Northwest Style: Staying Cozy Outside

Yes, I know, it rains a little here in the Northwest! On the other hand, the concept of outdoor living is gaining some serious grip here, and we’re seeing more and more homeowners needing this type of life. Here are 10 examples of great exterior living spaces can be accomplished in locales with less than optimum weather.

Kaufman Homes, Inc..

Warm it up. This is a complete outdoor living room with a kitchen, seating area and fireplace. Built-in heaters at the ceiling allows for three-season living.

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design

Celebrate wood and stone. We enjoy our rocks and we enjoy our timber here in the Northwest. This is more than just a fireplace. It’s a fireplace wall serving two purposes: keeping some weather out and making this terrace more like a living area.

Thomas Fine, GMB CGR & CGP

Cover a destination place. This covered pergola gives a nice area for entertaining and enjoying the built-in fireplace. By separating it from the house, it turns into a destination place in the lawn.

kim E. rooney

Insert an extra barrier. By nearly closing up the wall on one side, this outdoor amusement area becomes more weatherproof. Speakers, an integrated TV and all-weather furniture finish the design.

Bosworth Hoedemaker

Build for the Whole family. A rustic picnic table, big stone fireplace and hearth create this all about parties. I can just imagine summer evenings with all the adults hanging out round the table and kids roasting marshmallows in the fire.

Julie & Jon Nordby

Use mild to extend your time outdoors. Warm summer evenings outside are much less fun when you can not find the person sitting next to you. This outdoor living area is lit incredibly well, by a light onto the table to landscape light around the staircase and fireplace, particularly useful for cloudier times (of which we have quite a few).

Samuel H. Williamson Associates

Cover a spa for year-round soaking. A simple structure with aluminum roof is utilized to make this spa usable all year. There’s something especially invigorating about hot-tubbing in the winter.

Darwin Webb Landscape Architects, P.S.

Bring out the inside. This elevated patio area along with the rear of a residence is coated with a frosted glass panels to allow light to come through. Even on a gray day, it will still be a fantastic spot to hang out by the fireplace. And because it’s not too deep, this is a great way to reach outdoor living spaces in more urban settings.

Bring the outdoors in. Occasionally spaces constraints don’t allow for expansive outdoor entertaining areas. By using glass garage doors or just a window (imagine a complete wall of sliding glass doors), the exterior seems to flow smoothly inside. This is another great choice in more urban surroundings where space is limited.

Next: Browse more photographs of patio layouts

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