--- title: Neal's Design Remodel Blog | Alan Hendy (2) description: A home remodeling and design blog by Neal's Design & Remodel in Cincinnati. (2) --- [![NealsLogo_white_transparent_130pxH](https://info.neals.com/hubfs/NealsLogo_white_transparent_130pxH.png)](http://neals.com) # Neal's Home Remodeling and Design Blog ## Alan Hendy ### Recent Posts ## [6 Great Design Ideas for Outdoor Living Spaces](https://info.neals.com/design-ideas-for-outdoor-living-spaces) Posted by [Alan Hendy](https://info.neals.com/author/alan-hendy) on Mon, Aug 24, 2020 [![](https://info.neals.com/hubfs/47106_14.jpg) ](https://info.neals.com/design-ideas-for-outdoor-living-spaces) Summer heat can drive many families indoors, leaving yards and patios looking a bit empty and under-utilized. It doesn't have to be that way, however. [Outdoor living spaces](https://info.neals.com/download-your-free-outdoor-living-guide?hsCtaTracking=29731af7-fd03-4899-9219-e1097790866d%7C8195bded-192d-4b3f-adfc-dcf058487906) can be created that address some of the typical reasons homeowners tend to stay inside. While outdoor air conditioning is still a pipe dream, there are several other outdoor living design projects that can provide relative comfortable spaces that may make it easy to enjoy the outdoors. Here are our 6 picks for ideas to consider. [Read More](https://info.neals.com/design-ideas-for-outdoor-living-spaces) 1 Comment [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.neals.com/design-ideas-for-outdoor-living-spaces#comments-listing) Topics: [Outdoor Living](https://info.neals.com/topic/outdoor-living), [Additions](https://info.neals.com/topic/additions) ## [10 Hardscape Design Ideas for Gardens](https://info.neals.com/10-hardscape-design-ideas-for-gardens) Posted by [Alan Hendy](https://info.neals.com/author/alan-hendy) on Mon, Jun 15, 2020 [![](https://info.neals.com/hubfs/Blog_Photos/ChallengingLots/40004_03.jpg) ](https://info.neals.com/10-hardscape-design-ideas-for-gardens) Though gardens are primarily composed of plants, they can be enhanced with additional features like pathways, retaining wall or structures. Non-plant landscaping elements are referred to as hardscaping, since most of these features are composed of hard materials such as stone or concrete. Hardscaping serves as a framework around which gardens can be arranged, separating planting areas, offering connections between different garden plots, or helping to pull an all-over yard landscape together. Though a hardscape isn't necessary for a beautiful garden, it may be worth considering.  See how different[ hardscape design ideas](https://neals.com/home-remodeling/outdoor-living/) were used in our outdoor living projects to inspire using the additional elements in your landscape to help your yard feel more put together and usable.  [Read More](https://info.neals.com/10-hardscape-design-ideas-for-gardens) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.neals.com/10-hardscape-design-ideas-for-gardens#comments-listing) Topics: [Outdoor Living](https://info.neals.com/topic/outdoor-living), [Design Trends and Ideas](https://info.neals.com/topic/design-trends-and-ideas) ## [Smart Home Technology](https://info.neals.com/smart-home-technology) Posted by [Alan Hendy](https://info.neals.com/author/alan-hendy) on Tue, May 19, 2020 [![](https://info.neals.com/hubfs/thomas-kolnowski-ljG19qhTzZQ-unsplash.jpg) ](https://info.neals.com/smart-home-technology) With "always-on" mobile technology already helping us organize our time and entertain ourselves, it makes sense that we should look to our homes to provide the same kind of on-demand possibilities. We might still be a few decades away from the types of high-tech, futuristic home technology portrayed in the movies these days, but smart home technology has certainly come into its own in the past few years. The ability to control the way our homes operate through intuitive and innovative apps or interfaces can have a positive impact on many areas of our lives and the ways in which we use our houses. Keep reading for some of the ways smart home automation can be added to your home. [Read More](https://info.neals.com/smart-home-technology) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.neals.com/smart-home-technology#comments-listing) Topics: [Home Remodeling](https://info.neals.com/topic/home-remodeling) ## [15 Creative Basement Remodel Ideas and Designs](https://info.neals.com/creative-basement-remodeling-ideas) Posted by [Alan Hendy](https://info.neals.com/author/alan-hendy) on Tue, Feb 18, 2020 [![](https://info.neals.com/hubfs/Blog_Photos/BasementIdeas/44144_07b.jpg) ](https://info.neals.com/creative-basement-remodeling-ideas) For many homeowners, having a [home with a basement](https://neals.com/home-remodeling/lower-level/) is like winning the square footage jackpot. This space, whether it's already finished or not, offers an entire category of possibilities that are often separate from the needs of the home above. Whether the basement is a lower level walk-out with easy access to the exterior, or if it has few windows and a lower ceiling, there are many tasks that it can be designed to accommodate. Options for a basement remodel include considerations for entertaining, family hang outs, storage, home office space, laundry rooms, and home gyms. Keep reading for great ideas from our [local basement remodeling projects](https://info.neals.com/before-after-basement-remodels) to inspire you in your basement redesign. [Read More](https://info.neals.com/creative-basement-remodeling-ideas) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.neals.com/creative-basement-remodeling-ideas#comments-listing) Topics: [Lower Level](https://info.neals.com/topic/lower-level) [Previous](https://info.neals.com/author/alan-hendy/page/1) [All posts](https://info.neals.com/all) [Next](https://info.neals.com/author/alan-hendy/page/3) [![Request a Project Consultation to get your project started.](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/188145/d37c7596-e154-4842-bbfd-0298a440ead2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/188145/d37c7596-e154-4842-bbfd-0298a440ead2) [![The kitchen of your dreams is possible with planning.](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/188145/1bf96acd-4ecd-4a87-bd7b-36b874f7ad7a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/188145/1bf96acd-4ecd-4a87-bd7b-36b874f7ad7a) --- ### Subscribe to our Ideas that Inspire Updates [![Inspiration should always be this easy. 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