On a perfect summer day, I’d wake early and throw open the doors and windows, allowing the fresh air to flow through my home and the sun to warm each space. I’d bring my yoga mat outside and greet the day, taking in the water dragons lazing by the pool, my chooks roaming the garden, and the crisp sheets that billow on the line.

After a lovely afternoon of gardening, I’d begin preparing a meal to be shared with friends in my outdoor dining area. We’d gather together to enjoy good wine, food, and even better company while being lulled by the soothing chirp of cicadas. Ahhh…

Are you daydreaming now, too? Well, that’s perfect, because now really is the time to start planning and actioning your ideas!

This month’s blog post is bursting with ideas, insights, and features for embracing the indoor-outdoor lifestyle at home. I’ve grouped these into 5 key areas of focus. Within each, you’ll find a mix of bigger projects that require renovation work and smaller ones that you can tackle in a weekend. Tip: You might want to bookmark this one!

1: Space Plan to Maximise Your Views of Nature

Maximising the view is one way to transform your outdoor scenes into stop-and-stare moments. Even during the colder months, when we aren’t spending the days outdoors, it’s still possible to gain inspiration and comfort from nature. Here’s what I suggest:

Window Placement & Framing: If you’re building or renovating your home, use your surroundings to help decide the placement of windows and skylights. Thoughtful locations can help you highlight a beautiful view, a tree line, your garden, or the nighttime stars. The how of framing your windows is equally important. Sometimes a narrow slice is more effective at creating focus, drama, and finesse than a broad expanse of glass.

Stunning Window Treatments: Just like the right frame enhances artwork, window treatments can help frame your view, making the scene appear closer, more vibrant, or more visually impactful. It takes skill to choose the best shape, style, and colour for your view (and to meet your other needs, of course), so I always recommend working with a professional on this. Like us.

Creative Spaces: I love it when we can incorporate a window seat into a design (like we did in our client’s Clontarf home above), or position a comfy chair next to a glass door. Even when it’s too chilly to take your evening glass of wine outdoors, comfortably relaxing by a window with a beautiful view is hard to beat.

Magical Mirrors: Another creative way to highlight a beautiful exterior view is to use mirrors. What do I mean? You’ll love this… On your interior walls, we can strategically position a mirror to reflect what you love most outside, putting it in view even when you’re not at the window. Or, better yet, clad a wall, column or splashback in mirrors. Ingenious, right?!

2: Install the Best Doors to the Outdoors

Careful thought should be put into the flow from your home’s indoor spaces to your outdoor areas. Yes, that means the doors. Whether you need space wide enough to walk through with a laundry basket or smooth, operational hardware, functionality is as important as blending the design seamlessly with the rest of your space. Here are a few styles that offer you great flexibility:

Bifold Doors: If your goal is to achieve the maximum opening possible, bifold doors are a great option. However, you will need space for the doors to fold when open, so just note that furniture won’t be able to sit in this zone.

Sliding & Stacking Doors: What’s the difference? While very similar, sliding doors are large 2-panel doors systems where on panel remains fixed. Stackers are multi-paneled systems, with each panel usually smaller than one sliding door panel, offering more control on opening configurations (although you’ll need to plan where they will stack). Both of these options will let abundant light into your home while still providing easy access to the outdoors. Many of our clients also find these doors easier to operate than bi-folds.

French Doors: French doors will always be classically beautiful, and they come in so many different styles that they are sure to complement your home’s existing design. However, while they allow plentiful natural light in, their wide swing means they require more physical space to function, not dissimilar to bi-folds. Note: Special hinges, called parliament hinges, can be used so that doors fold back against a wall, if needed.

Screening: Lastly, regardless of which door system is selected, you’ll want to consider how you will screen them. Your screen selection will depend on functionality. Are you just screening for bugs? Does it need to be lockable and secure? Pet-proof? You’ll also want to consider the right screen for your door type. For example, a sliding screen isn’t suitable with a bi-fold door, but a retractable screen will be.

3: Renovate with Longevity in Mind

The materials you choose for your interior and exterior flooring should not only feel connected, but should also be durable enough to stand up to traffic and the elements. Here’s what I suggest:

Flooring: The entry points to your home will become high traffic areas and will need to stand up to the bangs and bumps of everyday life. Consider using durable flooring (and wall material) for those areas. Outdoor rugs are also a smart way to trap debris right at the door and keep your flooring unblemished.

