ON THE OUTS
,
WITH YOUR HOME
It’s that time of year again, summer on the Cape and South Coast.
We are blessed by the beauty of the place we call home, and it
is a great time to spend your days outdoors. This year, consider
incorporating some elements in your landscape that beckon to be
enjoyed, and make the most of all the season has to offer.
Just as you have groups of rooms that make up your home, you also
have groups of elements that make up “Rooms” in your landscape.
As with anything in your home, the most important factor to consider
is the people who live in it! Perhaps a family of 6; who spend their
days bringing children to all manner activities, cooking to feed a
small army, and trying
to converse with a
generation of media
addicts. Or maybe
you live at a quieter
pace and spend your
days hosting social
events, meeting up with
friends, and working
on your latest novel.
Whoever you are, make
note of the things that
define you. Once you
have established the things most important to you, you can start the
fun part, implementing and enjoying them in your landscape.
With your wish-list compiled, and a plan in mind, pick the items
you have as a highest priority and do some research, or meet with
your landscape designer to start making those ideas a reality. Their
knowledge can be a valuable asset to discuss what could realistically
be done with your space. Since a picture says a thousand
words, start a file of all your findings. We are visual creatures, so
photographs will help
to ensure a tailored
design for your
individual tastes.
Indoor rooms are
defined by walls,
doors, windows, and
ceilings; outdoor spaces are defined by the more natural elements
that make them up. As humans we naturally desire some feeling
of spatial definition. Meaning, it is much more gratifying to spend
time in a room with defined vertical and overhead planes, than their
two-dimensional counterparts. While those open spaces have their
place, trying to create an outdoor room requires the same basic
definitions as the ones indoors. Elements such as arbors, trellis’, tree
canopies, hedges, and pergolas are great at making your room feel
three-dimensional.
You can create a space that is mostly enclosed, to provide a more
intimate and encapsulated experience, or open the area to your
surroundings and increase your exposure to the summer sun, and
those beautiful views. Determine which technique fits the room you
are trying to construct, and incorporate components which give
you those feelings. Try to utilize unique textures and materials to
maximize the appeal. Also, make sure you leave adequate area for
the purpose of the room, considering all elements that will need to
be integrated. In entertaining spaces, avoid long narrow definitions
as these restrict and discourage movement.
All things considered, the rooms you define in your landscape
should be unique parts that work in unison, to create a relaxing and
purposeful outdoor experience. Think of how your property could be
better utilized, by merging your indoor and outdoor spaces. It’s time
we get back to enjoying the outdoors, and all they have to offer. Start
living outside of the box, establishing beautiful and functional spaces
to be enjoyed by many, for years to come.
Since a picture
says a thousand
words, start a
file of all
your findings.
LANDSCAPE
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