Many of the trends we see are to widen porches to accommodate dining tables and chairs. Custom shelving and storage enable furnishings to stay away from dampness. Chandeliers and other lighting sources have been added to planned spaces to replicate what might have been expected in a formal dining room.
Ease of serving has been accommodated with chef’s kitchens in the out-of-doors with refrigerators, wine racks, stoves, ovens, drink stations, prep tables, sinks and storage for drinkware and dishes. Less formal meals may happen on bars with seating that has traditionally been the breakfast seating in an indoor kitchen.
Grills, once the staple of searing and sizzling for a batch of burgers and hotdogs have incorporated the Grillmaster’s preferences for charcoal, pellets, gas and electric hook ups and recipes that rival fine dining chefs. And while grills are certainly an outdoor cooking concept, upscale outdoor kitchens incorporate built in ovens and microwaves.
Dining spaces have been made flexible for family nights out on the deck with a large screen tv and popcorn as well as for the elegance of entertaining with fireplaces and firepits and ambient lighting. Wired for sound whether during a meal or an apéritif, speakers that enable ambient music or sound for a dancefloor are a common request from homeowners.
No dining space is complete without some thought given to controlling the unwelcome visitors from the outdoors. Today’s screens and framing are capable of blending into the structure without the feeling of being enclosed.
What is clear is that dining in the fresh air is fast becoming a “must have” feature as homeowners create their living spaces.