By KEVIN FLAHERTY
The Morning Sun
PITTSBURG — Nancy Hurt said she wanted to make sure they had an area to entertain the family in the backyard.
It didn’t come easily. Hurt, the president of Zone 6 gardeners of Pittsburg, said her property was landlocked, meaning workers, and the Bobcat used for the haul, dragged directly through the yard.
“It was the ultimate sacrifice,” Hurt said. “It was a terrible, terrible mess.”
But in the end, Hurt wound up with a fire pit that the kids could roast marshmallows on.“It was worth it,” Hurt said. “But it took a while to get it there.”
Making a backyard a comfortable area is hardly a new chore. For years, families have been tying hammocks to trees, building decks and tossing furniture around the grill to feel at home. But a newer trend is creating an outdoor living area, designed to entertain, and, well, live.
“I think it’s picking up, sure,” Hurt said. “You’re seeing a lot more of it now, where it’s designed like it’s a part of the house, rather than a separate area. You’re seeing a full kitchen in some places, with refrigerators, and the grill. In some, you’re even seeing fireplaces.”
Zone 6 showcased two such areas on its recent Garden Tour, with the outdoor living areas built by Tom and Judy Spurgeon and Bill and Vicki Moody. Richard and Faith Coleman also have a living area that’s earned rave reviews.
Rhona Shand, who works at In The Garden Design & Landscaping, said the business had seen an increased desire in outdoor areas.“Especially with gas prices the way that they are, people have been turning backyards into vacation areas for themselves,” Shand said. “They’re like little sanctuaries.”
Shand offered several tips for building an ideal outdoor area. For one, make sure the room reflects the owner’s tastes.
“You design the interior of your house to reflect your taste, and that doesn’t change with the exterior,” Shand said. “We had a woman come in the other day who said she wasn’t sure how to decorate, how to match plants with colors. But she was so impeccably dressed. It’s like your fashion sense. Use the same thought process to match and mold everything together.”
Second, Shand said to remember the room’s function, and decorate accordingly.
Buddy Gorentz, designer for Moore’s Furniture, said to think of the outdoor area as an extension of the owner’s house. There are a variety of looks, fabrics and materials to pull the room together, from green-minded exterior rugs to acid washed concrete, paver stones and porcelain tile. On top of that, chairs made of iron or wicker will help to give options. “The big elements you need to be thinking about are fire, wind and water,” Gorentz said.
Gorentz recommended a fireplace or a fire pit for the fire element. A waterfall, hanging water wall or a fountain make use of water and helps to create pleasing sounds. Wind can be utilized either through perfectly tuned chimes or sheer fabric wrapped around a pole.
“It can really add an elegant glow to the place,” Gorentz said. “The aim is to make the room as comfortable as you can, while also communing with nature.”
Shand said it was also important to create interest in the space year-round by putting in plants for each season.
The room isn’t limited to the back, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, Hurt said one of her favorite past times is sitting out on the front porch the family added about six years ago. The Hurts hung ferns around the porch, giving an element of privacy, while also framing an entry onto the porch.
“Everybody says that it’s almost like walking into a little room,” Hurt said. “We enjoy it.”
The Morning Sun
PITTSBURG — Nancy Hurt said she wanted to make sure they had an area to entertain the family in the backyard.
It didn’t come easily. Hurt, the president of Zone 6 gardeners of Pittsburg, said her property was landlocked, meaning workers, and the Bobcat used for the haul, dragged directly through the yard.
“It was the ultimate sacrifice,” Hurt said. “It was a terrible, terrible mess.”
But in the end, Hurt wound up with a fire pit that the kids could roast marshmallows on.“It was worth it,” Hurt said. “But it took a while to get it there.”
Making a backyard a comfortable area is hardly a new chore. For years, families have been tying hammocks to trees, building decks and tossing furniture around the grill to feel at home. But a newer trend is creating an outdoor living area, designed to entertain, and, well, live.
“I think it’s picking up, sure,” Hurt said. “You’re seeing a lot more of it now, where it’s designed like it’s a part of the house, rather than a separate area. You’re seeing a full kitchen in some places, with refrigerators, and the grill. In some, you’re even seeing fireplaces.”
Zone 6 showcased two such areas on its recent Garden Tour, with the outdoor living areas built by Tom and Judy Spurgeon and Bill and Vicki Moody. Richard and Faith Coleman also have a living area that’s earned rave reviews.
Rhona Shand, who works at In The Garden Design & Landscaping, said the business had seen an increased desire in outdoor areas.“Especially with gas prices the way that they are, people have been turning backyards into vacation areas for themselves,” Shand said. “They’re like little sanctuaries.”
Shand offered several tips for building an ideal outdoor area. For one, make sure the room reflects the owner’s tastes.
“You design the interior of your house to reflect your taste, and that doesn’t change with the exterior,” Shand said. “We had a woman come in the other day who said she wasn’t sure how to decorate, how to match plants with colors. But she was so impeccably dressed. It’s like your fashion sense. Use the same thought process to match and mold everything together.”
Second, Shand said to remember the room’s function, and decorate accordingly.
Buddy Gorentz, designer for Moore’s Furniture, said to think of the outdoor area as an extension of the owner’s house. There are a variety of looks, fabrics and materials to pull the room together, from green-minded exterior rugs to acid washed concrete, paver stones and porcelain tile. On top of that, chairs made of iron or wicker will help to give options. “The big elements you need to be thinking about are fire, wind and water,” Gorentz said.
Gorentz recommended a fireplace or a fire pit for the fire element. A waterfall, hanging water wall or a fountain make use of water and helps to create pleasing sounds. Wind can be utilized either through perfectly tuned chimes or sheer fabric wrapped around a pole.
“It can really add an elegant glow to the place,” Gorentz said. “The aim is to make the room as comfortable as you can, while also communing with nature.”
Shand said it was also important to create interest in the space year-round by putting in plants for each season.
The room isn’t limited to the back, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, Hurt said one of her favorite past times is sitting out on the front porch the family added about six years ago. The Hurts hung ferns around the porch, giving an element of privacy, while also framing an entry onto the porch.
“Everybody says that it’s almost like walking into a little room,” Hurt said. “We enjoy it.”
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