Sunlit Spaces
By Jane Lockhart, BAAID
Longer days have returned and the idea of outdoor living becomes, once again, a vivid and wonderful possibility.
With local property values continuing to rise, many of us are willing to invest not only to enhance liveability and year-round entertaining capacity, but also to maximize the charm and equity of our homes. While creating grand outdoor living spaces—complete with smokers, grills, fire-tables and outdoor furnishings—becomes a priority at this time of year, the design of additional spaces that let us enjoy the sunshine and outside vistas all year long can’t be overlooked.
Outdoor and indoor pools, day-dreamy cabanas, classic pool-side conservatories, hobby greenhouses and bold outdoor rooms invite us to linger longer. Filled with natural daylight, they extend our living spaces whatever the weather and let us enjoy all the creature comforts we’ve come to love in an open, more airy environment.
It’s no surprise that there has been a strong design direction towards building beautiful solariums. These elegant rooms, fitted with extensive areas of glass—including glass ceilings—are a popular home addition and usable all year. Many solariums offer distinct detailing and decorative ironwork that create the feel of a days-gone-by vintage space. We see this traditional trend spilling over into French doors with black iron grids and the windows used in newer homes. Good news…efficient insulated glass and modern engineering and construction technology help to control heat loss. In addition, standalone solariums are often constructed with heated flooring, an energy-saver as the floor heat will rise and fill the space in the colder months. New design ideas also include porcelain floor tiles that mimic wood planking, for a homely feel without the added maintenance.
Stylish garden rooms filled with tropical flowering plants can also let the outdoors in. With glassed-in UV-protective walls and solid rooftops, and perhaps a skylight or two, they can be built as an addition to or part of the main footprint of the home.
I love spacious, sun-filled rooms for dining, relaxing and entertaining—and particularly for brunch. Their views can be directed at an interesting focal point in the garden and, even in winter, precious hours of sunlight can be enjoyed by all.
After all, couldn’t we all use a little more glamour and vitamin-making sunshine all year round?
