Design 101 - Rick Goldstein's 10 Tips for Getting the Right Outdoor Living Structure

Suzanne Tucker & Todd R. Cole

Outdoor living structures are popular for a variety of reasons. They add visual interest to your yard, provide a sense of privacy and potentially can increase your home's value. If you're considering adding a structure to your landscape architect Rick Goldstein outlines 10 things to consider:

Carrie Leber PR Book Launch Party1. To make a project more successful, develop your budget parameters prior to starting the design process. With limited budgets many homeowners are buying in stages, and the professional they hire should be able to work in those parameters.
   
2. Choose an outdoor living specialist who has a portfolio of projects that appeal to you.    This process is not as simple as picking up the Yellow Pages or going online. Seek referrals from family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. Or contact a trade association such as The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) that feature remodelers with professional certifications.
   
3. Consider the level of maintenance you can live with. There are some strikingly beautiful products that require high maintenance. Structures that use PVC or fiberglass require less hands-on care.
   
Full House Blog4. The goal is to mix the client's input with the designer's talent. Your design/build professional should create a conceptual design that reflects the homeowners‘ personality and lifestyle. The key is having a contractor with the experience and vision to create a space that‘s right for you.

5. To determine the type of structure that best suits your needs, consider solar orientation, your lot size and house style and any privacy needs.  Also keep in mind the “look” you choose should reflect your personal style and design goals.

6. Structures will not only enhance your space but provide must needed shade. You will get the most shade from those with solid roofs or roofs with skylights. Pergolas or arbors with attached curtains or plant life growing on them will provide more shade than structures without those elements.

7. Screened porches provide a feeling of enclosure. If you have an open porch, try adding outdoor curtains. You can pull them back when you want a more open feeling.

House Beautiful8. Decide whether you want the structure to be a focal point or a counter-point for the rest of the landscaping.

9. Depending on what you want to accomplish, today’s arbors, pergolas and gazebos are versatile enough for small or large outdoor spaces.

10. Make sure you use high quality materials that are resistant to rot and pests and easy to maintain such as wrought iron, aluminum, resins and woods. The most popular and durable wood materials are pine, cedar and Brazilian hardwoods such as IPE or Tigerwood.

The overall goal in planning your space is to identify how many people will use the space, how often and for what purposes. Check out the outdoor living section of Rick's website for inspiration. Click here for more information regarding Rick Goldstein.

Photo Resources
Suzanne Tucker and Todd R. Cole via Architectural Digest
Carrie Leber PR
Full House Blog
House Beautiful