Six Inspiring Outdoor Living Spaces

Nod Off

Before the days of air conditioning, sleeping porches helped folks make it through balmy summer nights — especially in the South. A sleeping porch is a semi-enclosed space situated a deck or balcony so that it can catch a breeze. It can be screened or not and can sport anything from a plush bed to a relaxing hammock. Since most homes are climate controlled these days, you’d think a sleeping porch would be a thing of the past, but they’ve made a resurgence in recent years, offering home owners an outdoor escape to read, nap or take in a touch of nature.

Photo: Rick Hammer, Courtesy Lands End Development 

See also: Buildling a Deck at Your Timber Home

Make Your Walls Disappear

A traditional wall of windows, so common in timber homes, is a superb way to enjoy a view, but it doesn’t provide access to the great outdoors. You can solve that problem with a retractable window wall. Not only will you enjoy expansive vistas through the glass, the panels fold in on themselves (disappearing into the wall) or lift (like a garage door) to allow you to create that coveted indoor/outdoor lifestyle. If this is an option on your wish list, just be sure to tell your timber provider early in the design phase, so he or she can ensure the structure is properly supported when the windows are wide open.

Photo: Heidi Long, Courtesy The Jarvis Group and Krekow-Jennings

See also: Can a Timber Home Have Too Many Windows?

Add Firepower

Nothing draws a party outside like a toasty, aromatic fire. It can be as rough-and-ready as a rock-ringed firepit or as enduring as a full-on outdoor fireplace. If the latter is on your wish list (and within your budget) there are a few considerations to keep in mind: 

First, be smart when it comes to size. While a grand outdoor hearth is appealing, it may not be practical for the space you have or the scale of your home. Also, remember that a wood-burning fireplace will require more space than a gas-fired unit because the a larger firebox is necessary to burn the logs safely. If you’re more interested in ambiance than heat, a smaller style may be enough. 

Then, position it properly. An outdoor fireplace is right at home out in the yard or near your house. It can be freestanding or share a chimney with an indoor hearth. But before you commit to a location, contact your local zoning office about any restrictions, so your plans don’t go up in smoke.

Photo: Appalachian Antique Hardwoods

See also: Where Should Your Chimney Go–Inside or Out?

Consider a Countryside Canteen

A true outdoor kitchen is so much more than a grill and a beer keg. To get the full experience, outfit yours with a full suite of appliances, including a gas grill that has rotisserie and smoker capabilities and side burners to roast veggies or boil water alfresco. A separate kamado grill offers a charcoal option for that flavor only a coal fire can provide. Don’t forget weatherproof cabinetry, a sink, a refrigerator for condiments and separate one for wine and spirits and an ice machine. Cooking in shifts? A warming drawer is a nice extra that will ensure your food is ready to eat when you are. Quartz counters are just as desirable outside as they are in, and a retractable awning will allow you to keep the BBQ red-hot, rain or shine.

Photo: Jenn-Air

See also: Five Tips for Great Outdoor Kitchen Design

Get Grounded

If your timber home is located on difficult terrain, you don’t have to fight the landscape to enjoy a healthy dose of the great outdoors — invite it inside instead! Take this home gym as inspiration: Located amidst a sandstone outcropping, the space is built right into an enormous boulder, which also features an indoor swim spa and a host of fitness equipment among a garden of ferns and flowers. As an added bonus, the sandstone helps to keep the humid space cool and comfortable. 

Photo: James Ray Spahn

See also: Special Spaces: Four Rooms to Personalize Your Timber Home