Bring the Outdoors Inside: Expanding Your Living Space
By Debra C. Moore,
President and owner of Custom Design/Build,
a local residential design and building company.
"The world's detail is supremely, meticulously created, created abundantly, extravagantly and in fine."
-Annie Dillard from Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
For centuries, civilization has collectively cheered the advent of spring and summer and the promise of being closer to nature. For a nation that spends 90% of its time indoors, the call of lush gardens, light breezes and rich earth is irresistible. Whether you desire a year round relationship with the out of doors or prefer high intensity use during the warmer months, having an outdoor "room" to enjoy your home's natural environment can not only increase the size of your living area, but can enhance your home's appeal as well.
How do you determine what type of outdoor living environment is right for you? Certainly budget and size constraints matter but even simple changes can produce dramatic results. As you plan the look and feel of your own outdoor paradise, consider 3 simple tips to insure that you will be happy with the results.
1. LIST your top 5 outdoor activities and when they occur.
Start by considering what time of day you will use your new outdoor space the MOST...early in the day...evenings or both? Do you need a place to play soccer with the kids after school or a quiet spot for sipping morning coffee? Do you enjoy cooking outdoors for large groups or retiring with a refreshing adult beverage and a friend after dinner? Is a Koi pond among your wishlist items or a moss garden with a Japanese lantern?
This 4 season sunroom was previously an unused screen porch because it required constant clean up and did not shield occupants from traffic noise nearby. 70 tons of salvaged barn stones transformed the hillside into retaining walls, pathways and stairs and provided a stunning vista which the owner enjoys daily at breakfast and dinner. Photo by Liz Brauer
2. PRIORITIZE your list by frequency AND emotional importance.
Identify the activities most consistent with how you and your family live now-as well as what you would LIKE to do (if you had the place to do it!) Would you eat breakfast and dinner outside daily? Are you a weekend warrior, a sunbather or someone who just wants to throw open the French doors and expand your view of the garden? Place your preferred and more frequent activities at the top of the list and plan your space needs accordingly. Consider longevity concerns while you're at it.....will this be a temporary play space for youngsters....? or do you want a space that will remain a part of your home life for the next 15 years? This will affect both the upfront budget and your design goals.
Exterior
Interior
This owner wanted a 250 square foot deck and BBQ directly off the kitchen that communicated with a screened environment for dining and reclining off of the great room. In warm weather when the French doors are open, this screened porch expands the footprint of the interior by 300 square feet and offers easy indoor/outdoor traffic flow for large or small gatherings.
3. ANALYZE the opportunities that your house and lot provide.
What is the orientation of your home on your lot? Which rooms in your house do you wish to access directly from the outside? If your new outdoor living space needs to be located on the west side of the house to connect with the family room, creating shade may be important to avoid the afternoon sun. If you want to read the morning paper off the kitchen, eastern sunlight in the cool of the day may be important. Are there existing natural features you can leverage or particular outdoor views and elements you want to include - or screen out? A busy neighbor's driveway may not offer the ideal juxtaposition for relaxation.
Adding a covered deck off of a formal living room extends the floor space to a vantage point from which to view the beautiful back yard when entertaining. Also ideal for a daily "away space" to lounge and read. Photo by Steve Kuzma.
Exterior
Interior
This award winning conservatory was intended to provide the owner with a potting bench, storage for garden books and floor space in the winter for selected plants to retreat inside. Photos by Fred Golden.
As you develop your new space, there are several types of outdoor living environments to consider ...each with their own unique pros and cons. Before investing, decide which one is right for you and WHY. Some quick observations may help:
- A four season sunroom adds square footage (and greater resale value) to your home year round but you may not want to BBQ inside them and your upfront investment and disruption level will be greater. If you are on the south side of the house, solar gain can make the space too hot and needs to be addressed in the design.
- A screened porch provides protection from insects but requires regular clean up before use due to dust and pollens and cannot alleviate traffic noise or temperature variances. Consider a ceiling fan for hot days.
- A lower cost deck or patio option can integrate beautifully with the gardens you love and provide a great view from the interior. They are more weather dependent, however, which can limit your use of them.
- If you have a penchant for thunderstorms, an open, covered porch could fill the bill to protect you from the rain while enjoying the drama..... but bugs may be a more prominent part of your experience depending on the surrounding terrain.
Whichever environment you choose to explore, be sure your budget and your wishlist are aligned. Consider hiring a professional who understands how to "marry" and integrate your new outdoor living space with your home to best advantage....for both use and resale. Insist on building it to last, as it will lower surprise maintenance costs down the road.
This simple, cost effective deck was built to extend the family room space outward into a hidden garden. Adding evergreens (arbor vitae) at the fence line to the right provides a screen from adjacent neighbors and creates a private perch for morning coffee.
With careful planning and a little introspection, adding a lovely outdoor "room" that is tailored to suit your needs can offer years of enjoyment while adding value and indoor/outdoor appeal to your home.
Interior
Exterior
A year round sunroom addition off the living room provides a more inviting transition to the back patio, frames the view to the woods and provides a study and TV space out of the main living area.
This south facing home got a covered porch with a tiered patio to create a more gracious exit from the breakfast room door to the "soccer field" four feet below. The porch adds much needed shade to the home's interior and allows a comfortable spot for adults to relax and visit while the kids play beyond.
The front porch of this Arts and Crafts bungalow was enclosed to become a year round, rustic sunroom, separated from the main living area by French doors in the winter.
Custom DESIGN/BUILD, Inc, is a team of fine homebuilding and remodeling specialists that have been honored to serve the greater Ann Arbor area for the last 29 years.