Heating Up Outdoor Spaces

Heating Up Outdoor Spaces Featured Image

Cooler temps and falling leaves mean less sunbathing and more fire-side sitting! Skip hibernating indoors and turn up the heat outside to extend your outdoor living season. Incorporating fire features, heating elements, and wind-blocks can help maximize use of decks, patios, and porches as we tip-toe through fall into winter. Here’s how we’re heating up outdoor spaces.

Considerations for Planning Warm and Cozy Outdoor Spaces:

Wood Burning Fireplaces

One of the quickest ways to heat up outdoor spaces is with fire! Wood heat traditionally burns extra hot, but calls for extra planning. Burning wood requires adequate ventilation, and an appropriately designed fire pit or masonry fireplace for safe burning. Fire pits are intended for use in open-air spaces and are not practical or safe for use under covered porches. A full-masonry fireplace with a venting chimney, that clears the roofline, is necessary for wood burning under covered porches. Wood storage should also be considered when planning for traditional wood heat.

Wood Burning Fireplaces
Interior Design: Everything Home Designs | Builder: Old Town Design Group | Photo Credit: Sarah Shields

Gas Fire Elements

A flexible offering of gas fire products are available including portable fire tables and wall units. Gas heat is often preferred for ease of use and clean-up. Natural and propane fueled fire elements are often less costly to install since they do not require extensive masonry like wood-burning fireplaces, but utilize an inconspicuous inexpensive direct-vent instead. Always work with an expert when adding gas-powered products to covered or enclosed spaces. Gas units require sufficient venting and proper air exchange to avoid potential build up of harmful gases.

Gas Fire Elements
Interior Design: Everything Home Designs | Photo Credit: Sarah Shields

Heated Floors

Radiate heat from the ground up with heated outdoor floors—that’s right you can heat outdoor floors too! Heated floors provide a more indirect ambient heat as compared to fireplaces and fire tables which are usually huddled around. Electric heating elements can be added to tile and concrete floors. When combined with screening walls, a substantial amount of heat can be retained warming you up head to toe.

Wind Blocks

Keep the cold out with wind blocking installations. Wind blocks come in many different forms—from living evergreen walls to slatted privacy partitions, and full enclosures of screen or tent-like clear vinyl materials. Adding motorized roller systems to covered porches allows for swapping screening materials seasonally depending on preferred use including blocking sun-glare, heat retention and/or repelling insects. There are many options with varying applications, work with a professional designer who is fluent in available products to assess and plan your space so your desired outcome can be achieved.

Wind Blocks
Interior Design: Everything Home Designs | Builder: Old Town Design Group | Photo Credit: Sarah Shields

Hot Tubs

Nothing compares to gazing up at the winter sky and watching the snow fall. Enjoy these magical winter moments comfortably from a hot tub. You’ll stay toasty warm while you unwind outdoors. Place your hot tub near a fire table for an extra cozy vibe.

Hot Tubs
Interior Design: Everything Home Designs | Photo Credit: Sarah Shields

Comfy Accessories

Add fun baskets and bins of cozy shawls and blankets for folks to warm up with. Layer in outside area rugs to buffer cold cement, stone and tile floors or decking gaps. Provide cushioned seating and pillows to offer a more snuggly insulated seat.

Whether you’re redesigning existing outdoor spaces or building new, we can help you maximize your investment by extending seasonal use of decks, patios and porches through smart design. Contact us to get planning your perfect outdoor retreat!

Happy Home. Happy Life.

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors

How to choose the right exterior paint colors for your home.

The outside of your home is a big canvas, which means choosing the perfect paint color is a big decision! Scrolling online galleries and strolling neighborhood streets can help narrow down your favs, but zeroing in on that perfect palette requires some careful consideration.

Red, green, pink, or blue, here are a few tips to guide you towards that perfect hue:

Plan Around Fixed Elements

When it comes to impactful exterior updates, changing paint color often tops the list. Be mindful of existing exterior elements like masonry, windows, and lighting when choosing a color. Fixed features often help dictate a warm or cool palette. Aim to land on a color choice that ties everything on the exterior together.

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors | Tips for Picking the Perfect Palette

Consider Architectural Style

Your paint palette should feel appropriate to your home style and era. Many paint manufacturers offer collections to support unique home architecture. For instance, recommendations for mid-century modern homes may include retro oranges, yellows, and greens while farmhouse design frequently utilizes a mostly monochromatic white and black color scheme.

Consider Multiple Colors

Keep things visually interesting by using a combination of colors on the exterior. Start by selecting a color for the main house body, usually the sided part of the house. Next, dedicate a complementary trim color. Finally, choose one or two accent colors to support house material change, like the front door and shutters. Stain can also be used to spotlight natural architectural elements.

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors | Tips for Picking the Perfect Palette

Take a Step Back

It is always a good idea to get a curbside view. Color intensity is something to consider when choosing paints. Look around the neighborhood, both at other homes and natural landscapes. Your surroundings can provide valuable guidance. If your home is nestled in the darkness of a shady foliage canopy you may opt for a bright light exterior color to stand out. While a home basking in the glow of sunshine could become washed out if painted too light.

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors | Tips for Picking the Perfect Palette

Try Color On

Exterior paint can be a bit of a chameleon from sun up to sun down. With lighting changes throughout the day, and weather fluctuating sometimes by the hour, trying on color is always a good idea. Purchase sample colors and paint a small area to evaluate before changing the entire facade of your home. Alternatively, paint a large piece of cardboard or tarp to see color on a larger scale. Take your time, patience will yield a confident color choice.

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors

Exteriors have a large footprint, and you want to be certain before making a big change. With experience designing luxury model homes and award-winning Home-a-Rama exteriors, Everything Home designers know a good color when we see it! Contact us to learn how we can help with choosing exterior paint colors that will look beautiful on your home. 

Happy Home, Happy Life.

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