Outdoor Rooms

It can also put a kink in your party plans if your guests can’t move about the outdoor and indoor areas in a logical way. “People will get really excited about this wonderful room they have, but then discover when it’s being used, it just doesn’t flow,” Darsa says. “Think about flow and access to and from your home so people can move around the interior and exterior spaces with ease.” And while the idea of backyard entertainment may bring up images of iced tea and finger cakes, that’s far from the new reality. “There are so many different kinds of products out there now,” Darsa says. “Just about anything you could have indoors now has an outdoor version.” TVs and stereos, for instance, are becoming more popular for outdoor entertaining areas. Boike says the price is still high for these all-weather electronics, but the quality is excellent. “These televisions can withstand the elements,” he says. “The only thing you need to worry about is placing them to minimize glare from the sunlight.” This pool deck designed by LBC Design shows that homeowners can have beauty and low maintenance within a small space. Cook Up Great Outdoor Kitchen Design The other major movement in deluxe outdoor spaces is outdoor kitchens. Why are these masculine culinary spaces so in vogue? “My theory is that men--who are usually the driving force behind these projects--are becoming more open and demanding about the space and equipment they cook with,” says Bruce Frankel, former restaurateur and founder of the outdoor cooking Web site SpitJack.com. “Since they have been traditionally relegated to the backyard, this is the domain they’re expanding.” It’s important to look at an outdoor kitchen the same way you would an indoor kitchen to make sure you create a functional space. “I urge people to consider the same things they would think about when planning any kitchen, like what kind of food they will be cooking, how often and for how many people,” he says. “Think through how you want to express yourself as a cook in that space.” And you won’t be limited by what you can and can’t take outside, Boike says. “Every year it seems there’s another appliance that’s been altered to withstand being outdoors,” he says. “It used to just be a grill, but now it’s sinks and wine coolers and refrigerators and dishwashers and storage areas now. But they last year after year.” Grow Your Garden Focusing on outdoor kitchens and luxury entertaining areas is exciting since they don’t naturally belong outdoors. But while these items may get most of the attention, it’s critical to remember the importance of gardens and greenery in your outdoor area.

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