Outdoor Living for 2021: Create Your Oasis

We certainly view our homes differently than we did over a year ago, don’t we? And one emerging trend involves our outdoor spaces. What used to be, for some of us, just a place to barbecue, a small patio and space for the kids to play, doesn’t work anymore. We are searching for sustainable lifestyles for now and the future. We’ve spent more time at home and are ready to elevate our outdoors to become an oasis for our family and friends. A place to relax, unwind, entertain, and enjoy.

NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) released their annual Design Trends survey. Members completed a survey and within that survey is a 65% increased interest in outdoor living projects. Our RDS designers agree with this, as we are creating designs for all kinds of structures and changes to homes to include optimized space for outdoor living.

According to Houzz, 4 out of 5 homeowners are making changes to help them enjoy their homes more, with outdoor projects at the top of the list.

STRUCTURES TO BUILD

Structures for year-round living, as well as increased time to spend outdoor in the summer are an important piece of the outdoor living puzzle. This trend isn’t going away anytime soon. What structure would work for you? What are your needs?

Pergolas

• Provide shade as well as filtered light

• Affordable

• Built quickly

• Space for dining and lounging

Patios/decks

• Indoor/outdoor living with doors opening from the family room to the patio or deck

• Extends living from the home

• Enhances time outdoors

• Creates an outdoor “room”

• Creates a micro space for working, Zoom calls and school work

• Provides shade and escapes weather elements if covered

According to Remodeling magazine’s Cost vs Value 2020 Report:

In central Ohio a composite deck addition with a cost of $18,839-$20,000 will provide an ROI of 64% - 67% and a wood deck addition with a cost of $13,222-$14,647 will provide an ROI of 66%-76%. That’s a solid return on your investment!

Sunrooms (three or four season rooms)

Always popular, sunrooms can provide year round living, depending on the windows chosen, insulation, and heat. Connect it to a patio or deck with sliding doors or accordion-type fold-and-stack doors and you have indoor/outdoor access.

• Create rooms within rooms – cozy nooks, kids’ play area, dining, and entertaining areas

• Extends the footprint of your home

• Adds function, square footage and value

Outdoor Kitchens

Eating at home is still the norm, so why not take it outside? From creating a built-in grill area to a kitchen with all of the bells and whistles, you can cook outdoors every night.

• Cook and entertain without going in the home

• Include a refrigerator, sink, counter space, kegerator, wine storage, pizza oven and grill

• Choose weather-resistant counters, cabinets and appliances to enjoy year-round cooking

• Al fresco dining – what could be better?

Accessory Dwelling Units

We are seeing them pop up wherever local codes will allow. Serving many functions, creating one that can serve you through the years might be a smart plan.

Their uses are many:

• Extra living for elderly parents

• Temporary home for older kids

• Office/Study area

• Extra income through rental

• Gym

• Meditation room

There are many items to consider as part of your outdoor living experience and several items are the most requested when we are designing outdoor living areas.

• Fireplaces, firepits and fire tables

• Shade fixtures (shade sails and umbrellas), if there is not a permanent structure

• Privacy

• Water features to create white noise as well as create a Zen feeling

• Space for heat lamps, lighting, tables and furniture groupings

• Increased landscaping

• Outdoor connectivity with outlets and WIFI

• Outdoor furniture that feels as good as it looks

• Activity areas for the family–pools, trampolines, gardens, and space for games

This graphic from a survey conducted for the International Casual Furnishings Association and American Home Furnishings Alliance demonstrates how we are prioritizing our outdoor living needs and wants. 

Before summer comes and goes, what are your needs for your backyard? Give us a call today. Our designers at Residential Designed Solutions can help you create your outdoor sanctuary!

Builder Partner Highlight: Joel Walter, NJW Construction

Our success depends upon the expertise of the builder and contractor partners that we work with on a daily basis. They build the vision that we help create. The relationship we have with NJW Construction is a new one, but one we hope will continue for many years to come. Joel Walter offered some thoughts on his experience working with RDS. We really value this new partnership!

Front Entry In Process, Worthington Remodel

How has your experience been working with Jim and RDS – Residential Designed Solutions?
Our experience has been very positive. RDS helps with the design process to work through problems in a positive way, which is really important to me as a remodeler.

What projects have you worked on with RDS?
We are working on a mudroom and bathroom addition for a Worthington home. This is our first remodeling project with RDS. We did collaborate on a couple NARI sponsored events at Boo at The Zoo at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Jim designed the “not so scary zoo fun houses” and we built the temporary structures.

“I really appreciate Jim and his team being available on the phone (which doesn’t happen as frequently in the business world anymore) and taking the time to talk and discuss the project. They take care of questions and answers in a very timely manner, which makes my job that much easier.”

— Joel Walter, Master Certified Remodeler

Jim creates the architectural design work for us and really listens to the needs of the client. He incorporates those needs into the drawings which makes the project come together much easier.

Front Elevation Before, Worthington Remodel

We communicate by phone, email, and sharing photos on our phones. [Jim is] very receptive to thoughts, questions, issues and ideas. I like to say that some people work with you to complete a project and some people work against you, including designers, subcontractors, and suppliers. Jim and his team work with us to complete a project. In my world, this is a huge plus. He and his team are good at finding a solution to a problem, not saying, “we can’t fix it.” In the remodeling world, finding solutions are vital.  

What is your overall experience like when working with RDS?
My experience continues to be very positive. Jim is very thorough and dedicated to his craft and the needs of his clients [and] he has a great group of people working with him.

What advice would you offer to a builder/remodeler/tradesperson who is starting to work with a designer?
Bring as much information to the meetings as possible, including client selections, designs wishes, thoughts, reviews, inspiration, and photos. Having as much information as possible always helps the design process at the beginning.

Do you plan to work with RDS again?
Yes­–we had a very positive experience with RDS. Jim’s expertise and design has made our project move quickly and smoothly.

👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻And that’s something we are very happy to hear! If you’re interested in working with RDS and NJW, please give us a call today at 614.430.0027!