Outdoor/Backyard Creativity
I have just stayed up all last night (until 5 am) to design a unique finished basement. I awoke a few short hours later to spend the day working on a re-design of a 2-story home, so at 5 pm I could meet these nice people and show them the plans in South Milwaukee. I sure enjoy taling new homes with nice people! The dinner was good too, but I digress. I tell you this as my “excuse” to keep this rather short. I realize I have an obligation to keep my blog updated but this is not the night for length so here-goes.
In my previous posting I talked about the passion I have for trying to design outdoor spaces that are a continuation of the interior of the home. If I had my way, my designs would remind you more of being an actual outside room rather than just a deck or patio or porch.
I wrote about my ideas I am currently designing into my “Hybrid Ranch ” design(see my first blog post). In showing any home, I think it best to approach it like a play. That is to say, there needs to be a proper introduction or anticipation. This is the look of the home from a distance. I might say “curb appeal” but that does not take the concept far enough. The mere shadow shapes or silhouette of a certain home in the distance(before “curb appeal”) should , in a perfect world, be distinct enough to have viewers be drawn to the building for the sheer architectural interest. Take, for example, a castle. The mere shape draws you into an anticipation to see inside. Now, take the closer approach, as the viewer moves-in for a better look. This is the curb appeal. Not all homes have the appeal of distance but most have some degree of closer curb appeal. A simple shaped home could have a certain detail (a front door or real working shutters, or a fanciful roof shingle pattern) or a more sophisticated home could have a fountain or intricate masonry, or perhaps a sidewalk that allows visitors to walk over a waterfall(an extreme but real example we have done ).
As you go onto the front porch, you have now moved into the storyline of this living “play” I am referring too. The porch should reveal more surprises or details. This is telling more of the story. Maybe a real wood porch floor, or some railing patterns that are unique, or a different type of furniture or fresh flowers. Moving into the foyer reveals the next act of our home’s “play” and as you progress through the home, each new area should tell another part of the whole story of who the home’s occupants are. As I blog further into the future, perhaps we can discuss the best ways to make each room speak clearly and have a singular distinct message all it’s own. As you get to the end of the home(usually the backyard or basement, you need a grand finale for your play. I once had a home where it was feasible that the grand finale might just be the basement guest bathroom! Now for some folks, they might end their visit in the basement theatre. If that was the case, the theatre was indeed a great grand finale spot to visit. But,…what IF the visitors last new thing/room they viewed was the basement bathroom? If the last impression (as important or more important than the first impression) is not strong, the home’s overall impression will not be strong and the great rooms, or story we are telling becomes watered-down, or weak, or just not letting the play end with a “bang” of memory. I had to make sure that for those ending their visit in that last room, they had something worthy of being their grand finale. I decided to make this bathroom opulent-extreme, with a real claw foot tub, rounded walls to follow the tub contours, and all real wood wall panels(painted white) with a huge/long sink area wall but done classy with only a small bowl pedestal sink and arching themed twin cabinet towers with simple oval mirror and twin wall sconce lights. The result was enhanced by a special music track which played exclusively in that room sounded like the finale!
In many cases the back yard is the finale and this needs to be treated as the most likely grand finale, final act of our “play“. This is where my energy has expired for the night and so, I will continue this tomorrow morning when I find the refreshed power to give this outdoor decor report my “grand Finale”
Thanks for reading. I would love to hear your comments to see if anyone is reading my ramblings. We did sell another home today and I am feeling overwhelmed by the number of homes we are now selling in the past week(s).
Blessings,
Tom Hignite
