Q&A / 

Outdoor Rooms Create Extra Living Space

DEAR TIM: My growing family needs more room but a traditional room addition is out of the question. Our budget is very tight and local zoning laws prohibit us from building what we need. My wife quickly rejected my idea of putting the kids up for adoption and has hinted that perhaps I am the one who needs to leave. Surely you have a solution that will keep us together! Brad L., Scottsdale AZ

DEAR BRAD: If I didn't know better, I would bet money that you had a very bad case of cabin fever. Marital counseling is not my forte, but I think the solution to your restlessness is just outside the rear windows of your home. I think you can satisfy the local zoning department and avoid deep debt by simply creating an outdoor room or two in your back yard.

Cast a glance eastward over the Atlantic Ocean and you will discover that this concept is not new by any means. People in Great Britain are experts at transforming an ordinary back yard into a private outdoor room where one can work and relax. You need to think outside the box and develop some patience. Instead of using traditional building materials to create walls and a roof that protect you from the elements and create privacy, you will use plant materials, low walls and fencing, and garden structures that should allow you to pass undetected under the radar of many zoning codes.

Perhaps one of the best kept secrets of the home improvement industry has been the rapid expansion of products that are available for patios, decks and other outdoor spaces. The time spent on decks and patios is increasing because many of the creature comforts found indoors are now available for outdoor use. Some traditional barbecue grills have transformed into actual outdoor stoves and ovens. Fixed counters with faucets, sinks and cabinets are a reality. Retractable awnings, and attractive screened tents can provide shelter from sun, rain and insects.

Creating a comfortable environment outdoors is quite possible. Wood burning or gas appliances can provide you with wonderful radiant warmth if the temperature drops. A simple fire pit will accomplish the same thing and offers the retro feel and aroma of a Boy or Girl Scout campfire. Those who live in hot climates can cool an outdoor space with modern water misting devices. These systems dramatically drop the temperature as the misters broadcast un ultra-fine screen of heat absorbing water.

You do not need to go indoors as the sun sets. Significant advancements in low voltage outdoor lighting allows you to cast a soft glow on surrounding vegetation and garden structures that make up the outdoor room. Specialized task lighting fixtures allow you to work and read with the same comfort as any indoor light fixture.

The key to creating a spectacular outdoor room that will add value to your home begins with planning. Develop an overall plan for what you want and need and begin to build it in stages as your budget allows. Consult with outdoor plant experts and choose vegetation that will create privacy and beauty at the same time. Keep in mind the size of the vegetation as it reaches maturity. The plants must be placed in strategic locations that will not interfere with the function of the room.

Be sure to include water features in the outdoor room. Fountains, small pools, waterfalls, etc. add beauty and will produce a much needed calming force in your life. Do not underestimate the power of bubbling or trickling water. It is a subtle feature that produces pleasing background sounds that add to the overall ambiance of the outdoor room. Water features also attract butterflies and birds. These living creatures will add even more beauty to this new room addition.

Before you get started I suggest that you spend time looking at magazines and websites that feature photographs of completed outdoor rooms. Pay attention to the different features and how different materials and plants compliment one another. Look for patios that have different shapes or secondary smaller patio extensions that could be built in phases. Develop a final plan and pass it by your local zoning department before you start to work. The extra time you spend planning and exploring options will yield enormous dividends down the road.

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