Need advice on an outdoor living area
Heather Rose
9 years ago
We would like to extend out the back of our family room and make an outdoor room/entertainment area. As our property overlooks our back neighbours, I don't know whether to extend at floor level or step down to a patio area...then not sure how to roof it. There is a tree that gives us partial privacy as seen in photo. I am having trouble visualising the best way to go. Any ideas, suggestions, photos etc would be appreciated.
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PROcearl11
9 years agoRelated Discussions
What size should you make your outdoor living area?
Comments (2)given the luxury of generous available space i like outdoor rooms to be bigger than inside.. especially if they'll be used for entertaining more people than would normally fit into the same space inside and some outdoor furniture looks so cramped without lots of space to walk around...See MoreHow can I transform this area into an outdoor living space?
Comments (12)metal posts can be bolted to the concrete floor with a metal bracket called a "stirrup" there's a brand called Uni-pier with multiple sizes available at the major hardware stores and then attach sections of plastic lattice (friendlier for attaching plants) ...make sure the posts are installed at standard distances to suit the size of the panels..eg four panels 1200 wide x 2400 tall installed between 5 posts would allow for a wide doorway at one end or two panels could be installed horizontally between three posts with gaps at the top and bottom with a line of big oblong shaped pots for climbing plants and wall hung pots could be attached to the lattice...See MoreAdvice please for decorating Living and dining area open space
Comments (11)Hi Soshu, Megan from Bluethumb online art gallery here. I agree that you could open up the space by removing those boxy units above the TV. I would also think that because it's such a dark room, adding a mirror somewhere could help brighten up the space. I'd also suggest adding white or teal sheer curtains instead of the blockout blinds for a softer, brighter look. You've also got a great opportunity to add some artwork with that empty wall behind the couch there. Since you've already chosen an accent colour of a teal blue, why not find an artwork that matches with your colour scheme? Artwork will really help to personalise the space, especially an original piece that you love. At the moment, it does feel a little impersonal. I'd suggest going with a showstopping piece that will generate conversation the moment people spy it. Some suggestions from popular Australian artists are: This gorgeous print by Indigenous artist Bradley Kickett, who was a finalist in our art prize this year: https://bluethumb.com.au/bradley-kickett/Artwork/burlong-pool-165976 Another print by another finalist from our prize, Renata Waterfall: https://bluethumb.com.au/renata-waterfall/Artwork/and-everything-else-is-still A large resin piece by popular artist, Annette Spinks: https://bluethumb.com.au/annettespinks/Artwork/deeper-series-crevices-2 Some other suggestions from some of our most popular artists: https://bluethumb.com.au/vanessa-mae/Artwork/coral-garden-vanessa-mae https://bluethumb.com.au/sharonmonagleart-com/Artwork/she-breathes-indigo-into-an-empty-sky https://bluethumb.com.au/sharonmonagleart-com/Artwork/and-then-you-were-gone https://bluethumb.com.au/dinah-wakefield/Artwork/oceans-embrace-7 https://bluethumb.com.au/alorna-co/Artwork/azurite We also have some fine art photography from contemporary Australian photographers, which can certainly have a huge impact: https://bluethumb.com.au/photography/hugh-hamilton/artwork/swan-lake-1-hugh-hamilton https://bluethumb.com.au/photography/matty-smith/artwork/new-pennies https://bluethumb.com.au/photography/alex-frayne/artwork/breaking-good https://bluethumb.com.au/photography/damien-drew/artwork/shima_river-gunma-2012 https://bluethumb.com.au/photography/damoscope/artwork/misty-morning-2-damian-seagar https://bluethumb.com.au/photography/martine-perret/artwork/le-lagon-bleu https://bluethumb.com.au/photography/pennyp/artwork/thalassophile I hope this helps! Let me know if you'd like any more suggestions....See MoreNeed advice on layout of living/kitchen area in a inner city Terrace
Comments (5)Thanks for all your replies and feedback. I haven't provided a lot more detail as the location of the kitchen/living areas go will dictate how the rest of the layout flows. This is going to be our forever home. We do not have children yet but planning to start a family soon. We are definitely relocating the stairs to the side of the property regardless as its current location is not really optimal. Louiab's point about losing that connection from the living areas to the garden is what we are concerned about, hence one of the option is to just open up the ground floor, keeping the kitchen and living downstairs and having bedrooms on the first floor. A third option would be have a formal living area at the rear of the first floor and have stairs connecting down to the kitchen and courtyard. That way, we can open up the ground floor to the courtyard and still keep the city skyline view in a common area....See More
Heather Rose
9 years agoHeather Rose
9 years agoladyrob1
9 years agoI've done that with an old old weatherboard...very small house. Did a semi enclosed elevated deck...as the house is on piers..slatted a-la-old Queenslander and partially enclosed with transparent roofing against the wind. The roof is colourbond interspersed with transparent corrugated panels. Have vines growing in through the slats from a garden bed near the front entry....maked for a lovely indoor-outdoor space with many uses. The vine I have is a very old plant calle Podranea...twice a year produces lilac blooms and is evergreen. Requires maintenance as is very vigourous. the rooms along the northern side of the house all open out on to this lovely indoor/outdoor space. Have a lovely fountain as well as hanging baskets.
This space has opened up the whole house and protects both in summera and winter. It has made a difference to the whole ambience...so good idea....most probably your venture will involve a more modern aopproach,,,I tried to keep the "old house" image.
An indoor.outdoor room is the best improvement in my opinion. Could not do without mine.
Heather Rose
9 years ago- PRO
cearl11
9 years ago 
zen_garden
9 years agoWe had a horrible wooden rickety deck which was unroofed. We replaced it with a large deck (we can park three cars underneath) with an awning roof. . We had a company do the framework of the deck in metal using box span, just fits together, lasts forever & doesn't need painting. It was cheaper too as with wood it is very labour intensive. The awning is the same, metal which doesn't need painting. We did the decking boards ourselves out of Spotted gum. We don't have much of a step from inside to outside, eventually we want to replace the sliding door with a big bifold one. Not sure what area you are in? If you don't have much of a drop from the deck to the ground I wouldnt put a railing in but keep it nice & open. Sorry can't tell from your photo.
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