By Cathy Hobbs
McClatchy-Tribune
As warm, balmy days give way to cool, fall nights, so comes the desire to continue to enjoy outdoor entertainment spaces year-round.
Bringing the indoors out has long been desirable for those looking to enjoy their outdoor spaces all year. An outdoor living space can be just that, a living space that serves as an additional room. Outdoor kitchens and fireplaces are often considered to be luxury, high ticket items, but it is possible to incorporate them into your home in an affordable way. Outdoor spaces can also be done simply and successfully.
Outdoor kitchens
From outdoor grilling to full-blown kitchens, who doesnt like to cook outside and dine alfresco? Outdoor kitchens while often the standard in many luxury homes on the West Coast where warm nights are more plentiful can truly be an extension of any home, no matter the geographic location.
Outdoor kitchens have a lure and appeal on their own. Outdoor kitchens, just like in a home, can truly serve as the heart of any outdoor living environment. Some of the must-haves for an outdoor kitchen include a grilling surface and small refrigerator. Want to splurge? Why not add an oven, and a fixed seating area like an elevated bar or built-in bench seating?
Outdoor fireplaces
From residential homes in popular vacation and entertaining destinations like the Hamptons to outdoor nightclubs in destinations such as Ibiza, Spain, and Mykonos, Greece, I have experienced and appreciated outdoor fireplaces firsthand.
Whether it is for warmth or for aesthetic reasons there is simply a certain amount of romanticism associated with fire. An outdoor fireplace can serve as not only the center of a dramatic and luxurious outdoor living space used for entertaining, but also a more subdued and rustic experience, perfect for quiet nights spent around the fire with loved ones.
Read more from the original source:
Ways to enjoy outdoor living spaces during winter