From the Designer's Journal: Outdoor Living Space

How I Designed my own Outdoor Living Space

This year my husband and I decided that it was finally time to tackle our backyard and front yard renovation.  Being a fairly new subdivision, there is almost no charm, character or curb-appeal in the outdoor spaces on our street.  The builder provides each lot with grass, and that's it!  Our outdoor space was so uninviting that, in the five years that we've lived here, I had spent almost no time outside at all.  This was devastating to me, since, those of you who know me know how much I love nature.  As our grass turned to weeds and my longing for an outdoor space increased, I finally convinced my husband that an outdoor renovation project was necessary to be able to fully enjoy our home and utilize it to it's maximum potential.

The trick to creating a space that is both practical and beautiful is to bring two very important design elements together:  Function and Aesthetic.  Continue reading to learn more about my design process.
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Part 1: Function

Project Goals

I love to entertain, but the limited space in our little semi-detached home often made it difficult to host large groups.  My goal for my backyard was to essentially add overall square-footage to my home, and to have a functional layout that would accommodate the backyard BBQs, dinner parties and cocktail parties that I wanted so desperately to host.

​Challenges

The main challenge with my backyard space was the size.  How would this small lot accommodate the large get-togethers that I was planning for?  The solution?  Get rid of all the grass!

Now some people may not agree with removing all the grass in their yard.  And, trust me, I love grass as much as the next person, but I had to consider what was best for this particular space.  Keeping the grass meant having to compromise the size of the patio. This would have resulted in a small patio, an even smaller patch of grass, and very little function.  Instead, by removing the grass, we were able to put in a large interlock patio, which accommodated different "zones" with specific functions.  

However, I didn't want this new grass-less space to be devoid of any greenery, so I created a narrow garden which ran along the back and side of my fence, where I was able to add trees, bushes and plants.  In addition to the garden, I continued to add greenery with my two large potted ferns that flank my steps, and table-top planters for almost all of  my surfaces.  ​
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Creating Flow

When designing a large open space, it is important to designate specific zones to keep the space organized and functional.  My "zones" consisted of two main "outdoor rooms": a spacious dining area, with a large table that comfortably sits 8-10, and a lounging area, with a large sectional.  I also included a breakfast area with a little bistro table, as well as a barbecuing zone, and a bar or serving area for entertaining.

This little bistro-table-for-two is perfect for morning coffee or an intimate meal.

I created a space at the side of the house which would act as a serving or buffet area for entertaining.  I especially love that this space is tucked away and doesn't impede the flow of the main living and entertaining area.

I purchased an outdoor potting bench, which I use as a bar area.  It's the perfect spot for guests to help themselves to a drink.

​Part 2: Aesthetic

Inspiration

For this space, I was very inspired by the casual dining experience of outdoor bistros.  I loved the wood tables, metal chairs and patio string lights that are characteristic of these quaint outdoor dining spots.

​Many of my projects start with an inspiration board, like this one which I created for my patio space.

These black metal bistro chairs were a must for my design!

Patio sting lights were also at the top of my wish-list.  They really help to create that outdoor bistro feel, and they create great light for evening entertaining.
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Blending Styles

I very much wanted my patio space to include rustic natural elements; materials that you would find in nature.  Perhaps the most important furniture piece in my design was a large rustic wood table that would be the centerpiece of my gatherings.  I designed a farmhouse style table that I had custom made, using reclaimed barn-wood.  I fell in love with the rich history of this wood: I used Canadian hemlock wood which was salvaged from old barns in Southern Ontario, dating back to the 1800s.  I had a long bench made to match, that would sit on one side of the table.  I also had a coffee table made of the same hemlock wood.

The reclaimed wood has a very rough and rustic finish, and boasts character-filled "imperfections" such as nail holes and wagon-wheel tracks. ​

To add to the rustic surfaces, I had a small side table made of the cross section of a maple tree.  I love the visible rings in the wood and the live, unfinished edge.

