10 Outdoor Additions to Make Your Home Feel Like a Beach House
2. An outdoor showerAs a holiday destination, we choose the coast line for the beach, however, returning from the beach can be a messy exercise. That’s why installing an outdoor shower to the side of the house or near a front/side gate is a great functional and practical feature. As with anything, you can take an outdoor shower to the next level and make it a focal point to any outdoor space. There are many ‘off the shelf’ options, but you can also design your own either as a part of a deck, as a free-standing feature on a bed of gravel, or even hung from an arbor or existing overhead beam. If you are looking for a sharp contemporary shower, ensure the head is 316 stainless steel as it will rust very quickly. Otherwise, if you have a more rustic setting, a brass or copper fitting will patina quickly and truly become a part of the furniture. For an extra touch, you can also add some simple towel hooks to a fence, the side of a shed, or to some soldier posts.
3. Ice bucketsNot all of your holiday is about trying to do as little as possible; entertaining is something we all crave to do either as a host or a guest. With summertime entertaining, ice cold drinks are a large part of the experience and although the good ol’ Aussie Esky is renown as a tried and tested accessory, they are quite simply bulky, ugly and, let’s face it, hide all the fun. Introducing an ice box to a table setting is a simple, sophisticated and far more stylish way of presenting drinks at a summer party. The Esky won’t be forgotten as it can still hold the back-up supplies, but the image of a full ice box bursting with wine, champagne and selected beers is quite simply mouth-watering. Ice boxes are also evolving and can be built into a table, deck, benchtop or even a poolside bar. Another little design tip is if you are thinking of building an ice box to a table or bar style eating area, make it the same size as an ethanol burner, such as an Eco Smart fire – then you have the option of dropping in the fire for some added ambiance on cooler nights.More: 17 Effortless DIY Ideas for Carefree Summer Parties...
4. Bean bagsOutdoor bean bags are now flooding the market and also provide a similar permanent invitation. They are ever-evolving with their shapes and materials and can really add a great pop of colour to a poolside deck, lawn space or upper balcony. During my own summer break this year, we arrived at a friend’s summer holiday home for an afternoon barbecue and found our hosts lazing deep in their two bean bags on their front lawn, each with an icy cold beer, taking full advantage of the afternoon sun. We all immediately felt welcomed and relaxed, not to mention somewhat envious. It is an image that I remember fondly and is one of my holiday highlights. The best bit is that it was so simple, so relaxing and an extremely civilised way to waste a lazy summer afternoon. The other beauty of bean bags is you can move them around your space and either follow the sun or seek refuge in the shade. They can also be used inside … so the possibilities are endless.
5. Fire pitsAlthough summertime holidays are idyllic, they are not always warm, and that’s where fire pits come in. Again, fire pits have evolved dramatically and come in many shapes, styles and relative cost brackets. One of the very best fire pits is the good ol’ washing machine steel inner casing. Pre-drilled holes, solid steel construction, and the fact that it’s saving landfill makes this option cheap, environmentally friendly and, for me, a designer retro-rustic cool aesthetic. For the more refined fire lover, there are a number of fire bowls on the market that have that more designer look. A great idea is to place the fire pit near a low retaining wall, which will provide an instant seat. If you don’t have a defined space, I recommend that you remove the grass by at least two square metres and replace it with gravel or pebbles. Ideally, a raised polished concrete slab will add that little bit of architectural flair. If you want a fire on a deck, choose a smaller bowl and sit the bowl on some eight-centimetre thick solid Bluestone pavers on two-centimetre packers to create a nice shadow line (again at a 2x2m minimum spacing). Please note caution and care need to be considered...
