Designing an Outdoor Living Space

This time of year we all think about being outside as much as possible.  One way to achieve that goal is to extend our living environment beyond the confines of our four walls.  Here in the mid-Atlantic region, we are lucky.  Functional and comfortable outdoor living is possible for approximately six months of the year.  This is most worthy of our design attention.

I am often called upon to help a client create an outdoor living space.  This is really fun for me.  I love thinking "outside the box"--literally.  Over the years, I have learned that the same principles of design apply to interior and exterior living spaces.  Here are a few tips that will help you open your doors and draw the outside in!

• Scale and Proportion.  When designing an outdoor space it is important not to ignore these two key principles of design.  Be mindful that your outdoor living space relates in scale and proportion to your residence.  The two spaces should compliment each other and be in balance.

• Flow.  The transition from the main house to your outdoor space is key.  There should be a connection between the two spaces that feels seamless and unified.  Use architecture, color, style, or "feel" to achieve this flow and invite people to move outside.  I often suggest using an interesting design element to coax the flow from one space to the next space.  This can be something as simple as colorful planters or as elaborate as an arched opening or stone fireplace.

• Focal Point.  Every well designed space has a focal point and Mother Nature supplies the perfect backdrop for one.  A fireplace, water feature, stonewall, gazebo, statue or garden are all excellent options to create a bit of drama or wander.

• Include an Element of Surprise.  Create paths or walkways that encourage your family and friends to meander and explore.  Consider a secret garden, small statue or pretty bench at the end of a walkway as an element of surprise.

• Color is Key.  Nature is full of color and it varies depending on the environment.  When choosing color for your outdoor living space remember to compliment nature rather than compete with it.  For example, if you are designing an outdoor space with a major water element, such as a pool, ocean or lake, consider drawing your color inspiration from nature.  Blues, pinks, corals and sand colors work well near a water setting.  If you are designing an outdoor area in a wooded or rustic setting, consider using rich earth tones such as browns, golds, greens and oranges.

• Create a Place to Gather.  Just like inside your home, furniture placement is important.  Space plan with the intention of creating areas that invite family and friends to gather in relaxed, informal settings.  If you are working with a large outdoor area, consider a variety of seating hubs or spots for dining.  This keeps people flowing through the area and pairs to the activity at hand.  Use drapery material or plantings for "walls" to create outdoor rooms.  This is cozy, yet exotic.

• Embrace the Elements.  There is a new wave of materials in the home furnishings industry that make outdoor living easy and worry free.  Most manufacturers offer a line of fabrics that are resistant to color fading by UV rays, soil, mildew and moisture.  Technology is moving outdoors too, with TVs, stereos, speakers and movie screens that are designed to weather the elements.  My favorite new innovation is a table lamp that is made from water resistant materials and features a rechargeable lithium iron battery.  No need for a cord or place to plug in!  How cool is that?

• Move the Kitchen Outside.  The favorite room in the house is the kitchen.  Why not move it outside?  It is no fun to be inside cooking while your family and friends are gathered around the pool or patio.  We have seen a real trend in creating a kitchen or food prep area outdoors.  Outdoor kitchens can range from a simple grill with staging area to a full scale kitchen outfitted with appliances and plumbing.  Just like the indoor kitchen, this is another opportunity to create a spot for folks to gather and connect with one another.

I hope these few tips inspire you to embrace nature and expand your living space beyond the doorstep.  With a little planning you can create a relaxed setting to gather with family and friends near the water's edge, under the stars or beneath the treetops.

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Spotlight on Lexington Furniture...

Vendor Spotlight -- Lexington Home Furniture

Why do we love Lexington Furniture?

I was on a mission during the April 2014 Furniture Market.

Our design library was in need of a new case good line.  Case goods include bedroom, dining, office and occasional furniture.  Most rooms require several case good pieces so they are key to a well-designed space.  It is important to me that we offer our clients interesting, functional and affordable options.

I was on the hunt for such an option.  After being disappointed by several showrooms, we decided to visit the Lexington Furniture showroom in Thomasville.  It was a short drive from High Point, but well worth the trip.

The Lexington Furniture showroom is very impressive with 100,000 square feet of space to showcase four Lifestyle brands (Lexington, Tommy Bahama Home (indoor), Tommy Bahama Outdoor Living and Sligh office and entertainment) with forty-four collections represented.  Great attention is given to every detail in the room settings with a focus on "lifestyle", no individual pieces.  We were smitten.  This was just the line I had been looking for.  We placed an order and within a short year's time, Lexington is my "go to line".  I love it and here is why:

"Diversity"  This line is deep.  For designers, it is essential to have one or two furniture lines that we can rely on for diversity and depth.  Lexington is that line for us.  Lexington offers a wide range of home furnishings and lifestyle collections, ranging from traditional to modern.

"As a design leader for over a century, the Lexington Home Brands product assortment is presented and marketed as lifestyle collections, offering products for every room of the home, including bedroom, dining room, living room, home office, media room and outdoor living.  The Company offers its dealers a single-source relationship with proven expertise in innovative product design, exceptional quality, strong relative value and comprehensive customer support."

There is something in the Lexington line for everyone.  I love that.

"Short Lead Times"  Lexington carries a great deal of their line framed and ready for finishing.  This dramatically reduces lead-time.  I love that.

"Upholstery and Case Goods"  Lexington is a one-stop shop for us.  It is rare for designers to have a line they can turn to for terrific case goods, as well as upholstery.  Lexington upholstery is fabulous and comfortable.  In addition, some pieces are designed to pair with the occasional furniture.  This gives a more unified look and allows us to be efficient during the design process.  I love that.

"Fabulous Fabrics"  Lexington carries over 800 beautiful indoor and 225 beautiful outdoor fabrics in their line.  Their fabrics are fresh, stylish and on track with current industry trends.  I love that.

"Tommy!"  Lexington carries an extensive array of Tommy Bahama indoor and outdoor furnishings.  "Lifestyle" design is the name of the game with Tommy.  This line makes you want to slow down and relax.  It is definition of casual elegance.

"The Tommy Bahama Home collection of distinctive furnishings evokes a sense of romance and intrigue through the fusion of eclectic design, exotic natural materials and rich finishes."

"Every item is hand crafted, featuring artisan finishes that will dare you to distinguish outdoor designs from fine indoor furniture."

I love that.

"Innovated Design"  Lexington offers cutting edge design details that satisfy our needs for in-home technology and more comfortable living.  This is particularly true with their home office, media and outdoor living lines.

Media consoles boast surge protectors; SmartFan to help dissipate heat from electronics; SmartEye infrared signal receivers, which eliminate the need for glass or screen doors; and a StrongArm support which offers stability to your TV while allowing for adjust viewing angles.  It also conceals those unsightly cords.

Outdoor furnishings offer features such as propane fire pits with remote controls, bar, and entertainment pieces suitable for video screens.

Office furniture is design to be functional and beautiful with thoughtful care give to file drawers, cord management and hidden power and data ports.  They even offer an ergonomic palm rest and keyboard storage on several desks.  No detail is overlooked to make each piece follow the rule "form follows function".  I love that.

"Great Customer Service"  Lexington cares about the quality of their products, but they also care about the quality of their people.  Their team is committed to manufacturing beautiful and thoughtful home furnishings and they stand behind their product.  Lexington cares about our clients and our business.  Their customer service is top drawer.  I love that!


Associated Posts:
Designing an Outdoor Living Space…
What an Interior Designer Can Do For You…