The Armstrongs bought their gorgeously restored 1800s Victorian house in Cottage Home in 2022. They moved to Indianapolis from Chicago in 2021 to be closer to family. Emily is a teacher and Patrick is the host of The Conversation Piece podcast. They have one son who’s 18-months old.
When they moved into their home, the backyard space was essentially unusable. While there were several lovely mature trees, there were also multiple overgrown shrubs and no patio, leaving little space for outdoor living.
The Armstrongs love to entertain, and dreamed of creating an outdoor space that felt like an extension of their indoor living space, where they could host parties and relax. Also, because they were ready to start a family, creating a safe and comfortable haven to spend time outside with their little one was a priority.
Also, they felt strongly about preserving the historical integrity of their home, so the challenge was to add updated outdoor living spaces without detracting from the Victorian aesthetic.
“The house had been so lovingly restored inside,” said Patrick. “We felt that it was our turn with the outside and we wanted to be good stewards.”
“When we first moved to the neighborhood, we seemed to see Heath Outdoor signs in all of our neighbors’ yards.” said Emily. “We had also discovered DIGS Garden Center and loved what the company had created there. Then we met Heath Hurst at the Cottage Home Block Party. We saw how involved he was in the community and we just knew we wanted to use his company for our project.”
“Our planning began with Dennis (Linner) coming out and really listening to what our priorities for the space were,” said Patrick. “We envisioned the spaces connected as a dining room and living room, with a path connecting them to make the space feel cohesive.”
“And the pergola was an essential part of the plan, because we wanted it to feel like an actual room. Dennis suggested adding a wall to the north end, for both privacy and style, and also covering the pergola with polycarbonate panels to keep us covered if it rains and for UV protection.”
Clearing of the existing brush and shrubs came first, and then hardscaping, including the paver patio, pathway and beautiful pieces of “Snapped Oklahoma” sandstone to create steps off their existing porch. The cedar for the pergola was ordered, which was projected to take several weeks.
When the cedar for the pergola arrived, the crew returned to build the pergola, which was completed in just a few days. The Armstrongs were anxious to have their new outdoor living space finished in time to host a gathering on the weekend of the Cottage Home Block Party, and the crew delivered.
“The entire Heath Outdoor crew was great, from start to finish,” said Emily. “The materials for the pergola took a little while to arrive, but Dennis kept us continuously updated, as did Chloe from the support team. The guys who actually did the work were super friendly and respectful of the property. They were actually excited for us and it felt like we were part of the family. I even posted a reel about it. We truly have nothing but praises.”
“You know, in a world that feels increasingly isolated, these pockets of community–that generous ethos–trickles down, one hundred percent,” said Patrick. “When I think of what community looks like for our kid, Heath Outdoor, through their service projects and commitment to the community, exemplifies what I want him to see.”
“We’ve already referred several friends and family members to Heath Outdoor,” Patrick added. “And next year, we’ll have the team back to work on the front of the house.”
While they love their outdoor dining space, the pergola has turned out to be the Armstrong’s favorite spot in their backyard oasis. They love the privacy and shade it provides–it truly serves as an additional living room in the warmer months.
The Armstrongs spend much of their time in their outdoor living space, watching their kiddo safely explore nature (and learn that rocks don’t taste as good as they look!) They entertain regularly and relish time with their friends, neighbors and family, eating, drinking and just enjoying a little quiet time together in the evenings after their little guy has gone to bed.
“Next year, we plan to bring the Heath Outdoor team back to redo the landscaping in the front of the house. We can’t wait to see what they come up with!” Patrick concluded.
Heath Outdoor, a premier, local, family-owned landscaping company established in 2009, proudly serves the vibrant communities of Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Strategically located in the heart of Indianapolis, we extend our expert landscaping and hardscaping services to both commercial and residential customers in Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Geist, Noblesville, Zionsville, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, McCordsville, Greenwood and beyond.
Custom gardens and landscapes, paver patios and walkways, water features and recreation ponds, custom outdoor fire pits and fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pool and spa vaults, tiny houses, storage sheds, pergolas and decks, retaining walls, fencing and playgrounds.
Mowing, mulching, planting and watering service, irrigation and drainage system installation and repairs, seasonal property clean-ups, and snow and ice management. In 2024, Heath Outdoor added eco-focused private gardening and garden coaching to our property maintenance services through a partnership with Spotts Garden Service.
Planning a wedding or other celebratory event and looking to create an extraordinary backdrop? Let the event design team at Heath Outdoor transform your space with rental plants, lighting and custom structures. We’ll work with your event designer to bring the vision for your event to life and create an experience your guests will never forget.
We’re not just in the business of landscaping—we’re in the business of finding solutions and bringing dreams to life. Whether it’s crafting breathtaking commercial outdoor spaces or creating custom outdoor living areas from scratch, we’ve got the passion, expertise, creativity and team to make it happen.
At Heath Outdoor, we’re also committed to giving back to the community, through our Juneteenth service project, annual participation in the Indy Pride parade, Butter Art Fair and Feast of Lanterns sponsorship and neighborhood beautification efforts.
Heath Outdoor is a Hurst Brothers company. Other brands in the Hurst Brothers family of companies include: Indy Insulation and Spray Company and Spotts Garden Service.
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