Outdoor living spaces extend your livable space and delight the senses.
What started out as a yard in the great American dream has evolved into an outdoor living space, encompassing dining areas, living rooms and even play areas that go way beyond the swingsets of the 1950s. These spaces extend the livable area of your home, while saving you money and increasing your homes value. This is particularly true in the Southwest, where bug-free, temperate outdoor conditions predominate for much of the year. In fact, a little further south, Latin American homes often blur the distinction between indoor and outdoor spaces a bedroom might open to the garden or the dining room might call for outdoor eating all year round.
To take advantage of the wisdom of outdoor spaces, its important to remember that youll be more likely to use them if theyre close to the entrances of your home. One exception to that rule, however, are retreat spaces sanctuaries youll want to remove from the house to create a sense of privacy and solace.
One of the most popular outdoor spaces is the outdoor dining room/kitchen. Plans for outdoor dining rooms can range from the basic to the...