6. DaybedsIf space is an issue and you want to laze in the sun either by the pool or on a simple rear deck, then building in a liftable backrest/daybed section into the deck can offer a space to relax without the permanency or clutter of furniture. You can custom make a throw over cushion to add to the comfort. If you have the space, you can’t go past a purchased sun lounge that will add an architectural element and flair to the space. Scatter cushions will also enhance the space with a real pop of colour.A permanent daybed is another relaxing option and is normally built as a timber structure, say, 40 to 50 centimetres off the ground. An arbor or pergola structure above is optional and adds a sense of privacy and enclosure to the structure. You can also add the liftable backrest section to the daybed for added comfort. Either way, creating an inviting structure to promote the activity of ‘nothing’ is a welcomed feature to any beachside retreat.
7. A reading nookTo bring the outside in and the inside out, create a reading nook in an existing window frame by bulking out the internal or external window sills, changing the window over to a tilt lift or bi-fold option, and custom making some full/scatter cushions. If you bulk out the internal space, you can also create a bookcase under the bench and display your favourite novels. With a window reading nook you can open up the home, create a functional seat, and allow the ocean sea breeze and scents to meander into the home, or in the opposite direction, allow the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to waft outside.
8. ShadeShade is often a much sought-after aspect to a summer space. However, permanent structures are not only more expensive, they are also exactly that, permanent. They offer no flexibility with the changing weather, and if you are lucky enough to own a holiday home, a permanent shade structure will be an unwanted feature during your winter getaways. The beauty of a market umbrella over an alfresco table filled with summer goodness is an iconic image we all envy, and can be a very cost effective alternative, as well as transportable, let alone removable. Taking the humble market umbrella a little bit further, invest in a semi commercial cantilevered umbrella. They are perfect poolside or on an existing deck near the alfresco zone. Often overlooked and frowned upon, the good old umbrella is actually a great option for any holiday environment as it is flexible, movable, removable and more importantly, cost effective.More: The Shady Business of Staying Cool in Summer
9. GamesLast but not least in the way of beachside design ideas is providing space for fun and summertime activities. I am not talking about power walking through the city with your mobile phone to your ear; I am talking about family fun, real bonding time, playing games that you just don’t get a chance to do throughout the year. All you need is a large open, level lawn space. From backyard cricket to badminton and volleyball, to bocci and croquet, a simple level uncluttered lawn provides multiple summertime options for your family and friends. The other great thing about a lawn is that it is very cost effective. Alternatively, if you have a smaller space with only a deck, or if you are lucky enough to have both, a large chess set can be a real talking point. A gravel driveway is also a great opportunity for a game of bocci.
10. A pool, of courseIf you are lucky enough to be planning (or you already have) a pool at your beachside retreat, then my design advise is to keep it clean and simple. An understated rectangular pool surrounded by a simple deck can be all you need. If the maintenance of decks is a worry, clean simple paving or in situ polished concrete with some lawn in and around the pool space will offer a great alternative. There are a couple of reasons to keep the pool and surrounding space simple, clean and sophisticated: the first one is the maintenance –you don’t want to be a slave to your holiday home while on holidays; secondly, if a space is over-designed, it can create a tense, structured ambiance, which is the last thing you need on a holiday where your sole focus is to relax and wind down. With the addition of one or two of the aforementioned hammock, bean bag, ice box, outdoor shower, sun lounge or daybed, your relaxing pool zone will be complete and ready to absorb your stress and tension that has built up over the year.Well there you have my top 10 simple design ideas that will help make your holiday that little bit more memorable – and most of them won’t break the bank. All you n...
1. HammocksLet’s face it, holidays are all about relaxation and, for most of us, doing as little as possible. That’s why the simplicity of a hammock suspended between two trees, two porch posts or even in a secondary, generously wide, rarely used doorway via a couple of coach eyelets can create an irresistible design feature. Choosing a location where the hammock can permanently hang is ideal as it is a great way of creating an ongoing invitation to stop, relax and read a book or the morning paper, or simply take an afternoon siesta. Placing a small table next to the hammock also allows you to incorporate an icy summer drink into the moment. If you don’t have the space for a hammock, the next option is a hanging chair as the footprint is smaller and the versatility of the freestanding feature can be more admirable.More: Learn How to Bring That ‘Summer Holiday Feeling’ Home
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