Outdoor Rooms

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Backyard BBQ and cooking doesn’t have to be about having a stainless-steel monster of a grill or the most BTUs in the neighborhood. Here, the SpitJack Electric Fireplace Rotisserie does all the work while you merely keep the wood burning. The company’s easy and eco-friendly approach to cooking with fire makes for a unique outdoor space and experience for your guests. Photo courtesy of SpitJack.com No matter what climate you live in, chances are outdoor rooms are hot in your area—and with good reason, says Louis Cohen, founder and president of LBC Design in Aventura, Fla. “Outdoor rooms have become extensions of the home and are living areas, recreation areas and much more,” he says. Cohen notes that outdoor areas bridge a design divide between the interior and exterior of the home. “Many times, the developer has taken the liberty of choosing the exterior style of the home, but each homeowner can evoke his or her own style in the interior. It’s an exciting challenge to make both work together in the outdoor space.” Here are some tips for bridging the design divide and creating your ideal outdoor room. Take a Holistic View of the Space One problem with some outdoor rooms is that the space evolved casually over time without ever having a real master plan, which can create a cluttered area that doesn’t work well for any of the functions it’s supposed to serve, says Cohen. “Making the outdoor area an overall creation as one would with the interior is a must.” Another mistake people make when conceiving their outdoor space is thinking only about what they want and not how they’re going to accomplish it, says master gardener Roger Boike, garden design specialist for the Susan Fredman Design Group in Chicago, Ill. “One way to make sure you accomplish your goals for the space and still maintain good design is by breaking the area into smaller ‘rooms,’ ” Boike says. “We try and get clients to define how they’ll use the outdoor space, then we create the areas to fit their unique needs.” Using a design service of people who can work with all your needs in the outdoor space is a good idea, Boike says, noting that this collaboration will give the project more continuity. Finally, don’t forget Mother Nature since she will have a role in how inviting your outdoor space turns out to be. “Think about the Sun and check it at different times of day,” says Deidra Darsa, media relations manager for the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. “See how the wind blows in different areas of the yard. Just get a feel for your backyard climate and arrange the space around that.” Consider Your Entertainment Style “People want to be able to entertain in their outdoor spaces, and it’s important to really consider how they’ll use that space while entertaining,” Boike says. For example, anyone wanting to have a gazebo or pergola in the yard, he adds, should consider issues like the distance from the cooking area to the eating area. Otherwise, you may end up with a beautiful entertaining space that is rarely used.

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