Outdoors
Choose seamless flooring This outside space flows into the interior thanks to the same slate-coloured flooring being used inside and out. A clever trick employed here is that the format of the tiles goes from larger to medium to smaller on the stepped-up area, creating the impression of a receding perspective. The overall feel is of a spacious inside-outside space, rather than a garden that disappoints on size.
Go tall In a small or tricky space, the beauty is you can always go upwards. Plants that will grow tall rather than spreading outwards (and taking up valuable space) make a good choice, as they will emphasise the vertical height. Tall, slim plants in pots work particularly well in basement cavities, such as this one, adding elegance to a lower-level entrance.
Notice the range of textures in the outdoor area and how the wood roof continues outside.
Bronze door!
Note outdoor lit bench. Also notice sunlight in porch roof.
Little bridge as part of walkway to front door.
Nice winding entry path.
Cool pavers. I like how wide they are and that there is grass in between. I also like the plant contrasting with the wall and the asymmetry of the entrance.
Wide walkways seem to help make the entrance look grand.
Another nice verandah with curb appeal.
Nice verandah and curb appeal. I would like a verandah out the front of my house similar to this.
Interesting wall holes thing.
While brick veneer is taken to be our most cost effective type of construction, there are many situations where lightweight cladding will prove a more cost effective and attractive option. Brick veneer is most competitive on price when the bricks are left as the exposed surface; which we call ‘face brick’. However, if we start to apply rendered surfaces that then also need to be painted, brick veneer becomes a dearer option than a lot of lightweight cladding options. If you imagine your project to be more contemporary than traditional in design, lightweight cladding will give you a range of options to consider. Lightweight cladding is also likely to be a far more cost effective option for builders who are heavily involved in the carpentry aspect of the project, where they are more likely to be doing more of the work themselves rather than paying other trades to do it. This can be advantageous for smaller, hands-on builders rather than larger, project management style builders. Lightweight construction can also have significant benefits in the renovation market where the physical benefits of being a lightweight option come into play. For example, upper floor additions can be desig...
Soften up an entrance The mood and ambience in the entrance to this home is created by diffusing light behind translucent panelled gates. Again, on arrival, a sense of anticipation is created. Ensure that the placement of the light source is well hidden so that you can’t see the light fitting, but only the glow of its light.
The way you light up a home’s approach can create a sense of what lies ahead and indoors. The outdoor steps pictured here could easily have been flood lit to show you safely up the stairs, but by highlighting each riser with surface-mounted, low-output lights, a sense of anticipation is created – a bit like walking the red carpet.
Designers install lighting to highlight a space or to create focus on an object, but Harold Leidner Landscape Architects went one step further by ‘energising’ this garden space with the use of neon LEDs. While the curved sofa and oversized mirror are impressive, the star of this decor scheme on a rooftop terrace is the turquoise LED weatherproof lighting. It almost feels like it helps to lift the seating off the ground, making it feel very space age. Beam me up, Scotty!
Love how wall extends outside with the same material, making your eye follow it through the window making the room appear bigger.
I love the look of the different coloured plants.
This home overlooks a bluff but sits on a very narrow lot that’s constrained by neighbouring homes on either side. This led to the incorporation of a protected outdoor room that acts as a buffer, preserving privacy for both properties while still permitting an outdoor-focused space for the residents. To mitigate the proximity issues, the architect simply continued the exterior wall of the house to create a cloistered terrace space. The pivoting shutters open toward the view but act as blinders, screening any sense that the neighboring house is only a few feet away. The bedroom space at the top of the image shares a connection to the room as well, and the pivoting shutter idea was borrowed for its outside window.
White Bricks! No painting or maintenance required :)
I like these bricks. I wouldn't mind them on my house.
Verandah is nice size and looks comfy.
Bug habitat and looks cool too.
Colourful bug habitat. Will encourage the predators you want. This doesn’t have to be elaborate, five-star accommodation; for example, just suspend bundles of tied bamboo canes under the branch of a tree and watch the insects move in. You can also use an old terracotta pot upturned and placed over dead leaves. As long as the bug boxes don’t get wet and keep dry and warm, many new visitors will enjoy their new homes, and they will get rid of the nasty pests you don’t want around.
Planting room.
Concealed garage.
Concealed garage.
Concealed garage.
Concealed garage.
Concealed garage.
Concealed garage.
Clever cook-out Escape the daily routine of coming home from work to cook dinner and other mundane duties by changing your environment. If you have the space, why not install a purpose-built cookhouse, with dining deck and indoor kitchen featuring a wide and useful bar or servery? By eating out away from the main house, you’ll benefit from the relaxed and casual atmosphere of the outdoors, and get to at least pretend that you are somewhere other than at home.
As the wall and ceiling are made from corrugated translucent polycarbonate sheeting, the shed is well-illuminated all day long.
Awesome arts and crafts studio Like the backyard office, the art studio is another individual space designed to reflect the function within. Play around with different building materials to reflect your artistic personality. Be practical, too. As can be seen in the design of this outbuilding, the architecture includes upper windows to flood the work zone with daylight.
A separate office on your property and away from the house may be ideal. Where possible it should be self-contained, with a kitchenette, a toilet, a work area and the luxury of a spot for your very own cosy chair.
Retro tool shed. Here, the use of timber floors and exposed timber studwork show off the shed’s low-tech sensibility. You can also immediately see the benches and tools required to be a serious handyman. A further surprise is hidden underground – a wine cellar accessed via a trap door in the floor.
A great design element is the large sliding door that, when open to the garden, makes it easy for a gardener to move around potted plants.
I like how the water feature meets the decking although I would want more plants around it and a little bridge. Could use off a verandah rather than an outdoor dining area.
I like the under the seat lighting.
Stick to a single colour This compact terrace works as an extra room because it doesn’t try to do too much. There’s not enough space for big trees or complicated schemes, so flowers in a single colour lift the mood, providing an easy setting for meals or drinks outside. Twin olive trees add variety.
Q