outdoor lighting units 94% gas grill 86% mosquito eliminators 79

{by lisa arsenault}
Cozying up to a warm fireplace, entertaining friends and family
or watching the latest episode of “Extreme Makeover” are no
longer activities you have to do inside. As lives get busier and
more time is spent in crowded spaces, people are starting to
put a greater emphasis on creating a space they can call their
own. And as homeowners look to increase the value of their
residential investments, yet immediately enjoy the fruits of their
labor, they are looking just outside their doors for inspiration.
“The outdoor living boom has clearly moved from being ‘just a
trend’ to a lifestyle,” says Susan McCoy, outdoor living trend
spotter and president of the Garden Media Group. She adds that
people are transforming their ordinary backyards into “specialty
rooms” complete with kitchens, bars, TVs and even heaters for
cool nights. Flowers, shrubs and trees are being used as accents,
room dividers, carpets and curtains.
It’s easy to bring outdoor entertainment to a new level
of enjoyment with TVs and stereos engineered for outdoor
installation. Anti-glare LCD screens and all-weather enclosures
that protect internal components from rain, dirt, insects, and the
occasional errant sprinkler make it possible to never miss the big
game or your favorite movie while you lounge in the comfort of
your backyard.
And pool tables can be more than a flat surface near a chaise
lounge to hold your drink. You can actually grab your cue and rack
up a game of 8 Ball with tables made of acrylic fiber with waterand U.V.-resistant characteristics which repel water and sunlight
under normal outdoor conditions.
According to a national consumer survey on the outdoor living
trend in the United States conducted by the Propane Education
& Research Council (PERC), consumers across the country are
spending more time at home and are showing an increasing
interest in outdoor rooms.
Kate Caskin, vice president of PERC says, “The last couple of
years we have seen a surge in activity for consumers incorporating
grills, fire pits, heaters, lights, mosquito zappers and water
heaters to create more living space in outdoor rooms.”
“For years outdoor space was neglected but homeowners are
quickly realizing they can increase the value of their homes by
simply creating an extension of the house right outside the back
www.windermere.com
inside out
door,” according to Kathy Peterson, style columnist for The Palm
Beach Post and author of Kathy Peterson’s Great Outdoor Decorating
Makeovers. “Additionally, guests are generally attracted to the
casual feel that outdoor entertaining offers.”
“The buzz word in outdoor living is ‘deep seating’ with the
emphasis on a cozy, luxurious look with ‘heavy’ furniture of wood
teak or cast aluminum ‘wicker’ with 5-6 inch thick cushions,”
describes Peterson.
“We are also seeing the creation of ‘pockets of calm’ in these
outdoor areas, where people can retreat and get pleasure from
some quiet solitude,” she added.
The PERC survey supports Peterson’s observation of the
market. It showed that creating a space to relax and entertain is
among the top reasons homeowners decide to add or remodel an
outdoor room.
And, taking advantage of all the space you own—both inside and
out—is just one more way to maximize your real estate investment.
Percentage of homeowners who say they
would definitely or probably include each
feature in an outdoor room they design:
outdoor lighting units
gas grill
mosquito eliminators
outdoor fireplace or pit
patio heaters
94%
86%
79%
67%
53%
Source: 2007 Propane Education & Research Council survey.
NORTHWEST HOMES & LIFESTYLES 5