The New Year is already under way, as is the cold and wet winter weather. If you’re looking forward to warmer sunnier days, an excellent New Year’s resolution could be to make sure you’re better placed to enjoy those days this year. One of the hottest trends in lifestyle and home improvement right now is the coming together of indoor and outdoor spaces. Verandas and patios are placed to maximise direct sunlight, enhance garden views and merge with the indoor transition area by using complementary looks and styles in furnishing and flooring. Another part of the indoors/outdoors trend is the inclusion of ‘garden rooms’ that immerse you in the scenery.
VERANDA PURPOSE AND STYLE
If you and your family enjoy relaxing outdoors, enjoying the sunshine and summer breezes but you don’t have a formal space set aside for this purpose it may be time to invest in a veranda. Not only will a veranda provide protection from rain - it will most likely increase the value of your home as well. A veranda can be constructed to flow almost seamlessly from your kitchen/dining area to maximise the living space for entertainment and dining purposes.
Verandas can be customised to reflect architectural features of your home if desired, including reflecting roof pitch and column styles. Depending on how you want to use this space, you may also want to consider enclosing one or more sides to give some protection from the weather or privacy and to allow for use all year round.
Do you just want to while away the time enjoying the garden view, listening to a little music or reading a book on a sunny day? Or do you want to take advantage of those balmy summer evenings, with the back doors flung open to the veranda and flowing into a great BBQ area where you can entertain guests? Whatever style you decide upon should be based upon a mix of purpose and budget. If you’re a handy type of person you might also consider a DIY solution with an easy to assemble veranda kit.
CREATING GARDEN ROOMS
The Victorian conservatory concept has been reinterpreted for contemporary living with the advent of ‘garden rooms’. These enclosed home extensions use large expanses of glass to provide an unimpeded view of the garden and scenic outlooks. They are often constructed using lightweight aluminium frames to keep construction costs low, while still providing a sturdy structure that aims to keep the worst of the weather at bay. Properly sited, a garden room can be a great suncatcher in the colder months, with windows and doors opened up in the warm months for easy access to the garden. They are a superb way to connect with the sights, sounds and scents of nature.
Whether you decide upon a veranda or garden room you are certain to improve both the livability and value of your home.
