Valley Homes and Style - Outdoor Spaces feature Comfort Amenities

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Outdoor Spaces feature Comfort Amenities

Tina Goff loves spending time outdoors. Last year, she decided to add a pond and waterfall to her backyard in Leetown, W.Va., so she could enjoy the soothing sound of running water nearby. "The pond is now a gathering area for my family," she said. "We are out there every day."

A growing fondness for outdoor living has led to an increased demand for the latest amenities to transform patios and backyards into enhanced settings for relaxation and entertainment. Pam Langland, designer for a local landscape center, says residents in her area are most interested in water features. Like Goff, they ask for waterfalls, ponds, fountains, creeks and stream beds. Fire pits, fireplaces, and seat walls (walls with a built-in bench that surround the patio area) are also in demand.

Perry Leach, owner of A & P Builders in Front Royal, Va., sees the same trend. And when he was living and designing in Northern Virginia, outdoor kitchens were equally sought after.

"Outdoor kitchens have not taken off here yet, but there's potential," he said. "The do-it-yourself channel and cooking network programs have inspired a lot of interest and more people are becoming aware of what's available. Many of the people living here are commuters who might not have time to fully enjoy using the outdoor kitchen. Currently what is very popular here is the combined grill and stove, which replaces the old- fashioned barbecue."

Both designers are well prepared to offer outdoor kitchen features; since they're custom-built one can include as many of its components as desired.

Time and cost depend on the project and its size and intricacies. A fire pit might take a half-day to install, costing $800 to $1,000, with a larger project possibly taking up to nine weeks. Leach says an outdoor kitchen area needs at least 144 square feet, though 200 square feet is better, and 400-to-600 square feet is ideal.

At the start of a project, "the client and I walk through the space and I create a mental picture of it for the client, including focusing on colors, design, and placement," Leach said. "We discuss the various alternatives without being overly extravagant."

He added, "Creating these spaces is not a one-stop deal. There are so many options, most people change their designs sometimes up to the last day. Often people don't know what they want until they see it physically there. When they go on the Internet they'll see more options yet and ask for changes."

Outdoor spaces increase the value of the home. "Any kind of landscape does," Langland said. She also sees them as a boon for the family's lifestyle.

Fire pits extend time outdoors to include spring and fall. "People don't have time to get away as much and can have everything right there after a stressful day," she said. "Features like waterfalls are restful and create a backyard retreat kind of feeling."

Leach recommends these spaces to families who love the outdoors and have a passion for cooking and entertaining. "Business people use these outdoor kitchen areas to entertain their clients and employees. They're for people who live for a sunny day and can't wait to get out."

For clients in Fredericksburg, Va, in two and a half weeks Leach and his associates designed an outdoor entertainment area that includes a built-in grill, two sinks, refrigerator, soda machine, a built-in chess/checker table on a wraparound tile counter, ceiling fans, and a covered roof. Ceiling fans and built-in tiki torches fight off mosquitoes.

Langland said that new materials make upkeep easier than ever. According to Leach, "A pavilion type setting and use of stainless steel components help people get as much use as possible out of their spaces, rain or shine."