One of the most rewarding parts of my role as a product manager is seeing products become part of someone’s outdoor space. Last fall, I had the opportunity to experience that firsthand while visiting country music artist John King’s property in north Georgia for a special build featuring the Outdoor Accents Sage System.
As someone who helped develop the Sage System, getting the chance to see it come together in such a picturesque setting was something I won’t soon forget.
The project brought together a great group of people, starting with DIYer Jen Woodhouse, whom we’ve worked with on past projects. She’s done an amazing job building pergolas, outdoor swing sets and more. This time, she partnered with John to build a 10′ x 10′ cedar pergola on his property in a single day. I joined the video shoot as a subject matter expert alongside my Simpson Strong-Tie colleague and friend Elizabeth Rajs, product marketing manager for wood connectors; the Simpson Strong-Tie video team; Jesse Russell from our Integrated and Social Media Marketing team; and Ninette Walford, our National Retail Account regional manager for that area.
The setting couldn’t have been more perfect.
If you’ve never experienced north Georgia in the fall, it’s hard to describe just how beautiful it is. The trees were beginning to turn, filling the landscape with shades of gold, orange and deep red. The air was cool and crisp. John’s property sits in a quiet, rural area surrounded by woods. When everything settles down and conversations pause, all you hear are leaves rustling in the breeze and birds calling from the trees.
There’s a sense of stillness there. A feeling of being connected to nature that seems increasingly difficult to find. It was also the ideal location to showcase the Sage System.
One of the goals when we developed the Sage System was to simplify pergola construction without sacrificing strength or appearance. We wanted to create a solution that would help homeowners and DIYers confidently build beautiful outdoor structures.
Watching Jen and John assemble the pergola reinforced exactly why we developed the system. The Sage System features a collection of engineered connectors designed to make pergola construction more approachable. Components such as the Sage-C corner connector, Sage-T middle-T connector, and Sage-B post base work together to simplify installation while creating a clean, finished appearance. The connectors feature durable ZMAX® galvanized steel for superior corrosion resistance with a beautiful black powder-coat finish that complements a wide range of outdoor designs.
The result is a pergola that looks custom-built while helping streamline the construction process.
Another product featured in the build was our Titen Turbo™ concrete and masonry screw anchor. Jen used Titen Turbo anchors to secure the pergola post bases to the concrete slab.
By the end of the day, the pergola was standing tall against the backdrop of the Georgia woods. To complete the space, the structure was outfitted with our Sage-Shade™ sunshade, which easily integrates with 8′ x 8′ and 10′ x 10′ Sage System pergolas. The durable HDPE fabric provides UV protection while creating a comfortable outdoor retreat. Available in tan and gray, the shade can be installed or removed seasonally according to the homeowner’s needs.
While seeing the finished pergola was certainly a highlight, some of my favorite moments happened after the cameras stopped rolling.
That evening, our team gathered around a campfire on John’s property. After a full day of filming, building and problem-solving together, it was nice to simply relax. We shared stories, talked about past projects, roasted s’mores and enjoyed the warmth of the fire as temperatures cooled.
The crackling fire, the quiet woods and the company of good colleagues made for one of those memorable evenings that remind you why relationships matter as much as the work itself.
Projects like this are about more than building structures. They’re about creating spaces where people can gather, connect and make memories. Whether it’s a family dinner under a pergola, an afternoon spent relaxing outdoors or an evening around a fire pit with friends, these are the experiences that inspire the products we create.
If you’re considering a pergola project of your own, I encourage you to watch the full build video featuring Jen Woodhouse and John King. It walks a viewer through the entire construction process and shows just how approachable pergola building can be with the Sage System.
For me, this project was a reminder of why I love what I do. It combined product innovation, collaboration, beautiful surroundings and great people. And it all came together in a single day in an unforgettable corner of north Georgia.
