WA’s Best Outdoors 07/08 – The Outdoor Room
18th of December 2008
Structure
New outdoor areas are being equipped with any combination of the following: culinary fitouts, dining areas, bathrooms, furniture, lighting, water features and pool houses.
All About the Design...
Making the most of the outdoors using alfresco living principles is a must in our climate, and can be as basic as a desk adjoining your house or pool area or as complex as a full room, semi-exposed to the environment as designed by Newforms Landscape Architecture (pictured).
Features to Fit Theme...
Two of the most common flooring choices are pavers and timber because they withstand the elements with grace. Large format pavers look stylish and create a sense of space, which is especially pertinent with increasingly shrinking block sizes. Bi-fold doors create a sense of space and integration between the home and the outdoors, and aid light and air flow.
If this isn’t a suitable option, floor-to-ceiling windows, semi-frameless windows or French doors also work well. To roof outdoor rooms, create flow with the existing house using materials such as thatch, timber (for example cedar or pine) or marine-grade, Colorbond, and polycarbonate roofing.
Lighting is an important consideration for dining and entertaining use into the twilight hours. Soft lighting can be achieved using strategically placed up lights, down lights, lamps or torches in the outdoor room and surrounding garden. Avoid harsh spotlights, and where possible, use a central point for controlling all lighting.
A barbecue is the most common cooking facility for an outdoor area. Options range from a portable gas barbecue to a full outdoor kitchen. The outdoor kitchen with the barbecue built into the benchtop may also include shelving, storage and room for cooking implements. A small fridge installed underneath the countertop is also a handy addition. Put these facilities where smoke won’t affect people.
Outdoor bathrooms can be a simple post pool/beach shower to a full set of bathroom equipment including a tub. Consider key elements such as drainage and privacy.
Colour-coordination with the interior and other landscape features is the key to a successful outdoor room. Try to match the interiors, perhaps coordinating a feature all or furniture with exteriors, or using a neutral scheme tied together using accessories like cushions, upholstery, crockery and ornaments. Furniture such as couches, daybeds, floor cushions and built-in seating adds the finishing touch. Use durable fabrics, and account for wear and tear as a result of the elements when positioning.
Species That Work...
The world is your oyster essentially when choosing species for outdoor scenarios because you have the opportunity to limit or maximize exposure to the elements. Pots are great for mobility and decoration. In this instance Newforms used plumeria alba frangipani, agapanthus occidentalis “alba”, bambusa oldhammi, citrus lemon, phormium tenax variegated and liriope gignatea.
Other recommended species include pittosporum Screen Master, laurus noblis, pyrus calleryana Chanticleer, bambusa oldhammi and magnolia Little Gem.
