Forbes featured Meadowlark designers Jen Hinesman, Melissa Filter, and Melanie Grabarkiewicz for their expertise on creating standout outdoor entertaining spaces.
We're thrilled to share that Forbes recently featured Meadowlark Design+Build in its article on outdoor entertaining trends for 2026. Forbes contributor Terri Williams spoke with three members of our design team — Jen Hinesman, Melissa Filter, and Melanie Grabarkiewicz — about what makes a backyard feel like a true extension of the home.
Jen spoke to the importance of a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living. "When the connection feels natural, the outdoor area becomes more than an add-on; it becomes an extension of everyday living — and this starts with accessibility and sightlines," she explained, pointing to large sliding doors, folding glass walls, and repeated materials as ways to visually unify a space.
Melissa spoke to how layout and lighting shape the way a space actually gets used. She noted that homeowners should think about how they intend to use a space before selecting furniture, since "the layout should support how people actually move, gather, eat, and relax." She also emphasized that layered lighting, not a single overhead fixture, is what determines "whether an outdoor entertaining space feels warm and inviting, or flat and underutilized."
Melanie explained the role of focal points and shelter in outdoor comfort, noting that fire features "naturally encourage conversation, and extend the space's usability into cooler seasons." She also highlighted how pergolas and screened porches help outdoor spaces function through changing weather, minimizing "common frustrations, such as insects and excessive sun exposure."
Read the full feature on Forbes.
At Meadowlark Design+Build, our goal is to bring our homeowners' visions to life as seamlessly as possible, and we're proud to see that same care recognized by Forbes and some of the industry's top names in outdoor living design.