Healthy Living, Green Building Services

Outdoor Living Space - Where Every Hour is Happy Hour

Outdoor Living Space
Published on July 2, 2015

America has been moving outdoors since the 1950's when the housing boom followed the baby boom. Fifty years ago a concrete slab and grill were the mainstay elements of the backyard. Baby Boomers have always enjoyed the back yard and are taking the design and concept of an outdoor living room up another notch in their retirement years. Research proves that being outdoors in natural light enhances mood and encourages healthier living. Add a kitchen with a grill and fireplace, a garden overflowing with fresh herbs and flowers and a music from a water feature - then feel the stress melt away, kick back and enjoy life with your beverage of choice in hand.

Recently, a client contacted us for ideas about what's popular in outdoor living space and garden designs. The backyard at his current residence had evolved over time into an inviting outdoor living room that is utilized nearly year round. His comment was "it makes my day to go out into my backyard with a cup of coffee, sit down, listen to the sound of the birds singing, the waterfall splashing and then take in the scents and colors of the garden."

That particular space had begun as a concrete slab in the back of the house. A rectangular pool was added, then a hot tub with a waterfall, followed by a trellis to provide shade. The construction of the trellis necessitated a stone wall, then that had to be landscaped. The final touches were a barbeque/kitchen area and a firepit with a gas starter. Our client was working on his retirement home, downsizing the house and upsizing his outdoor space and garden. The new space is in the planning stages and is slated to include a pool, cabana/poolhouse, fire pit, and lawn space for a volleyball court; all these areas are being incorporated into a garden that will feature perennials, native plants and low maintenance fruit and vegetable gardens.

The outdoor living room is becoming an essential part of life for the Baby Boomers. Incorporation of an outdoor living room is an important consideration when selecting a retirement home. What features might be enjoyed should be contemplated as well as the location of the room to set up views of mountains, water or whatever is beautiful in the part of the world you call home. Any style of home under consideration can have an outdoor living room added. New cottage homes may have shade trees that can be incorporated, rustic mountain homes might feature panoramic views while waterfront homes will accentuate and amplify the view of the water - possibly with a infinity pool.

Outdoor living rooms in new cottage homes are featuring pool areas enclosed with white picket fences dripping with heirloom climbing roses, cottage style gardens and perennials spilling onto stone pool decks. Waterfront homes are developed with views in mind and swaying palms strategically placed for shade with a nook for a firepit when nights get nippy near the water. Mountain golf courses with rustic mountain homes sport earth tone cedar gazebos and stone fireplaces for nearly year round use. Waterfront homes have sliding glass doors that can be thrown open for the entire length of the room to catch the fresh air and seaside breezes.

Imagine an outdoor living room on a beachside property on Hilton Head Island, where you can splash in the Atlantic Ocean with your grandchildren and then step up into your kitchen, fix a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for the kids and a refreshing beverage for yourself, without ever going in the house. Visualize sitting at the edge of a mountain golf course by the fireplace with a warm drink, stargazing while checking out the long view of the city lights of Asheville. If fly fishing is a favorite hobby, an outdoor living room can be located steps away from an East Tennessee trout stream. Fish, then take off your waders and cook dinner right on the edge of the stream in the fully outfitted kitchen.

The only limit on what the outdoor living room can be is your imagination. What can be conceived can be created. An outdoor living room is just waiting to be cooked up at the retirement home of your dreams. We invite you to leave a comment and share your favorite design feature.