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Here, Jawn Funyak of Funyak Landscapes shares his top tips for how to create an outdoor living space that will keep your guests cozy and entertained throughout the fall and winter seasons.
1 Incorporate a fire feature
The majority of outdoor living areas include a fire fea- ture to ensure that the space can be utilized year-round. With Pittsburgh clocking in with more gray days than Seattle, investing in fire pits or fireplaces means you won’t be limited to enjoying your investment for only three months out of the year. “An outdoor fireplace serves the same purpose as it does indoors,” Funyak says. Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a glass of wine in the glow of its radiating warmth. Fire pits, another option, can be full wood-burning or gas ignited, which can appeal to those looking for something maintenance-free.
store grill on wheels that you throw away in two years,” says Funyak. Other popular options include adding temperature-controlled wine coolers, refrigerators, and kegerators. “The outdoor kitchen encourages guests to gather just as they would around your indoor kitchen island,” he adds.
3 Consider roofing options
Often times, outdoor entertainment areas incorpo- rate a roof, whether as an extension of your home or a standalone pergola. While it needn’t cover the en- tire space, the majority of Funyak’s clients often want at least partial coverage for grilling areas, media walls, or designated seating sections. Typically, the design is architectural, making it appear as a more seamless ex- tension of the home itself.
4 Seating areas
Imagine a fire pit with a 16’ diameter of natural patio stone anchored by a pillared wall that guests can perch on, bench seating covered in cozy, weather-proof cush- ions, or Adirondack chairs arranged in circle around a blazing bonfire. Soften masonry or stone hardscapes with inviting seating elements adorned with cushy pil- lows and throws that encourage leisurely enjoyment of your surroundings.
5 Create a Garden of Eden that blooms year-round
Just because the sun isn’t blazing doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a bountiful garden in the cooler months. Incor-
porate seasonal color with a rotation of native blooms so that your guests aren’t looking at wilted or browning plantlife while you’re outside toasting the winter sol- stice. Evergreens add a holiday touch during the winter season and can easily be decorated with lights while hardy mums burst with rich hues of burgundy, mus- tard, fuchsia and scarlet. “Outdoor parties are a great time to break out additional urns or potted plantings to use as focal points,” says Funyak.
4 Embrace a seasonal theme
The most important element is that you and your guests have fun and the most successful parties are of- ten built around a unique theme. Host an afternoon tea for the ladies or a poker and cigar soiree for the gents. Invite family and friends over for football Sunday or make the most of a heavy snowfall with sled riding par- ties or a snowman making contest for both kids and adults. When you do, be sure to offer warm or hearty beverages like hot toddies and hard cider to the drink menu.
No matter what elements you ultimately decide to incorporate into your outdoor living space, Funyak’s trusted team of design professionals rely on 3-D ren- dering to give you a complete visual of how to turn any dream into a reality. From heated sidewalks to media walls and audio systems, the sky’s the limit for creating an area that you and your guests can enjoy 365 days a year.
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“Turn it on, enjoy the flame, and when you’re ready to go to bed, you simply turn it off,” says Funyak. “It’s a lot easier than splitting wood and then having to worry about putting out a fire late at night.”
As an additional option consider investing in mounted or tall heating stands.
Add an outdoor kitchen
Forget about having to run back and forth into the house and worrying about your guests damaging flooring and carpeting with snowy, muddy footwear. The outdoor kitchen offers a no muss, no fuss ap- proach to entertaining. Often the main feature is a traditional or hibachi grill, which can range in price from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, and are built into masonry structures. “This isn’t your old box
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