OUTDOOR SPACE DESIGN WITH INDOOR FLAIR

“One aspect of living a sustainable lifestyle involvesbecoming more connected to the natural environment than has frequently been thecase over the last decades. As we have come to depend on conditioned air moreand more, we have become separated from the outdoors with its natural sounds,smells, light shifts, breezes and other sensory stimuli.” 

By Lawrence W. Speck, FAIA, PageSoutherlandPage

Outdoor rooms offer the opportunityto merge indoors and outdoors and to bridge the well-planned activities of ahome’s interior with the generally looser functional performance of exteriorspaces. They may be covered or open or somewhere in-between. They might have awide variety of edge conditions from solid walls to glass walls to partial walls to rails to complete openness. They might be calledterraces, patios, porches, decks or balconies, but to really fulfill their mostcomplete role, they need to be fully useful and habitable. 

The most important thing to remember whendesigning your outdoor living space is to blend the look and feel of your home’s interior into the exterior.

Whether you are buying a home, renovating, have a smallcity garden or a balcony; you should consider enhancing your outside living area. Again, itwill allow you to appreciate the outdoors; the beautiful flowers, greenery or views in a comfortable setting. 

Special thanks to Berry.com for this fabulous outdoor retreat.

Whether your home is traditional or contemporary, the outdoors will enhance your space.

Incorporating a view into your outdoor living space is as relaxing as a garden.

A city roof garden will increase your living/entertaining space.

Terraces, patios and decks have always been a greatopportunity to enjoy indoor/outdoor living. You may be entertaining or just relaxing, but consider that your deck or terrace can alwaysbecome a special place where you connect with nature without really partingwith comfort.

Consider an arbour as part of your outdoor design.

Stone work and decking make for a special outdoor space.

Entertaining in your large garden.

City garden in Chelsea, New York.

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INTEGRATE YOUR OUTSIDE DESIGN INSIDE

There are many design techniques for integrating theoutdoors into your home.

Living in an area that allows views of landscape isoptimal, but even a city terrace or garden can enhance your indoor space. Greenery,gardens, trees and hedges can be enjoyed from the inside out. Just harmonize the indoors and outdoors.

The easiest way to let the outdoor beauty inside is tocreate floor-to-ceiling glass walls in your home. It enhances yourspace with majestic views and amplifies your natural lighting. Visually, a roomthat opens to an outdoor area or views the outdoors, will look larger, brighterand more welcoming.

Homesor apartments with rooms that allow easy access to and from theoutdoors are another great way to integrate indoor/outdoor living. Slidingdoors or french doors can easily blend your indoor space into an outdoor openarea. 

Some homesincorporate an outdoor dining area or an outdoor kitchen. This may be as simple as a grill and table with benches or as elaborate asa custom kitchen with stainless steel accessories and elegant patio furniture.Some family rooms (living rooms or kitchens) are split between the indoors andoutdoors, enlarging the useable space.

 Even a bathroom can be indoor/outdoor!

 Whatever space you are designing, thinkabout integrating the outdoors into your indoor design.

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and a special thanks to www.interiorholic.com for some great ideas and pictures

OUTDOOR DESIGNS FOR APARTMENT DWELLERS

Today, I’m focusing on apartmentbalconies, roof tops, gardens and terraces. So many of us have great designideas for homes, but apartment dwellers deserve the luxury of integrating theoutdoors “in”. Whether you live in a big city like New York or Chicago or asmaller city like Miami or anywhere in the world; apartment dwellers arewidespread.

Beach balcony in Europe.

European city roof top.

Brooklyn roof top.

The personality and feel of everyhome is seriously influenced by its relationship with the exterior. In the caseof large residential projects, this indoor-outdoor connection is easy toaccomplish, especially if there is a garden involved. But what can one do whenconfronted with a limited living space? A solution to this problem would bearranging an outdoor area that would be connected with your interior home design.Whether we are talking about a balcony, a roof top, a garden or a terrace thesepictorial examples should serve as a starting point. There are many diversearrangements, most of them suited for modern apartments, but there are someinteresting traditional designs as well.

A city garden for outdoor entertaining and relaxation.

A simple yet elegant beach view balcony.

Outdoor space offers the opportunityto merge indoors and outdoors and to bridge the well-planned activities of ahome’s interior with the generally looser functional performance of yourexterior terrace, roof top, garden or balcony. Remember yesterday’s quote: “One aspect of living a sustainable lifestyle involves becomingmore connected to the natural environment…”

 

Lots more pictorial example below. Have any questions? email me at andrea.halleywright@gmail.com

An effortless beach view balcony.

A city balcony that extends the kitchen, perfect for a light meal or coffee.

A Zen city balcony for relaxation and enjoying the views of the park below.

New York City terrace filled with year round shrubbery and a table for morning coffee.

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MONOCHROMATIC HOME DESIGNS

mon·o·chro·mat·ic  =

Having or appearing tohave only one color; pertaining to, or havingtones of one color in addition to the ground hue. 

A monochromatic schemeuses different values (tints, shades, tones) of only one color, (with thepossible small addition of white, black, or grey). Monochromatic schemes are easy toget right and can be very effective. 

The energy in monochromatic color schemes ismore subtle and peaceful due to a lack of contrast of hue. Monochromatic schemes are soothing and peaceful, and make rooms appear largerthan they really are. Use different values – from light to dark – to createinterest and give depth to the interior space.

Keepthings to the same palette, but choose variations on a color. For example, if you prefer  gray and want to do amonochromatic gray room, choose different shades of gray to keep thingsinteresting — silver, steel, cloud gray, charcoal gray.

Amonochromatic white room needn't be strictly white; it can include ivory, beige, light taupe oroff white. The variation provides a feeling of depth, richness, andcomplexity. 

 It’s texture that’s going to dramatize a monochromaticroom. So, inject a mix of materials whenever you have theopportunity.

 Thenyou can always break your monochromaticscheme with a pop of color.

 

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