It’s a lovely notion to extend the space you have for relaxing and entertaining. Add a deck, a porch, or a patio and instantly, there’s more space. But how do you create a sense of flow and continuity to draw family and guests from one area to the next?
The first step, according to Theresa Mullins, landscape designer for McDonald Garden Centers, is to think about how you will use the space. How many people should the space accommodate? Will you or your guests dine there? Do you need to consider seating, kids on skateboards, or accessibility issues? And what about pets — any special considerations there?
It’s also important to think about the views — from the inside out and the outside in. You want to see something beautiful when you look
out your window, just as you do when you’re relaxing in the space where that something beautiful is planted. Sound is a vital part of the continuum as well. A water fountain, for example, can help convey a feeling of calmness.
An Action Plan
That’s the kind of site evaluation Linda and Chuck McCurdy needed when they came to Mullins for help, and she walked them through it. The couple wanted to expand their leisure space to the outdoors, but there were several
factors they needed to consider. “We had a grill we wanted to incorporate and a new screened-in porch that we’d just added,” Linda says. “And we also wanted a fountain and outdoor lighting. We basically wanted another living area off
the porch that extended into the yard.”
To create a patio that has the feel of a seamless extension of the McCurdys’ home, Mullins began by thinking of the outdoor spaces as separate rooms. “The front of the house is the public space, the sides are utilitarian space, and the back is for entertaining,” she explains.
In conceiving the layout, Mullins considered fluidity of movement, envisioning a path leading from the house to the porch, incorporating broad porch steps that extend onto the patio with no abrupt change in the natural flow. She placed the fountain the McCurdys requested to ensure they would hear the sound of the water from their porch. She also added an arbor against one of the fountain walls to create depth.
Furnishings are another important factor in establishing continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces. Mullins suggests using the same color schemes on your porch and patio as you do in your home, and carrying through
some of the same cushions, colors, and textures while using complementary furniture. You might also consider an outdoor rug, to create added warmth. |
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As for plants, Mullins didn’t just plan for daytime color. “When you’re tired and it’s dark, it’s nice to have a place of lit serenity,” she says. For the McCurdys’ property she chose a Japanese maple as the focal point and used outdoor lighting to accent the fountain with low lighting that mimics moonlight on the tree line.
To provide afternoon shade in an outdoor space, Mullins recommends crepe myrtles, which provide 120 days of color. And in the winter, their bark has an interesting texture. Autumn fern, a hearty bronze evergreen, is another good choice. The autumn fern Mullins added to the McCurdys’ space is thoroughly enjoying its home beside the misting fountain. Hearty ‘Knock Out’ roses — a favorite of Mullins— complete the landscape.
Like many homeowners, the McCurdys had pets to consider as well.
“Their two dogs are a big part of their family,” Mullins says. “But they act more like well-behaved humans, so I didn’t have to worry about them too much.” Still, all the plants used in the space are pet-friendly. “Some plants don’t mind dog activity and some can’t take it,” Mullins adds.
High and Dry
In Hampton Roads, on the edge of the bay, there’s often a need for drainage solutions, and the McCurdys’ property was no exception. “The house is gorgeous — it’s a historic plantation area,” says Mullins. “But homes were built a little lower in those days. So we had to build up the walkways and patio and tie the downspouts into the overall drainage plan.”
While they were elevating, the McCurdys decided to tear up the front walk and bring the continuity they were creating in that third room in the back into the public space out front. “They have a beautiful entryway door, and the poured concrete sidewalk was muting it,” Mullins says. “We broadened the walkway and gave the front of the house more presence using the same pavers we used in the walkway, which wrapped around to the patio, and in the patio itself. These pavers, in morocco beige, are a poured concrete product but have the look and feel of natural cobblestone.” Using four differentsized pavers placed in a modular pattern, Mullins created the look of a European plaza.
Although every yard is different, the principle is the same. A layout that presents a smooth flow between indoor and outdoor spaces makes both more inviting. “The patio adds polish to our backyard,” says Linda McCurdy, “and we use the entire space every day.” And the dogs do too, but fortunately, they’re discreet. |