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outdoor rooms
"Are we indoors or out?"
asked Alice.
"Hard to say,"
replied the rabbit.
"Perhaps both."
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ith apologies to Lewis Carroll, it’s easy to see how Alice and her furry friend could be confused upon entering the newest generation of outdoor living spaces.
Utilitarian rows of wooden rockers on a narrow strip of porch have been replaced with expansive outdoor rooms, protected from the elements, featuring cozy seating areas, fireplaces, kitchens, spas, large-screen TVs and beautiful wood and stone. About the only thing missing is air conditioning, but that’s a minor drawback when coupled with plentiful ceiling fans.
Although square footage costs of outdoor rooms versus indoor are typically quite a bit less, that gap narrows considerably when you add outside kitchens, luxurious spas, comfortable leather upholstery and exotic hardwoods (sustainably harvested, of course).
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hat looks like a traditional rocker may well be hand-woven resin wicker on an aluminum frame, such as that designed by Telescope Casual. A cast aluminum chaise lounge from Terra Furniture has the look of rich mahogany, with weather resistant cushions. And don’t be fooled by the outdoor lamps that seem more suitable for a family room. These beauties are constructed from heavy materials, with waterproof lighting construction and removable, washable shades.
Varying degrees of protection from the elements depend upon personal preference and positioning. Screened porches may include roll-up shades, draw curtains or removable glass panels. A loggia may have a deep overhang, providing a bit of distance from nature when the great outdoors isn’t so great. Yet, for many it’s being a part of the elements that’s most appealing.
And there’s something else. Despite the increased use of finer materials, there’s a casual feel to outdoor rooms. Spills are treated with less angst, furniture can be moved more easily and fabrics are designed to withstand at least a bit of punishment. No dinner party can be pretentious in such a setting.
Creativity at Work
Architect John Pittman lives and works in Berkeley Hall, in Bluffton, S.C. He is a master at creating outdoor living rooms that take the old idea of porches to new heights. “Our outdoor rooms always have a fireplace, but in about 90% of them we also include outdoor summer kitchens and plasma TVs,” he says. “Many have spas built in as well, frequently with a privacy treatment around the spa, such as floor length canvas draperies.”
His signature designs include outdoor rugs, even Oriental rugs, as well as those draperies, comfortable, high-end furniture, and flexibility. His clients are almost always referrals; folks who have seen his work in other homes and want something similar. Their tastes may be different, but what his clients have in common is a desire to create an outdoor living space with no sacrifice of comfort or aesthetics. Lighting is important as well. “About the only thing missing is air conditioning,” he laughs.
Mr. Pittman likes the look and feel of leather upholstery in an outdoor room. Overhead fans are as fabulous as they are functional. He chooses fans from Casablanca and Fanamation, among others. The Fanamation Palisades fans feature two independent motors, with blades made of bamboo or palm leaves (not to mention optional accents including parrots, monkeys and a rather elegantly draped faux snake). These aren’t your grandmother’s utilitarian porches – that’s for sure.
Preferred materials include tabby stucco for its authenticity, and mahogany and Ipe woods for their beauty and durability. Ceilings can be coffered, and/or finished with tongue-in-groove cypress. Hammocks, swinging day beds and hammock chairs add to the tropical feel.
His “Floating Sweet Dreams” bedroom features sliding glass doors on both sides with a water feature that makes the bed look as if it is floating on a raft.
“I like to have lots of doors opening onto the outdoor rooms, so there is a generosity of scale,” he explains. And he should know. An outdoor room enthusiast with his own 800 square foot porch, he even enjoys it during those occasional cold snaps in the Lowcountry. “Recently, I bundled up, had my cigar, and still enjoyed my outdoor room,” he says.
A bit further north, at Seabrook Island, the home of Jackie and Farris Cowart positions their outdoor living area to take advantage of gorgeous sunsets and marsh views that extend for miles – even to the shrimp boats in the distance, at Rockville (45 minutes by car and 15 minutes by water). Osprey Construction Company created the double-level deck, with the covered area next to the house, and an open deck two steps down.
