Our client had a small courtyard that she wanted to make more user-friendly all year round. While she had a lovely northern aspect, which she wanted to keep, she also wanted weather protection. There was a temporary structure in place that really was not fit for purpose.
After
We worked around the design constraints and council regulations and managed to incorporate all the elements that our client wanted. The result is a winter and summer space that she can come home to and a little haven to relax in.
Be inspired by these five 2018 design trends for patio, pergola, decking and alfresco areas. We hope you are inspired to create your perfect outdoor space.
Do you need help creating your perfect outdoor space?
If you would like to discuss how to create a beautiful outdoor area designed specifically for you and your lifestyle, contact Letitia today.
If you’re thinking about creating a beautiful alfresco area, you may be interested in some of the 2018 alfresco design trends.
Flexible covering
Having a flexible cover over your alfresco area provides you with a beautiful and functional outdoor area that you can use all year round. Increasing in popularity are roof covers with ventilation, such as the Louvretec opening roofs. Not only do these designs help your alfresco to stay cool and shady during Summer, they help reduce the wear and tear of your patio and outdoor furniture.
Seamless Indoor/Outdoor Living
Creating a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces is certainly one of the most popular design factors when creating your alfresco area. Not only can you effectively double your living space, you have a variety of options to achieve this look, including
Glass walls or large windows
Adding a deck
Incorporating a roof or cover over your alfresco area
Matching your interior/exterior decor
Outdoor Lighting
Having the right lighting can really impact the atmosphere of our patio, pergola or decking. It is also well known that a good lighting plan can increase the value of your property. Some of the popular outdoor lighting techniques include:
Wall lights with covers
Lights underneath steps or ledges
Fairy lights / hanging lights
Solar lighting along the garden edge or path
Outdoor kitchens
It’s quite common to see families cooking outdoors in Australia – we have great weather for it! And because of that incorporating an outdoor kitchen into your alfresco area is definitely one of the design trends we are seeing. In fact, we recently shared six things to consider when designing your outdoor kitchen.
Fire Pits
We don’t really think of, or use, fire pits in the warmer months, but they are one of the latest trends in outdoor living. While the idea itself is not new this feature is gaining popularity in new homes. They are a great way to enjoy your alfresco space in the cooler weather and are low maintenance too.
If you are looking to design a stunning alfresco area, contact us to discuss how we can help you create your ultimate alfresco.
Project of the Month Creating Comfort – October 2018
Before
Our client had a deck but wanted to extend their entertaining area to make it more comfortable. They also wanted to create a smooth transition between their new pool, their alfresco area, and their existing house.
After
We created a fully engineered deck upstairs to extend their space. Adding a LouvreTec roof system provided controlled coverage so they can comfortably use the deck all year around. Replacing fencing with a glass balustrade created the seamless transition to the pool that our clients were looking for. It also finished off the alfresco space beautifully.
Christmas is a time for gathering of family and friends, so having a space that is roomy, yet comfortable is important.
Are you planning a new alfresco area for Christmas? Or perhaps renovating your existing patio or pergola?
If so, then now is the time to start planning.
Why now?
Now is the time to start because the design, planning and pre-build process can take a few weeks – depending on where you live, the Council requirements, your design concepts, and more.
So, there’s a bit involved before you get to the actual building of your beautiful alfresco space. And time can be your worst enemy if wanting your new alfresco area before Christmas.
The lead up to Christmas is always the busiest because the weather has warmed up and people are starting to head outdoors. And that’s when you realise you want to make your alfresco area as comfortable and as beautiful as inside your home.
We usually see an increase in the number of calls or emails requesting information, or a quote to design and build an alfresco area before Christmas.
By starting now, you may have not left it too late to make a decision to get a new outdoor space completed before the Christmas break.
How you can speed up the process
There is a lot of decision making in designing your new alfresco area. We suggest starting with answering these five questions.
To help you decide, consider your outdoor area. Talk to us about the different design options. Think about how you’re going to use your alfresco area once it’s built.
Most people who want a new outdoor area prior to Christmas want it specifically for an event as they have friends or family coming. So, being prepared with your planning now is really important to make sure there’s enough time to complete the build.
What’s involved in the process
If you’re not quite sure what your options are we can guide you through this process.
At Ultimate Alfresco, we have developed an eight-step process to make sure your project meets all your needs, is hassle-free and planned to ensure there are no hidden costs.
One of the steps involved is submitting to Council for a building permit. This can take time, especially if there is a requirement to apply for a planning approval before the building permit. The time it takes will depend on each individual application. This is because it includes determining factors such as proximity to adjoining boundaries, the location of the proposed patio or pergola just to name a few. The planning approval can take six weeks on average. The benefit is Ultimate Alfresco process all the local Council paperwork for you.
Once the building permit has been approved we can move to have your new alfresco area built.
How long will my new alfresco take to be built
It really depends on the simplicity or complexity of your alfresco design. A worst case scenario to build your new alfresco area is three months start to finish. In saying that, the average time it takes Ultimate Alfresco to build is two to four weeks.
With the end of the year in the not too distant future, the time to act is now. Spending time planning and designing now will allow you more time for you to enjoy your new alfresco, deck, patio or pergola with your friends or family this Summer.
If you’re looking to add an outdoor space before Christmas contact Ultimate Alfresco to discuss how we can help you.
