I recently wrote about swimming pools and their value - or lack of it - when living in a cold climate. They are a fantastic resource when it's 90 degrees and humid but with only a handful of days like that, are they worth it.
Same thing with elaborate outdoor spaces. Would you spend the money to have an outdoor space that rivals your inside rooms? It makes beautiful sense when living on the ocean or hillside in Los Angeles or Maui - but Chicago, the Midwest, Winnetka, and the North Shore?
Apparently, for some it makes perfect sense. The regional magazine, Michigan Avenue, published an article, "The New Game-Changing Luxury Real Estate Trend." The opening lines are:
"Part optical illusion, part clever architectural design, a hot new alfresco trend is taking hold in Chicago luxe living: A growing number of high-end homeowners are replicating the chic outdoor entertaining spaces they’re discovering on vacations, where walls disappear and walking out onto a terrace feels as seamless as gliding across a wide-open room."
It's considered a luxe trend because the estimate for installing sliding glass doors, kitchens, and audio/visual can cost around $50,000. One couple rehabbed their home and eliminated the living room in order to have the outdoor space that they envisioned (who needs living rooms anyway?)
Screened-in porches have always been popular here and will get you a little extra time when it's warm but rainy. Several builders incorporated screened porches into their new construction designs and they became iconic - buyers expected them of particular builders.
An outdoor space is fruitless when the weather goes bad - something we come to expect as normal in this climate. Yes, furniture may be adapted to indoor/outdoor, but our bodies are not. We can't make use of a specialized outdoor space most of the year. It's great to have - when the weather cooperates.
And honestly, when it cooperates, it's magestic here in Chicago. I may not ever create an outdoor space in my own home, but I think I get why some people do. Short and sweet - enjoy it while you can.
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