HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS
DESIGNS ON OUTDOOR LIVING Summer fun at your place doesn’t just happen by chance. You need to design and build for it. As Kiwis we hold the concept of outdoor living close to our hearts yet often our homes fall short of our dreams. In the past, houses such as villas and bungalows were designed to face the street - no matter which way the site was oriented. When you build new, you have the advantage of making the most of the sun and gaining better privacy. At Box™, we appreciate that the great outdoors can be even greater with good design. Creating a seamless transition between inside and out is a given but, beyond that, there are many design tricks to ensure you can enjoy the backyard at its best. Here are a few ideas to consider: • Can you ‘wrap’ the house around the garden to create shelter? L-shaped homes or U-shaped ones (with a central courtyard) are popular because they keep prevailing winds at bay. • Holiday homes can be efficiently planned to include two ‘pods’ - one for living, the other for sleeping - that sandwich a covered deck. • Often, several outdoor spaces can be designed into the plan: one to capture morning sun, another for evening sun-downers, a third for a private eyrie away from the kids. • Create a covered ‘room’ (perhaps with a louvred roof) where one wall is shared with the house so you can install a double-sided, built-in fireplace. • Often two-storey homes can include an overhang which cantilevers as a roof over the outdoor area. • What about a sunken fire-pit with built-in bench seating? These make great gathering points for casual entertaining and come into their own when the winter chill sets in.
The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied
• Balustrades are a legal requirement for decks or balconies that often face a stunning view. Glass is the best choice for keeping people safe, while not compromising the PN outlook but palisade-like vertical battens do a similar job. F BOX LIVING, T: 0800 717 717, or T: 09 520 5030, www.box.co.nz
DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH
PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2017
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