The summer season has officially ended at the Jersey shore; however that doesn’t mean it’s time to pack up and leave. The weekends during the fall on Long Beach Island can be incredibly relaxing, and there are many ways to extend your season as the weather begins to cool down. We have compiled a list of must-have outdoor living space features to keep you comfortable and warm during the best season of the year in your new custom home.
· Fire pits and fireplaces – Fire pits have come a long way, they aren’t just a dirt hole in the ground with some sticks and wood. Today you can find bar height gas fire pits to place your drinks on, stone and concrete fire pits built right into your patio, and coffee table fire pits with fire glass. A fire pit may be better for entertaining because more people can sit around it. A custom outdoor fireplace offers an intimate setting for just a few people. It encourages intimate conversation and a romantic ambience. On cooler summer nights and even during the fall a fireplace place or pit can be just what your new custom home needs!
· Heated patio- You’ve heard about heated flooring in your bathroom, but did you know you can do this outside too? Another way to warm up a cool fall night is with a heated patio. You can install a radiant heating system under concrete to keep your patio warm all year round. Another advantage to a heated patio is that in the winter it will melt the snow, making cleaning and maintenance much easier.
· Outdoor kitchens- Outdoor kitchens continue to be one of the biggest outdoor trends. It can be as simple as a grill or as elaborate as a fully functional kitchen with a sink, beer station, countertops, pizza oven and refrigerator. Entertaining in your outdoor kitchen is a breeze and allows the hosts to engage their guests while preparing meals, drinks or snacks. Be sure that whatever kind of outdoor kitchen you decide on you have plenty of seating away from the heat source (grill, etc.) so that guest are comfortable.
· Outdoor living rooms – going hand in hand with the outdoor kitchen, outdoor living rooms and screened porches are popular additions to a custom home design. These extensions of your indoor space think beyond terraces and decks and offer better furnishings and can be combined with your fire pit or fireplace to create a warm, cozy relaxing oasis. Some homeowners even use curtains to define the space and include luxuries such as TV’s and outdoor entertainment centers for added luxury.
With these added features you can extend the usability of your outdoor living space well into the fall. Call Stonehenge Building and Development today at 609-978-6599 to find out how you can incorporate your outdoor space into your new custom home!