By: John Cherveny, Homes by JMC
Outdoor living has come a long way in the last few decades. Simple barbecue grills, tire swings and plastic furniture are passé. They are being replaced by new, innovative things that transform backyards into outdoor “living” rooms. My family’s go to chill zone at our home is our backyard. On chill weekends you won’t find us far from our pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, or fire pit. We have pushed the envelope on outdoor features and comfort to create an oasis of our own right at home. I often joke with my wife that we don’t need a vacation when we live in a resort with oversized tiki torches. She says that doesn’t help us with snow skiing – she’s right as usual! Outdoor design features are as endless as your imagination. They can be designed for entertaining friends and family, or simply for holding a quiet space for daily meditation. Options could include big elements such sunrooms, outdoor kitchens and koi pods. They could also include small elements like simple candles, a rustic fire pit, and stone mosaics. As a home builder in Florida, I have recognized the increased desire of people to spend more time outside. And we are responding by providing creative and satisfying outdoor structures and features. Especially those that support key factors like comfort, functionality and recreation. As a family man, I recognize the needs and benefits of having my own incredible outdoor living area. I made a deliberate choice to add all the features that were special to us because it increases our daily comfort and happiness. Even our dogs have their own cozy, curl-up comfort areas with soft beds made of outdoor fabric.
More Space to Enjoy
With today’s hectic pace and daily stressors, everyone needs a place to relax. Someplace to put their feet up and do nothing. It seems the best place to unwind and relax is at home. Designating an outdoor space away from high activity areas, phones, TV’s and computers is essential. Escaping to the outdoors can be especially appealing with adding the extra comforts to facilitate relaxation. Outdoor living structures such as a pool deck, covered porch, cupola or terrace are beautiful, yet economical options to consider. They allow you to “escape” to a mindfully created place outdoors while increasing your living space, home value and curb appeal.
Use Furniture options that match your lifestyle
Outdoor furnishings have come along way from plastic fold up chairs and metal-framed loungers. Today, your outdoor furniture really does matter. The vast choices of today’s lounging chairs, bar stools, meditation cushions, rocking chairs, hammocks, rustic tables, garden benches can be overwhelming. Although climate and personal taste will surely be factors, the best way to decide on outdoor furniture is to first look at your lifestyle. What purpose and function – dining, sunning, relaxing, socializing – do you want the furniture to serve? Making a list of what you want to do with that space will act as your buying guide. For example, if you love outdoor entertaining, you may want to start with an outdoor table and chairs then plan outward around that. Then add what other pieces complement your table and vision for festivities. If you like your privacy, you may want to put up a solitary hammock somewhere quiet. We love entertaining on weekends so we have lots of go to options for that purpose – intimate conversation seating arrangements with side tables for drinks and hors d’oeuvres, fold up bar tops we can set up for mingling, Adirondack chairs circling our fire pit for relaxing as a group. As a general rule, choose furniture that is built well from outdoor-grade materials so it will stand up to repetitive usage and the elements. For example, faux wicker lasts much longer than traditional wicker by resisting water, UV, mold and sagging. The goal in whatever furniture options or configurations you choose is that you feel good in your outdoor space. Have it reflect your personality. Have fun with it so it will provide extensive comfort for years to come.
Move the traditional kitchen social gathering outdoors
Families have gathered in the kitchen for years – not just to smell, salivate and taste-test, but to socialize during the cooking process. Moving the cooking and thus the social gathering outdoor makes for an enjoyable transition for both the host/chef and the guests. The majority of people say food simply tastes better when cooked outside. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the relaxed environment, the warm flames or the combination of it all that makes it taste better. We grill every week. We are grill people. Period. It is something we enjoy and look forward to doing as a family or for entertaining friends. Simple charcoal and gas grills are being replaced for fancy grills, smokers, tiki bars, and fully-stocked outdoor kitchens. These, plus new grilling techniques and cooking-over-fire innovations, have allowed us to raise the taste factor of our outdoor foods to new heights. Outdoor seating such as tables, conversation chairs and tiki bars provide options for guests to dine. Umbrellas, awnings, arbors, and seat cushions can make dining outside more comfortable.
Adding elements of comfort and relaxation
Relaxation is very important in our lives as it helps to keep our stress levels down, and improve our health. Let me say that again … relaxation is important! One way to promote relaxation is to spend time outdoors. Having a beautiful outdoor area can create the outdoor space you need to unwind. The details and accents you incorporate into your design can increase your relaxation experience even more. When I arrive home each night after work, I just want to relax. So after I pet my dogs, hug my wife and play with my daughter (not always in that order), I actively seek a place to relax and recalibrate. Depending on the weather, you’ll probably find me lounging in our outside living space with a cold beer or a cup of coffee. Adding heat from a hot water source such as hot tub or outdoor shower is soothing to sore muscles and calming to the mind. My father-in-law often comes over to soak his 80-year-old bones and muscles in our hot tub. He’s like a new man (refreshed, relaxed and a lot less pain) when he leaves. Additionally, heat from a fire pit, outdoor fire place, a fire ring or tiki torches would be warm to the skin and visually meditative to watch.
John Cherveny is owner of Homes By JMC in Stuart, Florida. He has been building custom homes for more than 30 years. And in these 30 years, he’s gained incredible wisdom about how life and home intersect and shape our reality. He’s learned what is it that makes homes special, enjoyable, functional and satisfying. John is fond of saying to clients “the details do matter.” So in this Homes By JMC blog, he shares all the details he’s come across and why they matter for creating a pleasurable home experience.