Custom Outdoor Living Project in Charlotte, NC

The Challenge

This Charlotte, NC homeowner needed an outdoor space that solved a specific problem — drainage, sloped grading, an underused yard, or a transition between indoor and outdoor living — without compromising the look of the home. Our team scoped the site, identified the constraints, and proposed a design built around the way the family actually uses the space.

The Design & Material Selection

For this project we specified premium hardscape materials, chosen for durability in Charlotte's freeze-thaw cycles and for the way the color and texture sit against the home's existing architecture. The layout was drawn to match the home's sight lines, the lawn's natural grade, and the way the family moves between the house, patio, and yard.

The Final Result

We find ourselves at an interesting and public crossroads, and as a company that values its community relationships, we would very much appreciate any advice and feedback please.

The well-known national program, Designing Spaces®, has asked Mr. Outdoor Living to be part of their show during their upcoming stop in the Charlotte area. For those who may not know, Designing Spaces® is an award-winning home improvement show that travels the country to remodel, redecorate, and redesign the spaces we call home. This is, on the surface, a fantastic opportunity to showcase the quality, craftsmanship, and design philosophy that our brand stands for on a national platform.

However, this opportunity comes with significant stipulations. The primary one is that this is a “pay-to-play” feature. They want us to pay them $19,700 for the segment, and they will be sending us contracts tomorrow.

This presents a classic business dilemma. Our brand, Mr. Outdoor Living®, has been built from the ground up right here in the Carolinas. Our reputation is founded on trust, professional expertise, and the tangible results we deliver one home at a time. Our mission of “Making Homes More Beautiful®” has grown authentically through client referrals, positive Google reviews, and a visible, on-the-ground presence in our local neighborhoods. This opportunity is a very different kind of marketing—one based on sponsored content rather than earned media.

So, we are genuinely posing the question to you, our community. On one hand, the national exposure is undeniable. It could bring our philosophy to a much wider audience and validate our work on a new level, perhaps reaching many new residents in the greater Charlotte area who don’t yet know us.

On the other hand, $19,700 is a substantial investment. That’s money that could be reinvested into our team, new equipment to improve our efficiency, or perhaps used to sponsor several local community sports teams or initiatives, which feels very true to our roots. There’s a real concern that a “pay-to-play” segment might feel less authentic than the hard-earned trust we’ve built.

Does this type of paid placement align with the “trusted professional” reputation we’ve worked so hard to build? Or is this a necessary and exciting next step for brand growth? Please share your opinion about our brand, this organization, or what you would do if you were Mr. Outdoor Living. We truly value your perspective as we weigh this decision.