Selwyn Times: December 13, 2016

8
Outdoor rooms
Just because an outdoor space doesn’t have
walls, that doesn’t change the basic principles
applied to any design project inside your home.
With a few simple
fundamentals to guide you,
you’ll soon see how easy
it is to create a beautiful
outdoor room you’ll love entertaining
and relaxing in throughout the warm
days and balmy nights of summer.
Key considerations include style,
function, lighting and mood. Remember
that your outdoor room ought to be
an extension of the look you’ve created
within your home, which reflects your
personality and lifestyle.
Focal point
Beginning, as with any room of the
home, a space must always have a focal
point to anchor the space. For some, this
may be a bar or barbeque area, a large
dining table, or a chill-out zone with
couches or loungers.
Outdoor fireplaces are becoming more
and more popular as our living areas blend
seamlessly between indoor and outdoor
entertaining throughout the changing
of the seasons. They can serve not only a
practical purpose of somewhere to gather
around to warm as the day turns to dusk
and the nights get shorter, an outdoor
fire can make a stunning feature or room
divider for any outdoor living area. Water
features, like a pond with beautiful koi
fish, can also serve as a great outdoor focal
point, creating tranquil environment in
which to relax and unwind in, or create
a meditative Japanese rock garden which
your outdoor area can overlook.
In the zone
If you already have a large terrace or
outdoor area, a blank canvas is a great
place to start. If you have a particularly
large outdoor area, dividing the space
into zones makes for a more functional
and aesthetically pleasing space. You can
do this by using a number of different
elements, such as contrasting flooring
materials or by creating different levels
of decking. However, if you’re after a
seamless indoor/outdoor flow or wish to
create the illusion of more space, use the
same flooring materials indoors and out.
Divisions can also be made with the
clever positioning of furniture. Use
modular seating to create walls and
separate spaces. Plants are a cost effective
and eco-friendly way to create divisions
between zones, and are also an ideal way
to camouflage ugly walls, create privacy
and soften sharp angles. Living walls, an
ever-increasingly popular vertical plant
system, can be either freestanding to
create different outdoor areas and can
be on wheels to easily transform your
outdoor space at a moment’s notice.
Play with height and scale with various
types of planters, whether you use hanging
planters to draw the eye upwards, or
oversized planter pots to add drama.
Go with the flow
Creating a great indoor/outdoor flow is
easily created by opening up your kitchen
with bifold doors or windows to create a
servery or bar area for easy entertaining.
If you are building your home from the
ground up, you may want to design an
outdoor room which lies at the epicentre of
the building, with rooms opening onto the
communal courtyard with bifold doors.
Function over form
Consider what you intend to use your
outdoor space for. If you don’t plan on
eating outside, there’s no need for a dining
table, but buy some comfortable outdoor
seating instead. If you only intend on
sitting outdoors during the evening,
then don’t waste money on awnings and
umbrellas, and invest the money in an
outdoor fireplace which you will actually
use.
Atmosphere
Create unique and personalised outdoor
decor with textiles and homewares from
your travels or your favourite antique
shop, or make your own shell garlands or
wreaths from beach holidays. String up
fairy lights or lanterns to create a festive
mood in the evenings.
For Sale
Darfield
10 Ritso Street
1,012m 2
Springfield
Rilco Lane
1,084m 2 - 1,232m 2
Price
$379,000
Price
From $148,000
Contact
Kerin Pitkethley
027 698 7453
Contact
Grant McIlroy 027 345 9262
Nest, Nest Or Invest. A tidy home that will appeal to many - three bedrooms plus sleep-out with a
neutral decor, modern drapes, updated insulation, log fire, heat pump plus an HRV. Enjoy a barbecue
on the covered deck or sheltered spot behind the sleep-out. A single garage plus garden shed complete
this property. | Property ID DA1710
Torlesse View Subdivision. Stunning mountain views from these serviced sections on the western
edge the township. Within walking distance to Springfield school and there is a bus from Springfield to
Darfield High school. Darfield is only 25 minutes’ drive away with a medical centre, supermarket, and a
variety of shops. Easy commute to Christchurch/airport via the Old West Coast Road. | Property ID DA1659
Southbridge
58 High Street
1,902m 2
Price
Offers over $499,000
Sheffield
12 Wrights Road
3,554m 2
Price
$549,000 including GST
Contact
Penny Dadson-Clausen
027 895 5943
Contact
Kerin Pitkethley
027 698 7453
Extras, Extras - Read All About It! Three bedrooms, master with walk-in wardrobe and en suite.
Generous open-plan living areas - beautiful decor throughout. Open up the doors and enjoy the private,
outdoor barbecue area under the shade sail surrounded by beautifully established lawns and gardens.
Extra double garage for the toys. Close to shops, pool, school and sports ground. | Property ID LE1573
Space For All The Family. Four bedrooms (two upstairs) plus office nook home with large, open-plan
living (log fire on wet back). Renovated throughout with a modern kitchen, floor coverings and curtains.
Double garage plus garden shed and hobby room, commercial glasshouse of approximately 10 metres
x 30 metres with hydroponics equipment. Mature trees and easy-care lawns. | Property ID DA1715
Licensed under REAA 2008