One of the hottest trends in interior design this past year has little to do with interiors at all.
Designers looking to add value – and precious usable square footage – to their clients’ homes are increasingly stepping outside to create beautiful, multi-functional open-air spaces that blur the line between indoor and outdoor boundaries. Additionally, furniture retailers and designers are seeking collections that extend beyond traditional “Outdoor Furniture” which means that furniture has to look great indoors and perform admirably outdoors. The shorter the (furniture store’s) selling season, especially in northern climes, means that savvy furniture stores need to find ways to sell outdoor furniture but by sourcing carefully, chosen collections that can also be used indoors therefore enhancing his floor selling time frame. This benefits both the furniture store and the end client.
“Creating an outdoor room is a natural extension of your indoor living space,” says landscape architect John Johnson of Burnsville, Minn. “By creating a space in the open air and adding elements like fireplaces, pergolas, water features and greenery, you get a very different feel. People want and need that connection to the outdoors.”
Creating beautiful outdoor living spaces has tremendous benefits for homeowners.
Adding Value
In today’s recovering home market, homeowners can add real value to their homes without having to add four walls and a roof. Taking advantage of existing space is an economically savvy way to add usable square footage. Further, when planning these spaces, think about how your client uses these spaces and how much the client wishes to invest in these spaces both in terms of construction costs and in furnishings. If your clients live in beautiful southern California, then it may make sense to invest in both expanded outdoor living space and in outdoor furniture, but if seasons are shorter, then consider how you can maximize your client’s investment in furniture by offering dining tables, accents and other accessories that look equally great indoors.
Dining Al Fresco
Patios, covered outdoor rooms and decks are a natural extension of a home’s ground floor and a great opportunity to expand kitchen and dining space. Think grilling areas, chat and perch cocktail bar tables / seating, fire pits, stone fireplaces, outdoor kitchens and dining tables. Seasonal Living offers great options in these categories with its Perpetual, Horizon and Ceramic furniture Collections. All these Collections blur the lines between indoor and outdoor modern living and offer year round products that go beyond traditional wicker or traditional garden furniture.
Creating a “Staycation” Experience
Working long hours and commuting often leaves little time for quality outdoor living. Designing a vacation-like environment in the back yard rewards your clients with a vacation-like respite from the pressures of daily life, all within the comforts of home.
Once you and your client decide upon an outdoor design that is right for their needs, look to Seasonal Living for boutique style outdoor furniture, lighting and decor. We specialize in modern pieces with clean, uncluttered lines that are at home indoors or out. To see our newest products that feature on-trend materials such as ceramic, stone and synthetic weaves, contact us – and let your imagination run wild.
How do you use outdoor furniture or outdoor living spaces reflecting the seasons?