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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