Functional Areas: Set up features that will further decrease the impact on your home at entry points. For example, planning a mudroom with outdoor access would allow anyone to deposit their wetsuit, bathers, beach towels, or gardening gear right at the washing machine. No need to track it all through the living room. A little forethought goes a long way!

4: Build Out the Amenities You Love

Is an outdoor area truly complete without the amenities that make it extra enjoyable? Not in my book. Below are some ideas to get you started, but follow your own interests and they won’t lead you astray.

Outdoor Kitchen: We all love our humble Weber grills, but if you enjoy entertaining, an outdoor kitchen is a luxury worth the investment. Add a built-in barbecue, custom, joinery, bar fridge, pizza oven, or whatever else tickles your fancy. I guarantee your home will quickly become the favourite amongst your mates.

Pool: Nothing says summer like a pool, and with the heat that’s headed our way soon, it will be a most welcome respite. (And don’t forget the outdoor shower!) Having a pool makes entertaining easy, too, since guests will be happily entertained. And I’m not sure about you, but I think it’s hard to top a poolside cocktail with friends. If a pool isn’t in the renovation budget, consider a fun water feature.

Outdoor Fire: Nothing is better than the ambience of a campfire and a heat feature such as a firepit, fireplace, or outdoor heater can add another level of comfort and functionality, ensuring that your well-designed space gets the attention it deserves all year long.

Awnings & Shades: Don’t forget to install a little respite from the sun! Shades can and should be installed in your outdoor spaces, too. Both fixed and retractable awnings offer great protection from the sun and rain, allowing you to enjoy being outside any time of year.

5: Create Visual Continuity via Decor

Thoughtful design choices can improve the continuity between your indoor and outdoor areas, creating flow that feels natural and unified. Here are a few ways you can make your spaces cohesive:

Colour: When developing a colour scheme, our first point of reference is your home’s environment. From the Northern Beaches, to the woodsy greens of the bush, to the ochres of the seaside cliffs, we have a stunningly beautiful, natural colour palette all around. We work to bring these colours into the home and complement them with furniture and accessories to create a seamless space that also reflects you. Note: Anything outside a window (such as greenery) can reflect on the colours inside, making the colour appear different so always test your favourite colour before committing to it.

Material Continuity: In an ideal world, we could use the same materials inside and outside to create continuity. Materials, such as a fabric and tile, are often available in an outdoor version. However, if this isn’t possible, we can create the same look with colour. For example, by choosing an outdoor tile that is a similar colour to the timber flooring inside. This creates visual flow for a home that feels like an extension of the world outside.

Furniture: The same is true for the style of your furniture. You will want your outdoor furniture to reflect the same style of your interiors for continuity. This creates a visual link that makes the two spaces feel connected, inviting you to transition easily from indoors to outdoors.

Fabrics: It’s important to select coordinating fabrics for furniture inside and out for an intentional design. (Not matching, coordinating.) Fortunately, vast improvements have been made in the world of outdoor fabrics. Not only are they resistant to the fading, staining, and mould issues typical of furniture that lives outside, but many of them are simply smart, worry-free choices that can easily be used inside your home, too. Especially if you have kids and pets or love a good party.

Plants: Plants are the perfect way to tempt the outdoors in. They also improve the overall healthiness of your home and have been known to boost mood, as well. If you don’t have a green thumb, there’s no need to worry. There are plenty of high-quality faux plants available that will make your indoor space feel at one with your surroundings, even though they won’t bring many of the health benefits.

Finishes & Decor: To make your outdoor space feel like a real “living room”, you can add rugs, decorative lighting, fans, and even speakers. Just remember to keep your selections and finishes practical. For example, you’ll want materials that are suitable to salt air, such as 316 stainless, copper, and brass. For slip resistance, you could choose a tumbled or sandblasted tile finish (with texture) rather than polished finished.

There’s simply no reason not to enjoy extraordinary living, both inside the home and out, all year long. And with the warmer months right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start creating an oasis that will set your heart alight each day.

Looking for some assistance designing or renovating a home that loves the outdoors as much as we do? My team and I would love to support you. Reach out to me here and let’s discuss your ideas for fabulous indoor-outdoor areas. Until next time…

Live, beyond ordinary.
Donna