Farris Cowart is the president and owner of Osprey and used his 40 years of experience to create this tranquil outdoor retreat. Rose Principe is marketing director for Osprey and described the Cowart outdoor area. “The fabrics used are Sunbrellatm, and the stone is a natural tile,” she says. A deeply coffered ceiling accommodates huge wicker ceiling fans and is painted pale blue to give the space a cool feeling in the warm, Lowcountry summers. Mrs. Cowart is a Master Gardener and the room is a showcase for fantastic plants that add color and warmth. The room is used as a private retreat for the Cowarts, as well as for dining alfresco. It’s not completely private, however. Wrens frequently nest in the corners of the ceiling, and one day, the family walked outside to discover two foxes, napping on the outdoor sofa. Clearly, marsh creatures know quality and comfort when they find it.
“These outdoor rooms are extensions of homes and many of our clients are retired executives who are used to a more formal lifestyle,” Ms. Principe explains. “That’s why they want these outdoor living areas to look great, take advantage of all that natural light, and yet portray a more relaxed lifestyle, with, of course, outdoor fireplaces and areas to extend their living space.
Osprey builds homes exclusively on Kiawah and Seabrook Islands for clients from throughout the United States and Europe. Often, these homes are designed as vacation getaways for now, and retirement homes for the future. The name of the company reflects its clientele. The Osprey is a beautiful bird that flees cold weather and flies south, every year.
Outdoor Mountain Living
Among the perks of building a really magnificent home may be the invitation to return for a visit, during a very special occasion. That recently happened to Mark Barker, builder of unique mountain homes in North Carolina. He was invited to enjoy the quintessential outdoor room, an observatory which he had built on top of a fantastic mountaintop home. The occasion was the recent lunar eclipse. The telescope they used was perfectly stationary, sitting on a freestanding concrete column rising more than 40 feet up through the middle of the stairwell. “Watching the moon and Saturn from that vantage point was incredible,” Mr. Barker says. Building the stairwell around that column was an incredible endeavor as well.
The mountain homes he builds are justifiably famous, and include the 2006 HGTV dream home near Lake Lure, as well as the 2005 Southern Accents Show House, in Little Pine Preserve, near Asheville. One of his favorite projects is a “Castle over the Creek,” built for a couple in Yancey County, N.C. “We used more than 1,000 tons of boulders culled from the home’s 400 acres,” he explains. The house is designed to integrate outdoors to indoors and every room looks out onto that creek.
A private outdoor space is positioned off the master suite, beyond a small outdoor sitting area, where a
custom-built, heated swimming pool goes into the mountainside, its walls hewn from massive boulders. Opposite the mountainside, the pool’s disappearing edge looks down toward the creek.
“My clients want to incorporate natural materials in logical extensions from indoors to outside, and in some instances, stepping directly from the porch to the yard,” he explains.
In the HGTV home, a substantial outdoor room is positioned underneath the second floor. The house forms a bridge over the room, separating the main house from the guest quarters. In another home, the indoor living area is anchored by one wall with a massive fireplace. The other three walls have 16 feet of lift and glide glass panels which slide effortlessly into a wall pocket. The track is a thin metal bead with wheels, virtually imperceptible. “It is a true porch when the walls are open,” he says. When closed, the room can be heated or air conditioned, completely separated from the elements.
Mr. Barker recently finished another home with an outdoor room that includes remote control screens which open vertically into a pocket. Clearly, he builds homes that invite their owners to sit and look out over endless vistas – or perhaps at the occasional natural phenomenon, like a shooting star, or lunar eclipse.
Art and Science
Architects and builders working in the Carolinas position homes to take advantage of prevailing breezes, mountain-top views and private Southern gardens. According to the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA), 91% of Americans have some type of outdoor space in their home. In the Carolinas, virtually 100% of homeowners have it, or at least want it.
Indoor great rooms flow onto loggias or porches, which transition to decks
or patios, beside pools
or gardens. Outdoor
lights create dancing
shadows at dusk
seamlessly blending
nature with human
creativity. And always,
the juxtaposition of
breathtaking views
against elegantly casual
furnishings can be
soul-satisfying, perhaps
even a bit enchanting.
Just ask Alice.
Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and
public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published
more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing
explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business
and management. 
click on this image to read more about ...
Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House: Bringing Your Home into Harmony with Nature
By Carol Venolia and Kelly Lerner
Osprey Construction Company
Johns Island, S.C. • www.ospreyinc.com
John Pittman, AIA, NCARB
HIlton Head/Bluffton, S.C. • www.johnpittmanarchitect.com
Mark W. Barker, MWB Construction and Development
Black Mountain, N.C. • www.mwbconstruction.com
American Home Furnishings Alliance
High Point, N.C. • www.findyourfurniture.com
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