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One of the great things about living in southern Texas is its temperate climate,
which means we can enjoy outdoor entertaining nearly year round.
Think about it. Pool parties, backyard barbecues on the patio, afternoon tea
served in a pergola surrounded by the beauty of nature, or cocktails at sunset
on your deck; the possibilities are virtually endless. In fact, your greatest
obstacle in designing an outdoor living area could very well be deciding upon
the type of outdoor space you wish to create: a deck, a patio or a garden
arbor.
What’s more, now is the perfect time to make your dreams become reality for living
large outdoors.
Choosing the Right Outdoor Space
So, what is the first step in deciding which type of outdoor living space to
create? “Easy,” says Lawrence Winter burn, founder and principal designer of
GardenStructure.com, an industry leader in the creation of architecturally
unique backyard designs in both Canada and the United States for more than 20
years. Winterburn’s advice? Define what you want to achieve.
“What is your dream for this space?” asks Winterburn. “What would make this space absolutely perfect?”
Also, ask yourself how many people you want to entertain, as well as the type of
entertaining you plan to do. Will it be large gatherings with friends, family and business associates? Or does your
outdoor entertaining tend more toward family-centric get-togethers?
And don’t just think about the present — consider your plans for the future.
“Ask yourself what features you’d like to add in the next few years,” suggests Winterburn. “What would make your home look better from the yard, even if you can’t afford to do it all right away? There are literally millions of possibilities
to improve every space — and it all starts with questions.”
For example, a pergola, also known as an arbor, is a structure that provides
shade in a landscaped backyard garden, usually through a wooden cross-beam roof
or a retractable canopy. It’s a great choice for sheltering an outdoor kitchen or for creating a cozy spot
to catch up on reading while surrounded by nature’s bounty. Pergolas can also be part of a much larger landscaping design and work
in tandem with a patio.
A patio is typically a paved living space composed of concrete or stone tiles
that adjoins a residence. Patios work nicely with an in-ground pool or
additional structures and design elements. Versatile and relatively easy to
maintain, patios can accommodate everything from formal outdoor dining to even
the most informal get-together.
Decks, by contrast, are an elevated platform comprised of either a wood
composite or treated timber, such as redwood and cedar. Surrounded by a
protective railing, decks are attached to the house and often have a stairway
that leads to the ground below. Decks are ideal for houses with unusable
backyards because of either rough terrain or a steep drop. Much like a pergola,
a deck can be covered by a canopy to control sunlight.
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Another method to decide on the right outdoor living space for your lifestyle is
to evaluate your backyard and identify any imperfections you’d like to eradicate, or at least, disguise.
For example, perhaps your backyard lacks privacy, so that each time you go
outside, you feel you’re on display to everyone in the neighborhood. Adding landscaping elements that
create a barrier between you and your neighbors would be ideal.
“Maybe you need to bring in trees, or create a canopy pergola to shield the space
from prying eyes,” suggests Winterburn of GardenStructure.com.
A retractable canopy operated by a remote control can also provide shelter from
the elements, so a sudden downpour won’t ruin your outdoor party.
Adding the Wow! Factor
Regardless of whether you choose to go with a pergola, patio or deck, don’t forget to add the Wow! factor to your design plan.
The right lighting for your outdoor space can create drama — or intimacy — depending on your mood.
“The most important concept for lighting these types of spaces is to achieve the
desired lighting effect without seeing the light source,” says Joseph A. Rey-Barreau, AIA, architect/lighting designer and education
consultant for the American Lighting Association
“You want to illuminate the object, as in the case of an arbor, or illuminate an
area such as a patio or deck, but you want to avoid the glare that comes from
the bulb.”
For arbors, Rey-Barreau recommends that you use a cylindrical fixture that has
the bulb located several inches below the edge of the front of the fixture.
Direct the light up toward the arbor, which will illuminate the fixture and
avoid temporarily blinding people as they approach the structure.
“For patios, it is best to use small pathlights where the bulb is concealed,” Rey-Barreau says. “These types of fixtures are available in many styles, but the best is to use a
simple fixture that provides light while shielding the bulb.”
For decks, consider using small landscape fixtures that can be mounted on the
posts of the deck, or can be mounted below the handrail.
Rey-Barreau’s final recommendation is that you use a low voltage (12 volt) landscape system,
which provides excellent illumination along with peace of mind.
So, there you have it, the basics for creating an outdoor living space that is
just right for you and your family. Patio, deck or pergola — the choice is yours; and if your budget allows, consider adding more than one.
By Christie Craig
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