by Lisa Truesdale
making the most of your outdoor space all year long
ONE OF THE LUXURIES of living in northern New Mexico is relaxing outdoors nearly all year long. “We experience outdoor living perfection, and we should use it to its full extent,” says David Rentfrow, owner of The Firebird in Santa Fe. Rentfrow designs “complete outdoor living experiences” with fire features, fully equipped kitchens, multiple seating areas and more. “The clients who come to us have a dream in mind, and we tell them, ‘if you can dream it, we can build it.’”
The first step in designing an outdoor space is determining what its primary use will be. Do you entertain guests frequently, will it mainly be a refuge where the family can relax, or is it a combination of the two? Either way, it’s a vital extension of your home, and here are three ways to enhance it.
Kitchen
An outdoor kitchen has numerous benefits, whether it’s simply a grill with a counter or a fully appointed cooking area with a grill, griddle, oven, refrigerator, countertops and storage space. For one, you’re not heating up the inside of your home during the blistering summer months. You’re also not darting in and out of the house whenever you need something, missing time with guests or family.
Rentfrow believes outdoor ovens are especially important—though he doesn’t refer to them as “pizza” ovens. Although it is what they’re called, it’s too limiting. “Everything you can do in a regular oven you can probably do in an outdoor oven,” he says, adding that he likes to heat a cast iron pan in his and throw in fresh veggies from his garden.
TIP: Not ready to commit to a complete backyard kitchen? Stock a rolling bar cart with all your grilling accessories and serving dishes.
Furniture and Accessories
When choosing furniture and cushions, consider the weather. “You’ll want frames and fabrics that stand up to the extreme temps,” advises Rentfrow. He sells teak and powder-coated aluminum frames but says durable, long-lasting HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is especially popular right now. He also suggests a high-quality, outdoorrated cushion fabric, like Sunbrella brand. “You’ll get so many design options,” he says, “like different grades of cushions, but also dozens of fabric choices.”
Rentfrow also suggests creating multiple seating areas throughout the yard for dining, lounging, small groups and larger groups.
TIP: Add a pop of color with smaller accessories that instantly freshen up your outdoor space, including umbrellas and awnings, hanging lights, decorative planters, accent pillows, outdoor rugs, and colorful, unbreakable dishes.
Fire
With a fire feature in the yard, there’s no need to head inside when the infamous canyon winds kick up or when the sun disappears, and the chill descends. Fire allows you to transition from afternoon to evening seamlessly—and it’s not just about the warmth it provides, it’s also about the design. Jim Lyle, owner of Mountain West Sales, Inc., says, “A contemporary look is trending in outdoor fire pits, for instance, a polished concrete style with a linear burner.”
He also notes that not all projects are conducive to a fire pit because of code restrictions, and in that case, Lyle says a fireplace is a great option. “Outdoor gas fireplaces don’t require venting, so they don’t obstruct views, sometimes the design element is better with a fireplace,” he says. He also notes a two-sided fireplace can help further retain outdoor views. Lyle also says today’s gas fireplaces include upgraded burner designs to make the flames look more realistic like a wood fire.
In addition, Lyle says gas outdoor fireplaces are designed to be userfriendly and there’s no need to worry about a pilot—if it goes out, it relights automatically—and they are truly push-button easy so all you need do is sit back and relax.
TIP: While deciding, consider a gas or electric patio heater, which can be easily rolled to different locations in the yard as needed.
resources
Mountain West Sales, Inc.
mountainwestsales.net
The Firebird
thefirebird.com
