Skip to main content

Quick and Cheap Backyard Entertaining


Inspiration

The homeowner wanted an inexpensive solution for converting their driveway from a place to park their car to a space that could be used for entertaining during the hot summers. Furthermore, the homeowners wanted to keep the house shaded so that their energy costs would be lower, keep direct sun off of their container garden so that the plants don't wilt in the summer heat, but at the same time to not completely shade the sun loving plants.


Existing Conditions


This portion of the driveway was mostly unused and is located behind an existing gate so that the area was already private and secluded from the front yard. This space is a southern exposure so the area is very warm in the summer. There is a container garden of sun loving fruit trees, vegetables, and other plants along the side of the driveway.


Decorating, Design, and Styling Services Provided


A new terra-cotta colored custom fabric retractable awning was installed on teh side of the house. The awning is made from a screen type fabric to allow some light to come through so that the container garden plants still receive some sunlight. This screen fabric was enough to keep the plants from wilting while still allowing the awning to keep most of the direct sun off of the side of the house to keep it cool and reduce energy consumption. The terra-cotta color was chosen to match the Spanish style architecture of the house.
Since the space needed to be convertible from a car parking space to an entertaining space, the homeowners opted to use inexpensive folding chairs and a table so that they can be easily stored away when not needed and a car needed to be parked on this backyard portion of the driveway. But, using an area rug and other design accessories, the space can still look very nice when entertaining. Some accessories include LED string lights, table lanterns, a bright table cloth, and a new semi-custom DIY fire bowl.










Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Space Planning Principles to Live By

Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash Let's talk about space planning, which leads to the basic layout of a room. But first, it starts with an in-depth analysis of how the space is to be used, taking into account all who live in the home and even some visitors to the home. Rooms and spaces within rooms are zoned to account for different activities that take place in a space. For example, a large open-concept great room may have a zone for living (watching TV, reading a book, holding a casual conversation, etc) and a zone for dining (both day to day eating as well as dinner parties). Circulation zones that show how people will move through the space are defined in the space planning process; you don't want furniture to get in the way of people's expected movements. The space plan is finished by adding the furniture, decor, accessory, and artwork details. Some times, there are conflicts that need to be resolved during the space planning process. For example, perhaps a q...

Space Planning Principles for your Kitchen

Commercial Photography Services Photo by OVOLO Interiors See these principles in action on our Houzz ideabook. Planning a new kitchen or planning to remodel your existing kitchen? Below are some space planning principles to keep in mind for this area of the home. Please note that these principles can also be applied to outdoor kitchens and cooking areas. The kitchen is considered by many to be the heart of the home. It's a place where people tend to gather, which is why many recently built or remodeled kitchens tend to favor open floor plans and expansive places to sit and/or stand. Kitchens should be both functional and fashionable: a place for you (and your family) as well as guests and visitors; it should be about the gatherings and conversations as much as about the cooking, snacking, and food storage. Here are a few space planning principles to keep in mind for the kitchen: Kitchens should have an efficient work triangle and optimal (and ideally non-overlappin...

Space Planning Principles for your Bedrooms

OVOLO Project Portfolio Photo: Contemporary Spa-Like Master Bedroom Makeover See these principles in action on our Houzz ideabook. Planning to redecorate or buy new furniture for your bedroom, guest room, or kids room? Below are some space planning principles to keep in mind for these areas of the home. Bedrooms are vital places in the home; they are places to relax and unwind, places to revitalize and rest, and places to get ready for the day. Bedrooms should be both functional and fashionable: they should look great while maintaining the functions of their core vitality discussed previously. Here are a few space planning principles to keep in mind for the bedroom: Bedrooms should provide an anchored and logical space for the bed. Typically, this is done through the use of architectural features and/or accent walls and beds are also typically placed in a way so that the front is roughly opposite of the entrance to the bedroom. Bedrooms should have adequate stora...