Life’s too short to stay inside
It’s been a long winter here in Alberta, and we’re getting antsy to open the windows and let the fresh air in. I can tell by the calls I’m fielding about decks, patios, cottages, and outdoor rooms.
So, today I want to tell you the two key secrets I share with clients when they tell me they want to create an outdoor oasis for the summer months:
- Summer is short, so work to building a three-season escape
- Make sure your indoor-outdoor spaces flow seamlessly
We wait all year for patio season with thoughts of dining al fresco dancing through our heads. We imagine creating a serene outdoor oasis. Then, summer arrives and with a blink of an eye, it’s gone.
Before we had a home with a three-season room, my wife and I lamented the lack of time we spent in our yard. Too hot. Too cold. Too many bugs. Raining. Snowing. You name it, there always seemed to be a reason that it was easier to pour that summer cocktail and stay inside. Now with a three-season room, you’ll find me sitting out in the great outdoors every month of the year.
Tip One: Plan a three-season space
When a home isn’t planned well, outdoor spaces can sit unused for 10 or 11 months of the year. Our unusual Calgary weather makes it daunting to transform the outdoors into a usable, friendly space that is enjoyable for many months each year.
While you’re dreaming of summer barbecues, think about how you currently use your yard and what things you would like to use it for. With every renovation we do, we consider the homeowner’s lifestyle and preferences in the design of the space. We can add warmth with heat lamps or a fireplace, shelter areas from extreme heat or rain, and put up screens to keep out mosquitos – all based on your vision for the space.
With seasons that change dramatically, there are ways to create spaces that work for at least three seasons. Perhaps we’ll plan for a fire pit for cool spring evenings, a fully covered dining space lined with heaters to extend outdoor dining well into the fall, and a chaise lounge area to catch those rays in July and August.
Tip Two: Indoor-Outdoor Flow
When your home’s transition from inside to outside is smooth, you’ll find yourself instinctively throwing the doors open day after day. How can we create that kind of space?
On a day when you’re ready to welcome the fresh air in but don’t feel up to cleaning the dusty, wet outdoor furniture, imagine opening up a wall of windows. Suddenly, you’re dining al fresco during a January chinook.
On the flip side, I’ve seen gorgeous outdoor areas sit unused because they are built apart from the other living space, making it a supreme effort to set a table or haul dinner back and forth.
Spaces that flow easily are used more, so when we renovate or build new, we know how to make it work. Walls of windows, gorgeous French doors, and eliminating the need for stairs from the kitchen to outdoor dining spaces are some of the tricks we have up our sleeves.
Whether it is a shady retreat, backyard kitchen, screened-in oasis, or tropical garden, we can help you turn your yard into extra living space – adding both value and function to your home.
Feel free to reach out at any time with your questions or concerns. We’re here to help you create the space of your dreams. Give me a call at 403-390-7708 or shoot me an email alec@alecwilliamsconstruction.ca. In the meantime, have a look at some of our work over on the website.