Meet Pat Hunt, Creative Concepts and Design’s Employee of the Year for 2023. Pat brings a wealth of information with him to his position every day. He has decades of experience as a framer and CNC machinist. He has built everything from apartment complexes to homes and knows his way around a construction site. Once he retired from his 9-5 job, he found himself needing something new to fill his time. Full disclosure…Pat is Caleb Hunt’s (owner of Creative Concepts and Design) dad. When his dad expressed his interest in working, Caleb hired him as a carpenter. “He had me out totin’ lumber and bu ..read more

Woo hoo! Creative Concepts & Design is honored and excited to receive the 2024 Best of Houzz service award! We work very hard to make sure our customers are not only satisfied, but delighted with the service they receive from our entire staff – from the first person they talk to on the phone to the design team who helps plan their dream deck to the carpenters who make it a reality. This award means we are doing it right. What Is Houzz? Just in case you are not familiar with Houzz, it is a sales-driven online platform that focuses on connecting people who are interested in remodeling or dec ..read more

When it comes to outdoor spaces, a well-designed deck can transform your backyard into a haven of relaxation and entertainment. While traditional single-level decks have their charm, the trend of multi-level decks has been gaining popularity for good reason. Multi-level decks offer a host of benefits that go beyond the conventional, providing homeowners with an opportunity to create visual interest, accommodate a variety of activities, and to maximize architectural appeal. At Creative Concepts and Design, we love to create decks that go beyond the ordinary. Follow along as we delve into the ad ..read more

When it comes to creating an inviting and safe outdoor space, deck lighting plays a pivotal role. Beyond its functional aspect of providing safety, deck lighting also contributes to setting the mood for gatherings, enhancing aesthetics, and extending the usability of your outdoor oasis into the evening. At Creative Concepts & Design, we’ve built hundreds of decks in the KC area and we’ve installed dozens of different lighting options. In this guide to deck lighting, we’ll delve into ten different types of deck lighting, each with its unique advantages and considerations. Importance of Dec ..read more

Decks aren’t cheap to build no matter what products you choose, so if you plan to live in your home for the next 20 years, you want to build a deck that will last that long too. I have owned a deck-building company in Kansas City for about 15 years. I’ve built a lot of decks and I know the products very well. If you’re going to build a deck, the smartest thing you can do is build it to last. To do that, I recommend composite decking. Before I get into what I believe is the best composite decking for beauty, let me talk about real wood vs. composite. Real Wood Decking Vs. Composite Decking I us ..read more

I have owned a deck-building company in Kansas City for almost a decade and a half. I’ve built a lot of decks and I know the products inside and out. If you’re going to build a deck, the smartest thing you can do is build it to last. Decks aren’t cheap to build no matter what products you choose, so if you plan to live in your home for the next 20 years, you want to build a deck that will last that long too. I used to be a real wood lover, and natural wood decks are beautiful, but real wood just won’t last as long as manufactured wood. When composite wood first came out, I wasn’t a fan. It did ..read more

So you’re building a deck and you want to know what kind of decking to use – real wood or composite decking. My choice would be A: composite and B: Deckorators. Because I build decks for a living, I am familiar with a lot of products, deck boards notwithstanding. I have formed some strong opinions based on experience and I’d like to share them with you. I like different products for different reasons, so when it comes to strength and structural integrity, my choice is Deckorators. Go Composite because Your Deck Is an Investment Owning my own company for over 13 years, I’ve built a lot of decks ..read more

Nothing adds personality to your deck like some bright, cheery flowers. Even just adding green plants will make it seem more tropical and inviting. The good news is that plants are an easy and affordable addition that can turn your deck into a party place or a private oasis depending on which plants you choose and where you place them. Here are five ways to add plants and personality to your deck: Create Groupings Don’t just add a pot here or there. For real impact, group two or three together. Three pots of the same color in different heights is much more interesting than one larger pot. Vary ..read more

We love designing decks that are out of the ordinary. One sure way to do that is to add some curves to your design. Straight lines are functional, efficient, and predictable, and while those are all admirable and important qualities, if you personify them, you might just come up with “boring” or “expected”. Let’s face it, most decks are square or rectangular, but a curved deck is really uncommon. Let’s look at why curved deck designs are so attractive.  The Allure of the Curve in Design Why do designers use curves? First curves are graceful. They literally take off the hard edges and an ..read more

When choosing a company to build your deck or pergola project, it’s hard to know where to start. We understand. You don’t do this kind of work every day. We do. Here are seven reasons to choose Creative Concepts & Design: 1. Design Pros I think our design talent sets us apart from a lot of other deck builders in Kansas City. We really listen to what you want. Our name is “Creative Concepts & Design” because we champion original ideas and great design. Our designers can take an ordinary deck and tweak just one or two features and create something more functional, unique, or beautiful ..read more