request a change after construction begins, we review how it affects the scope, cost and schedule before moving forward. Any additional work is documented and approved so everyone understands the change and its impact before the work is completed.

Payments are made throughout the project as work progresses, rather than being tied to rigid milestones. The payment schedule is clearly outlined in the construction agreement so expectations are understood from the beginning. This approach provides peace of mind for all parties and keeps the financial side of the project clear as construction moves forward.

Design is a collaborative process, and revisions are used to refine the plan as ideas, priorities and selections develop. We review your feedback, make the agreed-upon adjustments and continue refining the design until the scope and overall direction are clearly defined before moving into construction.