Outdoor rooms such as patios, covered porches, balconies and decks provide a transition space between the interior of our home and the outdoors.  They help connect us to our physical surrounding and the rhythms of nature which is crucial to our sense of well-being.  The more our home is connected to the earth, the more we will feel grounded in your home and with the broader community.

Recommendations

Every dwelling is enhanced by outdoor spaces.  Provide inviting places to sit and relax outdoors in a variety of places.  Front porches near the entrance, decks off the kitchen or family room, balconies or patios adjacent to bedrooms or garden dining areas in the back yard.

This covered deck is an extention of the family room.

The garden connected to this shower allows for both indoor and outdoor bathing.

Include a variety of visual, tactile, and auditory experiences.  Stone, concrete, wrought iron and wood surfaces can be complimented with soft custions and textured fabrics in outdoor furniture, hanging plants with colorful flowers, grass, hedges or other vegitation.  Water fountains or speakers for music can add a soothing abiance to the space.

These spaces have a variety of materials, colors and textures.

Use materials that are appropriate for your climate.  Try recycled products such as Trex or Evergrain for decks versus wood.  Both products withstand extreme weather conditions and don’t heat up with exposure to the sun as wood does.  For more product information, visit the websites at www.Trex.com or www.evergrain.com

Keep in mind the sun and weather.  It is nice to have a shaded area as part of your outdoor space.  Covering a deck or patio with a roof adds protection while retractable awnings allow for both sunshine and shade (Durasol Awnings or Somfy Awnings are quality products).  Consider placing a patio or deck near a tree to give relief from the sun and rain.

This deck is shaded by the overhanging roof and the large nearby trees.

Define the edges of your outdoor space with transitions in landscaping, privacy walls, change in materials, roofs, unbrellas, planters or hedges.

To improve the evening abiance of an outdoor area, consider adding dimmers for exterior lighting or using a small lamp or candles on a table.  Spot lighting a tree or garden can add a focal point to a space.

Remedies

Limited Space:  If your outdoor area is small, consider using a few simple items to define the space.  A single chair and table with a potted plant, an umbrella with two small chairs, or incorporating a bench into a handrail detail are simple ways to create a mini outdoor area.

Privacy:  Using a free standing trellis with climbing vines creates a soft screen between your space and public areas.  Covered porches with low walls or handrails along the perimeter provide privacy while seated.  Consider adding a wrought-iron rod between columns of a covered patio and hanging fabric curtains that can be drawn or hanging a rolling shade to create a secluded place outdoors.

Old Concrete Patios:  An alternative to removing or replacing a concrete patio is staining it with a product such as Behr’s concrete floor stain which can be found at Home Depot.  Using a concrete saw, add a groves in a simple grid pattern to enhance the appearance and help bring old concrete to life.  For a more detailed finish, try an expoxy resin product which has many colors and textures to choose from or use your concrete as a base for stone or slate.

Posted in Architecture