Beck Design Group

Outdoor Living Spaces - Expanding Your Home's Footprint.

More than just kitchens, outdoor living spaces create additional square footage!

There was a time when spending time in the garden meant enjoying the act of gardening, as well as the fruits of our own labor. For some of us, it still does. But for others, the ritual of cutting the grass on Saturday mornings, followed by a lazy afternoon in a simple hammock, has yielded to hired help and full-scale outdoor rooms, designed to relax and to entertain!

We are designing plans for more outdoor rooms, complete with a kitchen, dining and living areas that are perfect for entertaining. Much more than just a barbecue grill and a lawn chair, homeowners in Charlotte and Fort Mill today are enjoying their outdoors in style.

Outdoor rooms can be created with ease by utilizing garden furniture. Trellises can mimic a wall; a covered pavilion has the feeling of a ceiling; and beautiful tables and chairs provide beauty and function. There are many companies that provide outdoor fabrics that resist fading and stains that add gorgeous color and plush comfort for your outdoor room.

Outdoor Living Space Trends for 2012

• Seating and dining areas - permanent benches and wall seating
• Installed grills - installed in countertops or special masonry surrounds
• Fireplace and firepit - we need both of them...matching!
• Counter and prep space - add in plumbing and electricity to counter space
• Pergolas - so many different styles for shade, decor, or plants
• Arbors - help to frame a special area in your outdoor space
• Pavilions - great gathering places with protection from the weather
• ADA-accessible - ramps for wheelchairs, concrete pathways
• Ponds and rain water harvesting systems - sustainability is important