Have you ever dreamed of enjoying the beauty of nature almost all year round without being at the mercy of the weather or seasonal pests? These Northeast Ohio homeowners achieved that by creating an expansive, well-appointed indoor-outdoor oasis that lets them relax and entertain in style, no matter the season.
This blog takes you on a tour of this stunning transformation designed by our team at Dover Home Remodelers that shows how you can create an inviting outdoor living room in your home.
The Outdoor Living Room Project Vision
While the homeowners enjoyed spending time on their backyard deck, they were frustrated by its small footprint—there was no room for a dining table or an outdoor kitchen—and the limiting factors of inclement weather and pests, which meant they couldn’t enjoy their beautiful backyard as much as they’d like.
The new outdoor living room design aligned with their vision. It features easy access from inside the home and the backyard and a covered/protected indoor-outdoor living space with plenty of room for outdoor cooking and entertaining, no matter the weather. Plus, it has a full-size fireplace that extends the season, making it ideal for comfortable lounging and relaxing well into the late fall and early winter months.
Before: The Backyard Deck
The existing outdoor living area consisted of an open-air deck accessible from sliding glass doors off the side/rear of the home. With a view of the wooded backyard, the small deck had enough space for only a seating area and an outdoor grill.
After: The Stunning Outdoor Living Room
The new covered outdoor living room was designed and built to extend the indoor living space. Accessible by a new 12-ft. Pella sliding glass door off the home’s existing four-season room, the new 24 x 19.6 ft. outdoor addition increases the living area substantially.
To create a seamless flow with the home’s existing facade, we designed the new outdoor room following the pitch of the existing roofline. Framing the open-air room using Kleer Lumber cellular PVC trim and siding provides the wood look without the maintenance hassles. On the back wall, we used the same material in a board-and-batten profile for an elevated aesthetic but with no worry of wood rot. All openings feature remote-controlled phantom screens for easy operation.
To complement the home’s exterior, stacked cultured stone (Prestige, Old Country Ledge in Harvest) is used throughout the new outdoor living room, including the knee walls and fireplace. The sills and fireplace mantle are crafted using the same sandstone with a cozy, easy-use gas fireplace that is direct-vented and rated for the outdoors. (Valor Linear Fireplace with Birch Log Kit)
The vaulted ceiling features 3/4” inch tongue-and-groove prefinished hardwood (Great American Spaces, Easy Barnwood Collection in Traditional White) rated for cold weather for year-round beauty and performance—no maintenance required. On the floor, Atlas tile floor in Ridge Ivory, 12” x 24”, blends form with function: it has the sleek, clean look the homeowners wanted with the performance features that stand up to Cleveland winters. The tile is rated for exterior use and is cold and heat tolerant. To create visual harmony, we ran the new tile floors from the new outdoor living room into the new four-season room, tying these living areas together.
The new outdoor kitchen delivers big on style and functionality: Leathered granite surfaces (Taj Mahal) and a show-stopping custom tile backsplash (Wow Tile in Pottery Graphite with Pottery Graphite Cosmic accents) create the room’s focal point. The kitchen area’s L-shaped layout includes everything on the homeowners’ wish list: a built-in grill with a hood vented to the exterior, loads of storage, a sink and a refrigerator. Plus, it has a peninsula featuring custom mahogany cabinets with plenty of room for bar-height seating to comfortably host guests.
To make the outdoor living room live like an indoor space, we ran electricity for the TV, ceiling fan and kitchen appliances and installed LED can lighting throughout. The finished room has a welcoming, relaxed vibe that gives the homeowners the outdoor retreat they can enjoy almost all year round.
Ready to create your outdoor living room in Northeast Ohio?
If you live in Greater Cleveland and want to design and build a beautiful covered outdoor living space like this, reach out to start the conversation. Our team at Dover Home Remodeling is here to help.
Shelley Bujdos
