Home Design: Why

HOME DESIGN

Why Didn’t We Think of That? QUICK TIPS FOR AVOIDING

POOL HOUSE ENVY

By Lisa J. Gotto

CONSIDER A COMPLETE INDOOR KITCHEN

When you have a pool, an outdoor kitchen is almost a must. When you have a pool house, however, you should consider adding a small, but efficient kitchen to your interior plan, as well. Most outdoor kitchens are great for grilling and impromptu family meals by the pool, but if you really love entertaining poolside, the convenience of a full kitchen in close proximity makes more sense. It provides room for the extra cold storage space essential for summer days, additional prep space, and the all the tools of the chef trade, which creates more options for meals and menus on those precious staycation days.

ADD A VAULTED CEILING TO YOUR PLAN

Just because your pool house will have less square footage doesn’t mean it can’t look grand. A vaulted ceiling can help mimic the spacious airy feeling of your main home’s open plan design in your pool house.

AMP UP YOUR STYLE!

Once you have invested in a great structure, you can start having fun with interior appointments. Keep in mind that patio furniture is for the patio outside the pool house and may look underwhelming if used as a means of furnishing the interior. You truly have so many options once you choose a design direction because moisture-wicking fabrics come in many styles and colors. Having fun with art, lighting, and creature comforts like cushions and window treatments will help make your pool house feel like a home!

LAYER IN TEXTURE

This is another opportunity to get creative so you’ll love your space even more. Add panache to your pool house by adding a layer of visual texture to wall surfaces. Enhancing treatments like accent walls of white shingles, reclaimed barn wood, bead board, Venetian plaster, and tile that mimics other surfaces, or on its own makes the difference between well thought out design and after-thought design.

CREATE A CHANGING AREA WITH ULTIMATE UTILITY

Originally pool houses were created to provide a convenient space for changing into one’s swimsuit. Beyond having a wall with hooks and a pull across curtain, think about this space as a multipurpose room by adding shelving for shoes and sandals, cubbies for clean towel storage, and maybe even a built-in bench for handy seating and laundry basket storage. Planning for adjacent laundry facilities also makes sense since your pool house is already primed with plumbing for showers, powder rooms, and that complete indoor kitchen. No more lugging all those heavy wet towels up to the main house for washing!

Privacy. Utility. Style.

5 PROPERTY-ENHANCING FENCE TRENDS

By Lisa J. Gotto

Framing your home with a fence is usually the finishing touch on your property’s priority list. Choosing the right fence for your needs can be a daunting process, especially when you consider its potential to make or break your property’s curb appeal. Options in fencing are becoming more creative, too. Here are five of the most current trends to consider before making your choice.

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2. COLOR-RICH

No worries, the classic white picket fence will always have a place in the neighborhood, but color-rich contemporary fencing has some practical, and pretty, aspects that are making it increasingly popular. Hues of dark green and grey, navy blue, and even dense black are providing the backdrop for patio furnishings that pop. Darker colors tend to better blend into the background offering a more sophisticated outdoor setting. When it comes to ease-of-use, pre-painted wood, vinyl, and metal options are already available from some manufacturers, so you need not be concerned with painting the fence yourself. Another benefit: darker fences require less frequent cleaning.

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1. ALTERNATIVE ATTITUDE

If the aesthetics of the fence are your biggest concern, you can consider options that offer an appealing visual boundary rather than a traditional opaque barrier. Clever and creative homeowners are utilizing metal louver panels for a contemporary/modern look, or wood louvers for a more homespun look. Large decorative panels (3 x 6 feet) with cut-out designs made of metal or composite materials are also a possibility to carve out space in smaller yards. Smaller horizontal panels (2 x 3 feet) with laser cut designs can be used in succession to create more of a traditional border with a decorative feel. A trellis or a living wall is a fun option that addresses basic privacy issues while making the space more of an environment and an element of design, as well.

3. MIXED MATERIALS

From a strength and durability standpoint, reinforcing particular wood fence elements with metal can make absolute sense. If the mix is not done with an appreciation of aesthetics, however, this look can come off looking less than appealing. Fortunately, there are some manufacturers offering pre-fabricated panels combining the best of what wood and metal can do together to provide privacy and enhance the look of your property.

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4. HORIZONTAL SLATS

While there are presently numerous vertical trends in design, fencing that focuses on horizontal orientation works especially well for homeowners craving a sleek, modern look while delivering your optimal level of privacy. Another bonus, materials are available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.

5. INCREASED USAGE OF SOLID PRIVACY PANELS

If security and privacy are your main focus, then a solid privacy fence is probably the way to go. There are new attractive offerings with upscale and decorative designs that will beautifully create the desired buffer between you and your neighbors. Options constructed of a single piece of material also offer a fence that is more difficult to breach.

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Photo Credits:1. outdooressentials.com 2. homedepot.com 3. wayfair.com 4. outdooressentials.com 5. lowes.com