Borrowing Outdoor Space for Everyday Living

Do you ever wish you had more space for entertaining or maybe another place to relax and catch your breath? You’ve thought of an addition, but that could be costly and time consuming. Why not consider an existing space that could be used differently?

When Certified Interior Designer Genie Nowicki was asked to design a local remodeling project, she did just that. She took an existing entry deck and transformed it into a lovely greeting area as well as a space for entertaining. 

Here are a few ideas to think about as you start your project:

First, select a Certified Interior Designer (CID) to work with you. A CID is certified in the State of California and is qualified by education, experience, and examination.  

Share your lifestyle history with your designer to identify your needs. To make this entry area accessible to everyone who came to visit, Genie added a discrete ramp that meanders through well-established trees and landscaping. The ramp seems to “float” off the ground as piers were placed under the center of the ramp with iron braces for additional support. She added light along the pathway, which made it safer and a favorite route for all who come to visit. 

Have you thought about artistic features you could include in your plan? Genie relocated a custom copper water fountain from the interior living area to the entry. The water adds a soothing sound and the sculptural form adds interest. Attractive, correctly scaled planters (with a drip system) and comfortable benches at the front door are key components. It now feels inviting to guests whether for entertaining purposes or just light meals and coffee.

Is your space showing signs of deferred maintenance? In this instance, the existing deck required some repair work. Thinking outside the box, Genie was able to take advantage of this opportunity to re-route electrical and gas lines. Because this was a down sloped lot, some excavation was done, deck boards were salvaged and reused for the new ramp and new deck boards were installed by using a clip system. The clip system and waterproof framing underneath the deck will extend its life by eliminating water penetration into the wood.

Does your door allow enough light to pass through so that two areas can feel connected? The front door system allows light to spill into the house. And, a concealed Phantom Screen keeps the bugs out while still letting fresh air in.

Is your entry a point at which you control all your security? Take advantage of coordinating your systems for easy access and convenience. 

Remember that good design is always beautiful. You don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort. A remodel should not be built just for who you are today, but for the person you’ll become tomorrow.  

Patsy Zakian-Greenough, CKD, CID, CAPS, CGBP is the Senior Designer at Harrell Remodeling, Inc., www.harrell-remodeling.com. For a list of Certified Interior Designers in your area or to view the CID Pages (a visual directory of CID’s), visit www.ccidc.org/cidpages.