However, I didn't want to go overboard with the rustic elements as I wanted my outdoor space to also connect with my interior, which is very modern.  I was able to inject a modern aesthetic into this space by choosing some very linear pieces with clean straight edges, like my sectional sofa.  The coffee table and side table are good examples of merging both rustic and modern aesthetics.  These tables combine rustic wood tops with modern bases, such as the square clean-edged base of the coffee table, or the modern hairpin metal legs of the side table.

I also incorporated some industrial elements, which can be seen in the use of black metal. The use of this cold, dark, industrial material created a nice contrast with the natural warmth of the wood pieces.  For consistency and repetition, I continued to carry black metal elements throughout the space, such as in the pergola, the bistro chairs, the frame of the sectional sofa, and the legs of the coffee table and side table. ​​

Incorporating black into the space was also very important for sharpness and contrast. Without the black contrast, the space was too monochromatic, as the earthy tones of the wood table-tops, interlock stones and wood fence would have blended too much into one another.  I added a black area rug under the sofa to ground the space and define our lounge area.  I also carried the black to the back of the house by painting the door and window frames black.  And finally finished off with black table-top décor.

Adding Indoor Comforts 

One trick to creating a welcoming and inviting outdoor space is to add comforts normally found in interior spaces, but that people often neglect in their outdoor ones.  The rug under the sectional sofa is a great example; it adds softness and texture underfoot, and encourages you to take off your shoes and curl up on the sofa.

Anyone who knows me, or who has seen any of my bedroom or living room styling, knows that I am a huge fan of throw pillows.  And an outdoor space is no exception!  I filled my sectional with throw pillows...8 to be exact...I would have added more if I could!  These pillows really make the sectional an inviting spot to lounge and relax, and even take an afternoon snooze.

I also placed a wicker basket filled with cozy blankets close within reach.  This not only adds to the philosophy of adding indoor comforts, but is also a great practical solution for those chilly summer nights.  When our parties went late into the night, my guests helped themselves to a soft blanket; it kept them warm and saved me from having to run inside and grab extra sweaters and jackets.

I also continued to add indoor comforts in my decision to forgo acrylic dinnerware in place of real dishware, flatware and glassware.  There's something to be said about eating off of real dishes, and I wanted my guests to have the same experience at my outdoor dinner parties that they would have had indoors.  I even used linen napkins for an extra bit of sophistication. 

Don't Neglect the Décor

One of my absolute favourite parts of designing any space is the styling!  Accessories can transform any space from just an average room full of furniture to a finished space boasting character and personality; and an outdoor space is no different!

This collection of lanterns makes a great coffee table centerpiece.  The wood accents ties in with the rustic elements in the space, and the rope handles give it a nautical twist.

I decorated my buffet table with bunches of wildflowers and placed them in a mason jar and tree-bark vase, to keep with the rustic aesthetic.  I also found this great decorative ball made of branches.

I decorated my dining table with a pair of black metal mesh lanterns, several black metal votive containers, a wildflower runner, and a mini floral bouquet at each place setting.
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The Result

In the end, my husband and I were so happy that we decided to renovate our outdoor space.  Our new patio space became the site of many family gatherings and parties with friends.  And best of all, between the al-fresco dinners for two, and evenings spent sipping a glass of wine and cuddling on the outdoor sectional, our new space became a place that the two of us could enjoy together, 

That concludes today's Design Journal on Designing my Own Outdoor Space.  I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about my design process.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for reading,
​Loredana 

click to see before photos

click for references and source information

Photography: ​katherinelasiukphotography.com
Landscape/Interlocking: mteccorp.ca 
Custom Wood Tables: camillahouse.com
Sectional Sofa/Pillows: insideoutpatio.ca
Bistro Table: homesense.ca
Chairs, potting bench & rug: wayfair.ca
Dinnerware: ikea.com/ca 
String lights: www.lowes.ca