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Inside Out Design trends extend homes into the outdoors

By Kathy Dean

One of the joys of living in Atlanta is the climate — plenty of warm weather, a long growing season and short, mild winters. Residents can enjoy the great outdoors for much of the year, especially when they don’t need to leave the comfort of their homes. Many Intown homeowners are choosing to simply extend their homes into the outdoors.

Outdoor Living Rooms

“The screened-in porch has become a screened-in living room,” said Mark Fosner, Architect/Owner, Moon Bros. Inc. Architects & Craftsmen.

“It has become like any other room in the house,” he said.

“There are lots of products on the market to make it great, and it can become anything you want. Some people extend the décor of their home, while others get playful and do something very different.”

“Outdoor grills and kitchens are currently popular due to the extended outdoor season we have here in Atlanta,” said Rick Goldstein, Owner and Registered Architect, MOSAIC Design+Build. “We’re finding more and more creative ways to extend the indoors outside, whether by paver or stone patios, spas, covered and screened porches and even pergola shade structures.”

Goldstein said that Intown properties can sometimes have smaller lots, which require more careful design and planning. “Outdoor living rooms seem to be one of the most popular spaces we design and build. But they take special skills and experience to do right.”

He explained that some of the issues that designers need to understand are how to integrate the design with the house, proper lighting, structural considerations, building codes and zoning restrictions and the proper materials to create a long lasting, low maintenance beautiful space.

Fosner said that homeowners are looking for higher-end finishes for their porches. “For example, the flooring is more like what you find on the home’s interior,” he said. Options include high-end, exterior-grade carpeting and specially-treated woods stained in natural, deeper tones.

“We also light the screenedin living rooms as we would the interior of the home, with different levels of lighting,” Fosner continued. “Lamps give pools of light closer to the floor, while soft, indirect lighting along vaulted ceilings heighten the room and add a soft glow at night.” Perimeter lighting, pendant lighting, sconces and chandeliers are a few more ways to incorporate light, drama and character.

Higher-end furniture like couches and chaises — and more of it — bring additional comfort to the screened-in living rooms. “We always do a furniture layout for our clients,” he said, “and cabinetry for storage, a little or a lot,” depending on the clients’ needs.

“Some people like to include refrigerators to make it convenient to get a cold drink or snack,” Fosner said, “while others opt for entire kitchenettes so they can have all the fun of cooking outdoors while under a roof.”

Goldstein agreed that while the trend for covered porches and cabanas with fireplaces has been on the increase, “they’re not always screened and are usually part of a more extensive backyard makeover. These outdoor spaces usually are combined with an extended patio for entertaining and grilling,” he said. “Several recent projects have also combined a pool to create a complete backyard oasis.”

He added that outdoor kitchens are perfect for entertaining and can create a great area to engage the chef while grilling.

“Outdoor fireplaces have maintained their popularity here in Atlanta and are a wonderful way to create memories,” Goldstein said. “There’s nothing like sitting outside on a chilly night by the crackling of the logs burning in the outdoor fireplace!”

Randy Glazer, Owner, Glazer Design & Construction said that he too sees a lot of interest in outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, especially gas fireplaces.