Have you ever seen pictures of outdoor living rooms in magazines? They have utilized outdoor space for additional recreation, eating, and living opportunities and added a beautiful amenity to the garden. The move outside can be used to its fullest in mild to moderate climates, but taken advantage of several seasons during the year everywhere else. Paving materials should complement the house and existing landscaping styles. Bluestone or travertine pavers are an attractive choice for outdoor living spaces, as are concrete pavers.
An outdoor fireplace or fire pit offers function and a place around which family and friends can gather as the weather turns cooler. Fireplaces can be stand alone or be built in to the kitchen island. Fire pits are often a focal point within the living space. These can be wood-burning or run on gas. There are even some that incorporate a water feature into the fire pit!
Do you want your outdoor living room to be open-air or covered? That will depend on your region and climate, but options for either are nearly limitless. Pergolas offer a more open roof. Solid roof coverings can also be created. Depending on the layout and size of your yard, an outdoor living room may contain water features such as fountains or ponds. Think about creating shade. If it is hot and uncomfortable, there is less likeliness that you will use the space. Outdoor living spaces can can utilize kitchen islands, outdoor gas grills, and even such things as outdoor rugs. Weather resistant outdoor furniture should be used, but there are many comfortable choices available.
Why be satisfied with that cracked patio when you can create a truly unique and enjoyable outdoor living space in the same area?
Showing posts with label Outdoor Home Design San Diego. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Outdoor Home Design San Diego. Show all posts
Friday, July 8, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Outdoor Licing Rooms Explained
Considering a garden as an outdoor room is nothing new to garden designers. The concept is just now making its way into the public consciousness. But just what are outdoor living rooms? Are they places where you try to recreate your indoor living room outdoors? No, not exactly. Are they places like your deck, patio or terrace where you just plop down a set of furniture and hope that you'll feel like spending time out there? No, that won't do either. An outdoor living room is a space outside of your house, built with materials suitable to the outdoors, where you will actually want to spend time! It's also a state of mind, the idea of living life outdoors.
Now for your frame of mind: stop separating the outside of your house from the inside of your house, try to think of your property as all one place. Look at your outdoor space, look at your yard and take inventory of what you have naturally in that space. What has mother nature already provided for you? Hopefully you have some kind of natural elements that can be the focal point of your new outdoor living room such as a large tree, a hedgerow, a nice slope, or a beautiful view. In urban locations, your yard could be a barren rectangle, with nothing in it but some dirt and weeds, but there may be other qualities you could start with, such as a lovely angle of morning sun, maybe a nice brick wall on one side creating a microclimate, or even an interesting urban view of some kind.
Spend some time out there and identify just what are feels the best to you. Bring a chair outside and just sit in it in different spots until you get a feeling of being in the right spot. Then you must ask yourself, can this spot be turned into an outdoor living room? How will you connect it to visually to your house? Are there interior elements of your home that you can repeat outside? How will you connect your new outdoor living room physically to your house? How will get there from inside your house? There must be an easy way to go from inside to outside and back inside. Smooth transition between inside and out is how you start feeling like your outdoor living room is really just another room of your house; an extension of your home.
Now for your frame of mind: stop separating the outside of your house from the inside of your house, try to think of your property as all one place. Look at your outdoor space, look at your yard and take inventory of what you have naturally in that space. What has mother nature already provided for you? Hopefully you have some kind of natural elements that can be the focal point of your new outdoor living room such as a large tree, a hedgerow, a nice slope, or a beautiful view. In urban locations, your yard could be a barren rectangle, with nothing in it but some dirt and weeds, but there may be other qualities you could start with, such as a lovely angle of morning sun, maybe a nice brick wall on one side creating a microclimate, or even an interesting urban view of some kind.
Spend some time out there and identify just what are feels the best to you. Bring a chair outside and just sit in it in different spots until you get a feeling of being in the right spot. Then you must ask yourself, can this spot be turned into an outdoor living room? How will you connect it to visually to your house? Are there interior elements of your home that you can repeat outside? How will you connect your new outdoor living room physically to your house? How will get there from inside your house? There must be an easy way to go from inside to outside and back inside. Smooth transition between inside and out is how you start feeling like your outdoor living room is really just another room of your house; an extension of your home.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Let's Add a Sunroom or Outdoor Living Room
Sunrooms have become one of the most popular home additions, popping up in all sorts of homes. A sunroom can dramatically enhance the value of your home, while providing additional living space for you and your family. If you think adding a sunroom to your home is out of your price range, you might want to think again.
