Well today's blog was probably the easiest to come up with and I reckon it's going to be inspiring to browse through, lets hope the info comes readily - the visuals sure have!
We're heading to the favourite part of every Zaffa's (South African for those unsure of this colloquial term) home - the Outdoor Entertainment area!
With spring quickly becoming summer people are starting to live outdoors once again; at home we've had dinner outdoors already twice this week. The evenings are balmy and calm, the garden is alive with the crispness of fresh young leaves and flowers watered earlier in the day by the summer rains. Who would want to be inside with the TV on when you can enjoy the freedom of being outdoors in the pool, playing garden cricket or enjoying a braai?
When planning an entertainment area, keep in mind the purpose you have for it around the activities that you enjoy outdoors as to make sure that it's functional and complimentary. Looking at the designs around the world and the ones I've recently been commissioned to do and it's evident that clutter free and open living applies as much to the outdoors as what it does to the indoors. There are so many wonderful examples of great well executed designs, I know you're going to enjoy this blog!
There are a few elements that make up the entertainment area, you will need to forgive me as some of what I'm going to mention is very elementary. However, when we're designing and constructing a project, unless there is a list of what you actually want before you start, you run the risk of forgetting that one simple little thing until the build is half way there. Back tracking and changing things around always ends up disturbing the design and ends up with that mind's eye not quite matching the finished project; you also often bump into troublesome snags which you always want to avoid as they always become a hassle....just a little heads up! So here goes.
VIP is your cooking area, remember that the party always congregates near the cooking area, so keep it's positioning top of mind. If you are fortunate enough to have the space and budget is no problem, then opting for a gas hob with a skillet is the way to go - its a braai and a stove in one and with space available it means it will be well protected under cover. The area now becomes an outdoor self contained accessible kitchen - no more schleping the kitchen outside every time you have guests over. BUT, a braai does sometimes need to be on traditional coals so always design keeping in mind that you need a special storage spot for the kettle braai!
Remember you're cooking triangle applies even outdoors so make sure that on designing the outdoor entertainment area that you remember to include a place for a fridge and a bin near the cooking area - all in the precious 'triangle'.
In keeping with the thread above assuming you have the space to roof off and construct a covered area, timber flooring or cladding it as a ceiling creates warmth and also allows you to 'bring the garden inside'. A ceiling allows you to install a lighting system that creates a good ambiance and the area gives the impression of been another room and not just an 'afdak'. There is definately a place though for rustic structures - if that's your style and what helps you feel most relaxed then go that route!
Depending on budget, your taste, the style of your home, the purpose (required multi-purpose expectation) and the space you have; here are some other ideas of what has been done...
Let's assume now that an undercover entertainment area isn't what you have in mind. Well, the only thing that we've discussed that won't apply to you are ceilings, down lights and a bigger budget! The cooking area, well its much of a much except that you're more likely to go the gas braai route or a built in braai; laying a deck in the area you set aside is a great way of establishing and creating the entertainment area.
We're spoiled for choice today with all the different styles of outdoor furniture, whether you want to create a contemporary, country, classical or Mediterranean feel; various stores carry a number of different ranges to choose from. It's simply that easy. But KNOW WHICH LOOK you're after prior to kicking off with the project or it may cause more grey hairs than necessary! Deciding on your style affects your paint colours and techniques, flooring, ceilings, accessories and most importantly, the over all design. You can see for yourself what I mean; you compare the above points that I've mentioned in the visuals below.
You with me? Can you also see looking at most visuals above that having an entertainment area need not mean a huge big area that you need to build? It can mean thinking out of the cliched box and using a corner, building a recessed seating area or using a spot in the garden and dressing it with a few softs, furnishings and accessories - like I said earlier, it's quite easy to do if you have an idea of what you want - shout if you need a hand with those ideas!
Enjoy this wonderful time of the year and I hope it's enjoyed outdoors with lots of delicious food in great company - CIAO!
No comments:
Post a Comment