After the last few years, we all find ourselves spending much more time in our homes. Whether working from home, homeschooling, or entertaining, we want our home to be a welcoming place. That is why many people are investing in home renovations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, homeowners undertook 135 million home improvement projects in the last three years, and this trend isn’t slowing down.
Houzz & home show that 55% of homeowners plan to renovate their homes over the next year. Living in Florida means this probably includes your outdoor space. We all want a relaxing oasis to enjoy the beautiful spring days and summer nights. While renovations might be on your list this year, it can be challenging to find skilled and trustworthy companies to complete the project. Well, look no further; Orlando Outdoor Living is the place to go.
Orlando Outdoor Living (OOL) is a local, family-operated business with a team of highly qualified professionals. “We strive to create tailored designs for our customers that are both beautiful and functional”, said Al Villamil, founder and owner of Orlando Outdoor Living. So whether you are looking to have the best outdoor kitchen for barbequing and parties or a sitting area with a fire pit for relaxing family nights, OOL can make your vision come to life.
Al grew up in Virginia, where he found at an early age he had an entrepreneurial spirit. When he was a teenager, he started buying cocktail table video games and renting them out for people to play in bars. He quickly saved up enough to get into college, where he attended the University of Miami. Initially wanting to be a marine biologist, he quickly discovered he hated science. He decided to hone in on his business skills and get his degree in Finance.
After graduating, he and his wife moved to Pennsylvania, where he and his father bought a paper company in 1987. After his father’s passing in 1989, he merged the paper business with a new partner. In order to grow their business quicker and more efficiently, Al became a pilot in 1995, logging more than 3000 hours of flight time. During this time, Al also became a professional race car driver and drove in his first professional race in 1995, the IMSA’s Rolex 24 at Daytona; from 2000-2003, he owned the IMSA BMW race team. At this point in his life, Al had two children, and it wasn't easy to be a full-time race car driver and own a growing business. Hence, he competed in his last professional race in 2005, the same race he started his career with, the IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona.
He bought out his partner in the paper business in 2005, where he dedicated all his time for the next five years, growing it into a mmultimillion-dollarcompany. In 2010 Al sold his paper business to a Sweden-based multinational (100M sales) firm and ran it until 2013. The Villamil family moved to Florida in 2012, where Al continued to grow his portfolio.
Over the years, Al has always invested in small businesses and entrepreneurs and ultimately realized that is where his passion lies. He started a plastic recycling company in 2013, which led to him buying other small recycling companies. This all led to his introduction to the owner of StruXure pergolas, Scott Selzer, in 2016.
Scott was a middle school teacher who worked during the summer in a construction and remodeling business where he crafted his unique pergolas. After developing a great relationship with Scott, Al created Orlando Outdoor Living and became the exclusive StruXure dealer in Orlando. In 2020 Al sold his other recycling and plastics companies to focus solely on building Orlando Outdoor Living. With quick success, Al quickly expanded the business from just pergolas to a full outdoor remodeling business. “My primary goal now is to continue building a really great team and a trusted brand in our community,” Al stated.
This summer, Orlando Outdoor Living will be opening their first Design Center and Showroom in Hamlin, which will be located right next to Home State Brewing Co. “We want people to see that we are different. We offer products in every price range and are a very custom shop”, Al stated. “We are also keenly aware that everyone values things differently. We offer good, better, and best products because I never assume I know what the client wants or what they would be willing to spend. I want to be a place that anyone can come to and find the right products for them and whatever their budget might be.” The showroom will feature their new pergolas, grills, and kitchen sets and be a place to ignite inspiration.
With Orlando Outdoor Living, you can make your own backyard a staycation paradise. Whether you already have a vision or need some creative help, the OOL team will make those dreams a reality. “I love getting to work with my wife, the amazing team we have built, and our customers. Each new project brings its own challenges, and we love finding the perfect solution for everyone”, Al said. In addition, you can relax knowing you are working with a trusted, family-operated business.
So make sure you stop by their new showroom this summer, say hi, and get some inspiration for your dream backyard!
“My primary goal now, is to continue building a really great team and a trusted brand in our community”
