WSJ.com, December 23, 2014.
HOMES
Backyards Built for Winter Use Backyards built with infrared heaters, fire bowls, hot tubs and barbecue pits make you forget it’s winter.
By KATY MCLAUGHLIN Dec. 23, 2014 2:26 p.m. ET
To celebrate the season, Michael and Sandra Genova on Friday threw open the 12-foot-wide back doors of their Spokane, Wash., home and let their 40 or so guests enjoy the deck, prime rib and panoramic views of the city and mountains. The temperature: the high 30s. Mitigating the wintry weather are two infrared heaters installed in the ceiling of their outdoor lounge area. The warm air blankets the space, outfitted with plush furniture, a television and built-in barbecue. At the foot of the deck is a fire pit. For more adventuresome guests, there’s also a hot tub. The Genovas spent about $500,000 on their backyard to make sure parties al fresco could still be fun in frigid weather, said Mr. Genova, 55 and the owner of a company that makes hot-tub accessories. “It was pleasant, because of the heaters in the ceiling, and the fire pit throws out such powerful BTUs. We had a lot of people out there taking in the view and the fresh air, and standing by the fire with a cocktail,” Mr. Genova said. After spending thousands on lavish outdoor entertainment spaces, homeowners are extending the usefulness of these lounges into the winter months. New options in outdoor heaters, more firepit choices, better lighting systems and plush furniture that looks like it belongs in a cozy living room allow builders and landscapers to create spaces that can be enjoyed when temperatures dip.