4. Fire Power
The element of fi re has had an effect on humans since prehistoric times. It represents energy, warmth and passion— and in the backyard, it’ s a place where people naturally want to congregate. Homeowners are fi nding new ways to incorporate fi re into their outdoor spaces.
“ It’ s an emerging feature,” says Keene.“ In my experience, people are more comfortable sitting by fi re than by water. Fire is more social than water, if you think about it. It’ s a great gathering place for people.”
Built-in fi re pits at the bar or kitchen, and fi replaces built into the wall are common touches to modern outdoor spaces. Some design-savvy homeowners are even blending water and fi re by placing fi re pits in the center of their pools for a dramatic effect.
Weremeichik is also seeing a rise in requests for fi re elements at his fi rm. Modern gas fi replaces, placed at the outdoor living room, are often installed for ambiance and style— especially in markets like Miami, he says. Fire bowls by the pool or fi re pits in uncovered spaces, placed off to the side of a pool, are common. Fire tables are also popular,“ since they can be brought indoors,” says Weremeichik.
Another key fi re element is the outdoor grill in the kitchen.
“ People want to cook,” says Keene, who has built and designed over 2,000 outdoor kitchens in Florida.“ In our experience, people barbecue more than they cook inside. The outdoor kitchen tends to be the heart of the outdoor living space.”
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“ You can do the fl oor of a large family room in the tile, and it just continues out to your outdoor living space,” he says.
On decks, he’ s heard of some builders using a composite plastic material from a company called Trex.
“ It never warps and it doesn’ t get moldy, and you can screw it right in, just like wood,” he says.“ It’ s a great solution, especially for second-fl oor balconies in Florida, because it’ s so humid here and wood decks so often rot out over time. Builders like it, too, because they get fewer callbacks. It just makes sense. Some people may view it negatively because it’ s not‘ the real thing.’ But homeowners are not going to need to replace their deck or balcony in 10 years. I’ ve had clients specifi cally ask for it.”
In South Florida, Keene doesn’ t install much composite. Instead, he says ipe wood from Brazil is quite popular among his clients because it can“ stand up to the elements.” He does add, however, that there are some new luxury wood products from Italy, which have been dried at 1,400 degrees, that excite him.“ There’ s little maintenance with this product,” he says.
Another manufactured product that excites him: artistic concrete.
5. Material Beauty
Everyone knows it’ s the details that distinguish an ordinary outdoor space from an extraordinary one. In Central and South Florida, both Weremeichik and Keene have been warmed by a number of new and exciting materials gaining appeal.
Manufactured materials such as wood-look porcelain tile and composite plastics are enjoying a moment. Weremeichik has begun to receive a lot of requests for porcelain tile that is made to look like wood slats, which can fl ex from indoor to outdoor easily.
“ It’ s made of GRSC fi ber cement,” he says.“ You can create some really cool countertops out of it. It’ s pretty exciting and challenging to work with, too.”
However, both Keene and Weremeichik report that the overwhelming majority of their outdoor projects still use pavers— concrete, brick or stone, such as travertine. Keene does not set his pavers in concrete but sets them in sand for longevity.
“ If they’ re not using the wood-look tile, they’ re using travertine in living rooms and using the same fl oor so that it continuously fl ows from indoor to outdoor for one continuous space,” says Weremeichik.
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