Outdoor Living
By
June 29th, 2010
Since moving to Michigan from New York five years ago, I discovered an interesting fact about the natives: Michiganders are smart about their square footage. In fact, almost every one of the dozen homes my husband and I looked at to purchase when transferring here featured 
completely finished basements. Surprisingly, using every available existing space to live well in your home isn’t a common occurrence other places in the country. East coasters are far more likely to “build on” rather than “build down” at a cost of $135+ per square foot. Basement finishing starts at a much more reasonable $35 per square foot in comparison.
There is a new trend sweeping the Midwest that proves my point about Michiganders being savvy with their usable square footage: outdoor living.
Beautiful exterior rooms complete with kitchens, seating and fireplaces that put traditional patio sets to shame are popping up regularly in Michigan, providing just one more chunk of square footage that families can enjoy within their property.
If you find yourself staring at the tranquil outdoor living space in a copy of Architectural Digest thinking “I can never have that”, you’re wrong. In a cost comparison, outdoor living space pricing starts below both basement refinishing and new construction. As with all projects, the cost increases based on the number of bells and whistles that are included. Overall, however, outdoor living is an excellent investment in additional square footage for your home.
So what makes an outdoor living space livable? Having a space that feels as comfortable outside as it is inside will lure your family and guests to enjoy all the amenities of your new exterior space. As with all living spaces, function is the biggest consideration. Asking the right questions about how the space will be used and by whom will set your space up for success and help determine the budget. Finally, incorporating the subtle details commonly found in interior spaces will help create a space that will rival the comfort of your living room. Check out these important elements of function and aesthetic details below to help create a successful outdoor living space.
Function
Consider the most frequent users of your outdoor space. If your immediate family is the intended audience, then plan a space large enough to comfortably seat them with the ability to grow the space with extra seating for parties and special occasions. However, if your intention with the new outdoor space is to establish your reign as “king of the grill” and feed the whole neighborhood, then planning a significantly larger space with segmented areas (seating, grilling, dining) is a better investment.
Consider the type of activities for your outdoor space. Would you like to eat dinner outside several nights a week? Do you need a full kitchen with a grill plus burners? Will a fridge be necessary? Would a fireplace be a nice focal point? Do you want to watch the game while you grill? Imagining all of the activities of the space will not only allow you to plan properly for each function, but also set the boundaries of your budget. A tricked-out kitchen with dining space, fireplace and a whole audio/visual system can max out easily at $50,000. Making a realistic list of your priorities will help establish what is feasible for the new space and the investment you’re willing to make.
Aesthetic Details
Consider using textiles to add visual contrast. Hanging decorative shirred panels made from a durable outdoor fabric like Sunbrella will soften the overall look of the outdoor space. Placing panels near the outer edges to frame the space can create an intimate look as well as shield you from the sun. Wood pergolas serving as a roof structure are perfect for hanging fabric panels in outdoor spaces.
Don’t forget the ambient and general lighting. Extend the life of your party well past sunset by providing quality ambient and general lighting in your new space. Ambient (also known as “mood”) lighting can be achieved by simple non-electric sources like candle lanterns and tiki torches. For a more permanent solution, Christmas tree lights on a string woven through a pergola ceiling will add some elegant drama to the space. For general lighting, a central ceiling fixture plus fringe lighting (one in each corner) can illuminate the space enough to play cards at a table or eat dessert without worrying about ingesting pesky bugs. For bonus function, add an outdoor ceiling fan with a lighting kit suspended from a pergola system. The added breeze will make super warm days bearable in your new space.
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