Commercial, Custom Residential, Interior Design
How to Create Great Outdoor Rooms
Creating an outdoor room isn't hard, but creating a GREAT outdoor room in the Northwest has some unique challenges. Here's what to look for.
September 1, 2011
Living in the western portion of the Pacific Northwest is a wonderful treat in many ways: we have a temperate climate, things are usually green and blooming all throughout the year, and we’re blessed with probably the least amount of bugs flying around out of anywhere I’ve ever been (let’s just not talk about the mouthfuls of spider webs we’ve all been “enjoying” on these late summer dry months, they’re pretty damn gross). However, the same traits that make living here so wonderful can also be a big challenge in extending out living space outdoors.
It rains a lot.
A temperate climate does not mean a warm climate.
Our evenings are often cold, even in the much warmer summer months.
If you’re near the water you’ll get a wind so miserable you don’t want to be anywhere near outside.
Lots of moisture keeping everything green means moss. On everything.
Why did I move here again?
Because living in the Northwest means getting to live in one of the most stunningly beautiful places in the world. And while our climate isn’t picture perfect, if you know how to work with it, you can have some outstanding outdoor living areas that rival anything you’ve seen in Palm Springs (and just try sitting outside in Palm Springs in July!). Here’s what to look for...
How To Create Great Outdoor Rooms in the a Marine Climate
The corner is your friend.
The trick with any real outdoor “room” is to anchor it into a corner or a bunch of corners. The more your space is protected from the wind, the better. And a good corner helps retain a little bit of heat and makes the space feel cozier. The sense of “coziness” is a huge factor in making an outdoor room work. If you’re too exposed that sense just evaporates (much like our rain in the summer). If you are thinking of a house that is a big modern rectangle, think of recessing a bit of space into the house and cantilevering a canopy above. This is a sketch of a floor plan in early stages and you can see how recessing an outdoor room into the house helps create a cozy outdoor room that is protected from wind and weather but still allows views out.
You can see how the option on the right helps divide the interior rooms but also carve out a great outdoor room as part of the deck. Either one can be the right solution depending on the actual needs of the client, but the option on the right gives a few more options or spending time outside.
Hot and Heavy.
You realize I just write this blog so I can come up with puns, right? All seriously, these are two very important things to consider when planning an outdoor room. In terms of hot, it kind of goes without saying that you need heat. A fireplace or firepit is a must and I’d go for a fireplace any time of day as it can be under a roof and you can group a seating area around it. A firepit is a nice addition or, if you can’t afford a roof, a great way to group people around something beautiful. And don’t forget about space heaters! Whether they’re in the ceiling or free-standing propane units, they’re a key ingredient in Northwest outdoor living.
In terms of heavy, I actually mean more massive. A good strong massing of stone or a nice, solid wall helps anchor the space. A great big stone or concrete fireplace is usually the best solution (and it helps radiate heat when it gets hot) but if you can’t do that then create a nice big backdrop for your space against the wall of your house. A nice stone patio never hurts either.
Make it flexible.
One idea I like is to create a room that basically closes off in the winter but is completely permeable in the summer. This sketch of a project that is currently “on the boards” (meaning I’m working on it) takes a dramatic round room and opens it up completely with French doors around the perimeter. Now, maybe these doors go away and the whole wall slides open, it isn’t decided yet. But what the sketch says about the space is this; permeable walls, a nice mass of a fireplace, and comfortable surroundings that create that in-between feeling that a good outdoor room in the Northwest needs.
Cover it up!
You really need a roof here in the Northwest as it helps create a livable space in the Spring and Fall when it is just warm enough to sit outside and eat with a sweater and a blanket on (don’t you love that great Northwest tradition of getting handed blankets on the deck of Ray’s boathouse at dinner! Re-create that at home!) but perhaps a little too drizzly to do so without a roof.
Pull it all together!
A great outdoor room in the Northwest is one you want to spend all of your time in. It stays dry. It is warm enough. It is cozy and is comfortable enough that you want to spend as much time in it as possible. And when you have that great outdoor space with some cool outdoor fabrics and metal or wood furniture, invite me over for a glass of wine. I’m partial to reds and I’ll bring my own blanket. Promise.