Though popular among nature lovers and gardeners, sunrooms are increasingly becoming in demand for those of us who love the beauty of the outdoors without the nuisance of insects and inclement weather. Many people add sunrooms to their homes to house spas or hot tubs. Imagine relaxing in your spa in the evening after a rough day at work. To top it all off, if designed and built properly a sunroom can be used all year round, even in the nastiest of weather conditions.
A perfect sunroom addition allows you to experience all of the enjoyment of the sun and benefits of being outdoors, without any of the drawbacks. An important thing to remember when dreaming up your new sunroom is design! Windows are an obvious important design element and should be considered carefully. Window glass should be of high quality for insulation purposes, as the point is to enjoy the outdoors year-round, and through the worst of weather scenarios.
You will want to research insulation and tints for your windows to help alleviate summer heat, or the chill of cooler months. Your best bet when choosing your windows would be windows specifically made for sunrooms. They are made stronger and thicker than traditional glass and are available in both single and double paned. Sunroom windows should also reduce glare, as this will bring much enjoyment having the unrestricted view of the outside.
Though popular among nature lovers and gardeners, sunrooms are increasingly becoming in demand for those of us who love the beauty of the outdoors without the nuisance of insects and inclement weather. Many people add sunrooms to their homes to house spas or hot tubs. Imagine relaxing in your spa in the evening after a rough day at work. To top it all off, if designed and built properly a sunroom can be used all year round, even in the nastiest of weather conditions.
A perfect sunroom addition allows you to experience all of the enjoyment of the sun and benefits of being outdoors, without any of the drawbacks. An important thing to remember when dreaming up your new sunroom is design! Windows are an obvious important design element and should be considered carefully. Window glass should be of high quality for insulation purposes, as the point is to enjoy the outdoors year-round, and through the worst of weather scenarios.
You will want to research insulation and tints for your windows to help alleviate summer heat, or the chill of cooler months. Your best bet when choosing your windows would be windows specifically made for sunrooms. They are made stronger and thicker than traditional glass and are available in both single and double paned. Sunroom windows should also reduce glare, as this will bring much enjoyment having the unrestricted view of the outside.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Design That's In in 2011
Smaller Homes
For those families purchasing new homes, many are looking for more modestly sized properties than the McMansions of the past. Being more attracted to the space they need rather than the space their ego wants - is on today's agenda. It's all about being more value conscious and living authentically. Although some newly built homes may be shrinking in size - by only about 10-15% (reducing overall room sizes), the high-end materials and finishes are in no way compromised.
Greener, Healthier and Smarter Homes
The current scene is definitely green. Energy efficiency is fast becoming the hottest and most desirable remodel trend or "shift" in the home design and building industry.
Universal Design
Renovating your existing home and removing interior walls creates an open, spacious and more flexible floor plan. This immediately improves the layout and flow of the home and makes it more comfortable and versatile for families who love to entertain.
Work Spaces
The homeprenuer trend is not just growing - it's intensifying. With an unstable economy comes the opportunity for more people to work from home either part time or launch home-based businesses. Today's technology makes it easy to be as productive at home as in an office-based location.
For those families purchasing new homes, many are looking for more modestly sized properties than the McMansions of the past. Being more attracted to the space they need rather than the space their ego wants - is on today's agenda. It's all about being more value conscious and living authentically. Although some newly built homes may be shrinking in size - by only about 10-15% (reducing overall room sizes), the high-end materials and finishes are in no way compromised.
Greener, Healthier and Smarter Homes
The current scene is definitely green. Energy efficiency is fast becoming the hottest and most desirable remodel trend or "shift" in the home design and building industry.
Universal Design
Renovating your existing home and removing interior walls creates an open, spacious and more flexible floor plan. This immediately improves the layout and flow of the home and makes it more comfortable and versatile for families who love to entertain.
