There’s nothing South Africans love more than gathering with their friends and family, lighting a braai, and enjoying an evening outside sharing a delicious meal. Thanks to our climate, outdoor spaces can be used almost year-round, which is why the patio space is often considered one of the most important areas of the house. Antoinette Horngren, junior partner and professional architect at JK Design Architects, has compiled some of her best design tips to create the most luxurious patio space imaginable.
Protection from the elements
Even though South Africa has a temperate climate, it can still be sweltering in summer and nippy in winter. The rising or setting sun can create glare and hot spots, while the wind and mosquitos can cause irritations when you’re enjoying a meal outside. The starting point for mitigating all of these issues and opening your patio up to myriad extended possibilities is to treat it as part of your interior space by fully enclosing it.
Having a fixed roof over the patio, instead of a pergola for example, with folding or sliding glass doors that enclose it while still granting extended views outside, ensures that the patio space can be treated as an indoor room with all the protection and niceties that go along with that.
Consider also how overhangs and shade screens might protect against harsh sunlight throughout the day, making the room pleasant at all times.
Furnish well
Gone are the days when patio furniture was favoured exclusively for its durable and hardwearing qualities more than its aesthetic appeal. With the blurred lines between indoor and outdoor living come the possibilities for high-end luxurious furniture and décor items that prioritise comfort and relaxation.
With dining furniture, consider the fact that comfortable seating with cushioning may encourage a better dining experience overall, while larger tables allow for more people to gather together. Patio lounge suites don’t have to be sun- and water-resistant when your patio is sufficiently protected from the elements, so you can splurge on comfy sofas and intricate side tables.
Don’t be afraid to add luxuries
Investing in air conditioning or an overhead fan might seem like overkill for a patio that you can open up to the outside breezes, but on a scorching hot day it may be the very thing you need to enjoy the space. Heaters in winter can allow you to have cosy patio dinners with outside views without exposing yourself to the elements, and built-in mosquito screens over windows are a sure-fire way to ensure you can bring in the breeze without the bugs. Ambient and mood lighting is so important to the success of a room – don’t be afraid to add pretty downlighters to your patio space with a floor lamp or two to really elevate the experience.
Don’t forget to add décor and your own personal flair to the space through the use of cushions, art, candles and plants. All these luxuries come together to create a space that is comfortable and beautiful no matter what the situation, so you can get the full use and joy out of the space.
Make it versatile
In the wake of the pandemic, having multifunctional and versatile spaces in your home has been elevated to top priority. Patios can be one of the most versatile rooms in your home due to their potential for both indoor and outdoor living, as well as their biophilic connection to nature through views and openable sliding doors.
Patio spaces designed well can also transform into home offices, home gyms, pilates/yoga spaces, kids’ playrooms, and simply relaxation retreats. The key to designing this space in particular is to understand your own daily and weekly routines well, and to have set priorities on how you want to use the space. Architects who practise empathetic design, like JK Design Architects, can help guide you through this process and in turn, create the patio space of your dreams.
Visit https://jkdesigns.co.za
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