Susan Chell **
S OLD
Sarah Toll**
S OLD
kitchissippitimes
KitchissippiTimes
Patti Brown*
A cozy outdoor living room with an outdoor TV. Photo courtesy of Yards Unlimited Landscaping Inc.
HOMES & CONDOS • September 2020 • 30
kitchissippi.com
@Kitchissippi
125-205 Bolton St – Byward Market
15 Ross Ave – Wellington Village
S OLD
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624 Byron Ave – Highland Park
218 Plymouth St – Glebe Annex
Contact us for a Market Evaluation TEAM
613-563-1717 • mail@susanchell.com *Sales Representative
**Broker
Optimize your space with recent trends in outdoor living By Hollie Grace James As establishments begin to reopen, with COVID-19 regulations strictly in place, many people are still opting to stay home, preferring solitude, or gathering with their friends and loved ones away from the crowds. In doing so, creating the perfect outdoor oasis has never been so appealing. And it doesn’t require tons of square footage, or an entire overhaul, to construct a blissful backyard that, although only a few steps away, feels like a total escape to your own private, heavenly hideaway. Denise Hulaj and Jason Bellaire, partners at StyleHaus Interiors at 372 Piccadilly Ave., explain that outdoor spaces have been gaining popularity over the last few years. Even prior to COVID-19, people have become increasingly invested in these exclusive sanctuaries. Although the tough Canadian winters may limit their year-round usage, this doesn’t mean adjustments can’t be made in order to optimize
their functionality as the seasons change. Rochelle Spracklin, of Yards Unlimited Landscaping Inc. at 77 Holland Ave., explains that outdoor “rooms” have been on trend recently. Clients are adding reading areas, conversation pits and even outdoor televisions, with the goal of using their backyard as an extension of their home. But scrap the typical dining table and chairs with an umbrella, say Hulaj and Bellaire, and focus on lounge seating, outdoor kitchens, pizza ovens and fire pits. Spracklin echoed something similar, explaining that these features create warmth and coziness, extending the summer season. “Add a pergola, screen or gazebo to protect you from the elements during the off seasons,” Spracklin said. “[And] night lighting adds ambiance, [so] even when the snow flies, you can have a different visual effect.” Currently, as clients look to create homey, relaxing backyard spaces that can be used everyday, Spracklin is noticing an increased