Outdoor Living Is the New Norm
If you are an HGTV enthusiast, then you’ve probably seen the explosion of the outdoor living space trend. Your normal “plain Jane” pool, with gray concrete and an old school pressure treated deck, no longer makes the cut. Requests from homeowners now include luxurious designs, often inspired from their most recent beach resort vacation. Covered spaces, hardscapes, maintenance-free decks, outdoor kitchens, elaborate fire pits and/or fireplaces, water features, creative conversation areas and entertainment spaces are on everyone’s radar.
Product Advancements
As recent as 2000, outdoor living space elements like kitchens and fire/water features barely existed beyond a brick grill unit or manufactured retaining wall block. In the last decade or so, the outdoor living market has exploded, in part due to demand and product advancements. At Derby City Pools, we have designed and built some incredible outdoor living spaces. Now that it’s possible to accomplish the same level of quality and design for both indoor and outdoor spaces, it is critically important to choose durable low-maintenance products and materials that will withstand our climate in the Ohio Valley.
Photo Caption: Stacked stone is not only beautiful, but it also creates retaining walls and areas for landscaping.
Properly selected materials will outperform others and will allow for an array of design options, including composites that look like real wood and are virtually indestructible. We are seeing more families ask for outdoor kitchens that can operate independently from the home’s indoor kitchen. These outdoor spaces include running water, gas grilling options and accompanying pizza ovens, small wine refrigerators, kegerators and ice makers. Cabinets come with plenty of space for all the cookware and beverage glasses. Plenty of lighting and heaters make the outdoor kitchens usable almost year-round in Kentucky.
Pergolas, Pavers and Stacked Stone!
We are also seeing a high demand for hardscape products in the outdoor living spaces and feel this will be a continuing trend. High-end products in this area have been developing rapidly, including porcelain pavers, stacked stone veneer, stamped concrete plank pavers, outdoor tile and larger slab paver products. Other trending products include automated louvered shade structures, pergolas and covered pavilions. There is something very nice about having an outdoor fan above your entertaining space.
Outdoor kitchens are common requests for customers of Derby City Pools, and they can be very simple or elaborate. Know how you want to use your space and make sure your contractor asks and answers all the right questions.
Most outdoor kitchens and living spaces provide significant return on investment (ROI) for homeowners. The top features providing excellent ROI include patios and outdoor kitchens. Other types of outdoor spaces with good ROI include wooden decks, fire pits and pergolas, or an extended roof overhang.
Large or Small You Can Have That Oasis
At Derby City Pools, we feel customers will continue to demand sophisticated, tailored designs that mimic home interiors. Whether the area is large or small, inviting outdoor rooms can create a stylish, calming oasis for entertaining and daily living.