Work Spaces
The homeprenuer trend is not just growing - it's intensifying. With an unstable economy comes the opportunity for more people to work from home either part time or launch home-based businesses. Today's technology makes it easy to be as productive at home as in an office-based location.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Your New Fireplace Design & Remodel
Today, fireplaces are becoming more popular, most especially with the modern ideas and designs that circulate around. Although many people still prefer the conventional fireplace designs, there are also some who are opening up to new concepts and ideas.
Appearance. In any design, it is most important to identify the appearance. For fireplaces, appearance matter a lot. It is essential to plan the appearance of the fireplace before constructing it or remodeling it. For most designers, since the fireplace serves as the focal point of the house, it should appear consistent with the rest of the house.
Concept. The concept is also another important factor. Since fireplaces have revolutionized over the years, there are a number of new designs today. Deciding on the concept is actually just a choice between the traditional and the modern fireplace. Traditional fireplaces are those that literally burn wood fuel, and other similar types of fuels. Moreover, these fireplaces are usually made of brick and other refractory materials. Some of the most popular materials for these types are grates, French marble, English stone, cast iron, and bespoke marble. On the other hand, modern fireplaces include gas and electric.
Heat source. Choosing the heat source is equally important as well. Since there are already fireplaces that provide heat artificially, choosing is not a very difficult thing to do.
Appearance. In any design, it is most important to identify the appearance. For fireplaces, appearance matter a lot. It is essential to plan the appearance of the fireplace before constructing it or remodeling it. For most designers, since the fireplace serves as the focal point of the house, it should appear consistent with the rest of the house.
Concept. The concept is also another important factor. Since fireplaces have revolutionized over the years, there are a number of new designs today. Deciding on the concept is actually just a choice between the traditional and the modern fireplace. Traditional fireplaces are those that literally burn wood fuel, and other similar types of fuels. Moreover, these fireplaces are usually made of brick and other refractory materials. Some of the most popular materials for these types are grates, French marble, English stone, cast iron, and bespoke marble. On the other hand, modern fireplaces include gas and electric.
Heat source. Choosing the heat source is equally important as well. Since there are already fireplaces that provide heat artificially, choosing is not a very difficult thing to do.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Outdoor Living Rooms, What Do You Think?
Your backyard living room design should be just as useful and enjoyable as the inside of your home. Depending on the size of your yard and the needs of your family, there are a variety of outdoor living areas that can be integrated into your design plan to create dedicated space for entertaining, playing, and relaxing.
Outdoor dining rooms are quite common and often connect to the inside dining area of the home for convenience and flexibility. Your dining area may feature a rustic family picnic table, a quaint, intimate patio table, or an elegant wrought iron dining set for eight, depending on the overall style of your home and your needs.
An outdoor kitchen can be a great convenience if you plan on entertaining in your backyard regularly. From a simple gas grill to a custom design with fine outdoor appliances and counter space, there are many possibilities to make your outdoor cooking area practical and beautiful.
Outdoor Living rooms are also integral parts of many backyard designs. Before selecting the best location for your outdoor living room, consider:
* The time of day it will be used most.
* The activities the space will be used for primarily.
* The effect sunlight will have on the location.
Decks, terraces, and fine outdoor furniture and accessories can make your outdoor living room a favorite spot all year round.
Recreation areas are equally important parts of a functional and pleasant backyard. Tennis courts, play areas for pets and children, hobby workstations, and custom swimming pools can add personality to your outdoor space and provide years of enjoyment for your family.
Outdoor dining rooms are quite common and often connect to the inside dining area of the home for convenience and flexibility. Your dining area may feature a rustic family picnic table, a quaint, intimate patio table, or an elegant wrought iron dining set for eight, depending on the overall style of your home and your needs.
An outdoor kitchen can be a great convenience if you plan on entertaining in your backyard regularly. From a simple gas grill to a custom design with fine outdoor appliances and counter space, there are many possibilities to make your outdoor cooking area practical and beautiful.
Outdoor Living rooms are also integral parts of many backyard designs. Before selecting the best location for your outdoor living room, consider:
* The time of day it will be used most.
* The activities the space will be used for primarily.
* The effect sunlight will have on the location.
Decks, terraces, and fine outdoor furniture and accessories can make your outdoor living room a favorite spot all year round.
Recreation areas are equally important parts of a functional and pleasant backyard. Tennis courts, play areas for pets and children, hobby workstations, and custom swimming pools can add personality to your outdoor space and provide years of enjoyment for your family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)