Summer is just around the corner, and it’s time to throw open the windows and breathe in that fresh air. Summer is the season for pool parties, midnight dinner parties, and catching up on your booklist. Now, with barbecue season taunting us all, have you considered expanding your living space to include a relaxing, backyard oasis? Perhaps, an outdoor kitchen, bar, dining space, pool, or a shady spot for lounging.
Summer in Ontario can be hot and humid. Staying cool and comfortable can be a struggle while you’re out and about taking advantage of everything that summer has to offer. So, why not enjoy it from the comfort of your own home? Get your fill of the sun, and then when you’re ready, retreat inside to your cool as a cucumber home. Pools, outdoor kitchens, bars, lounge chairs, and more will make you feel like you’re at the beach but without all the sand and packed parking lots.
Outdoor Bars, Kitchens, and Eating Areas
An outdoor kitchen makes summer entertaining a breeze. Instead of leaving your friends to fend for themselves while you’re stuck in the kitchen prepping, move it all outside! Mingle, and catch up all while getting dinner ready. A basic outdoor kitchen needs a prep station, a fridge, a barbeque, and a seating area. For those looking to go the gourmet route, a smoker and a wood fireplace are excellent additions. Outdoor kitchens are designed with socializing in mind. They’re laid out to facilitate conversation while allowing you to be the height of culinary efficiency. If you have the space for it, consider including both a lounge seating area and a dining area complete with a table and enough chairs for all of your guests.
Pools, Ponds, and Water Features
The sound and sight of running water is without a doubt one of the most calming sounds there is. Combine that with some lounge furniture, beautiful stonework, and a captivating water feature and you have your own private oasis. The perfect backyard pool is the pool that actually gets used, and not just looked at. So, decide what you would like to use your pool for. If you want to do swim laps every day, then make sure your pool is long enough. If you want to spend your evenings soaking in the hot tub with a glass of wine while twinkling fairy lights hang overhead, then make it happen. Consider incorporating water features into your pool for an even more dramatic effect.
The Gardens
It is a scientifically proven fact that spending time in nature, around plants, breathing in fresh air, is good for you – emotionally and physically. Dedicate a space on your property for you to spend some quality time in. Relax, read a book, or even return phone calls and emails! If you work from home there are plenty of ways to get outside while you’re still on the clock. Use a wide offset outdoor umbrella over top of your patio set to keep the sun off your laptop, and make sure that the wireless connection reaches your deck.
