Customized Outdoor Spaces
Customized outdoor spaces are highly sought after projects in the world of home renovations today. Homeowners want to make the outdoors a more integral part of how they use their home. According to Bruce Bowers of Bowers Design Build, “The best outdoors spaces are those that reflect the lifestyle and needs of the homeowner. Before designing an outdoor space, homeowners should articulate how they want to use the space so the design can appropriately accommodate their needs. “
Here are a few sample questions homeowners should consider in designing an outdoor space:
- Are you planning to dine outside, if so, how many people will you need seating for?
- If you are planning a lounge/sitting area outside, how many people will you need seating for?
- If you plan to cook in the outdoor space, what appliances are you anticipating using? (This can include the obvious, like a grill, to the unique…pizza oven or popcorn station.
- Do you want a water feature incorporated into your outdoor space?
- Do you want a fire feature incorporated into your outdoor space?
- Do you want part of your new outdoor space to be “bug free”?
- Do you want any portion of your outdoor space to be conditioned for year-round use?
Understanding the answers to these types of questions is critical to designing and building the ideal outdoor space. It is also important to think through how the outdoor space relates to the indoor space. Bowers says, “The outdoor space should be an extension of the indoor space to maximize the greatest use and functionality. For instance, an outdoor grilling area should ideally be close to the kitchen to make back and forth trips more manageable. ”
Creating the ideal outdoor space starts with thoughtful design planning and then building the space that meets each homeowner’s unique individual needs and wants. Great outdoor spaces should transition well from the homes interior space. In addition, any outdoor space should accentuate the home exterior façade. No two outdoor spaces are alike, but there is a perfect outdoor space for every homeowner’s needs and budget.
AUTHOR: Wilma Bowers is the co-owner of Bowers Design Build located in McLean, VA.
