Planning the design of your new home around outdoor entertaining can make it an ideal space for hosting friends and family. Any project is made better with advance planning as well as open communication and collaboration between everyone involved, including the client family, the architects, the designers, and the builders. In this blog we list our tips for creating outdoor entertaining spaces that will make your home useful and enjoyable for years to come.
Creating the Best Outdoor Entertaining spaces
Site Planning
The most important choice you can make in terms of your overall enjoyment of your home will be where to site it on your property. This is especially true if you are planning to build on a piece of land with a view or lakefront access. You will want to optimize the building placement so that the topography of your land is maximized and you will be able to fully enjoy its beauty and special features.
Decide on the type of outdoor entertaining space you want whether that’s a patio, a deck, a fire pit, an outdoor living space, a balcony – or all of the above. Then consider the number of people you intend to entertain. Plan the size of your outdoor space so that your guests will be able to move about freely and in comfort. You should have enough space for seating, dining, lounging, relaxing, and any other outdoor activities you enjoy.
Dining and Relaxing
Is there anything more enjoyable than beginning your day with coffee and the sunrise? One of the reasons people so love lake living in Northern Michigan is that the sound of water is so calming and relaxing. It’s natural stress relief. If you plan the features of your home to take full advantage of its natural gifts, you will get infinitely more enjoyment and satisfaction out of your outdoor spaces.
If you relish dining al fresco, take the time to decide where eating and drinking will be most comfortable and then plan your amenities around views, sun, shade, and access to water.
Outdoor cooking is a great way to entertain guests. Consider adding an outdoor kitchen to your patio or deck space to make it multi-functional. Grilling is fun, but grilling with serious counter space means that the sky is the limit for your cookout ambitions.
Showering Outdoors
Eastmark Construction has built some amazing luxury bathrooms for our client families, but adding a shower outdoors to make cleaning off after swimming or outdoor activity just makes sense for lake homes. It also keeps guests, kids, and animals from dragging too much beach in with them after a day of play and can even be an extra source of fun.
Working in Nature
If you plan on getting work done outdoors, you will need to design your space for maximum productivity. Adding heating and lighting can make the space usable even after hours or when the temperature drops.
The right landscaping can add beauty and privacy to your outdoor space to make it even more conducive for work or fun.
By planning the design of your home building around outdoor entertaining, you will create beautiful and functional spaces that will help you build lasting memories with friends and family for years or decades to come. If you are ready to turn your ideas and dreams into a fully realized home, contact Eastmark Construction today. We’d be delighted to help make that happen for you and your family.