POSTED BY STEVEN SCHRENK from Polycor
In 2020, backyards around the world suddenly became so much more: gyms, offices, bars and restaurants. As the new hot spots for social gatherings, outdoor living spaces took on new importance—and popularity. As an expert in consumer research and a leader in the outdoor living industry, Fernanda Pedroso, Polycor’s Global Vice President, Marketing, has a unique perspective on what homeowners want now, and what they are going to want in the future. Much of what she forecasts for 2021 and coming years is greatly influenced by the seismic shift the pandemic caused in day to day life. More and more homeowners now view their outdoor living spaces as an extension of their interior spaces—“rooms without roofs”—and are treating the space with the same design considerations.
A patio constructed of INDIANA LIMESTONE- FULL COLOR BLEND™, and an outdoor fireplace and brick pizza oven combination clad in Indiana Limestone Rockford Estate Blend® split and tumbled sawn thin veneer is the showpiece of a Queen Anne Victorian’s new outdoor kitchen in Narragansett, Rhode Island.
Fire pits are a fantastic way to add instant appeal to any outdoor living space, creating a cozy nook for family gatherings. A WOODBURY GRAY™ granite fire pit sits atop pavers constructed from the same granite, surrounded by an Indiana Limestone – Full Color Blend garden wall.
According to the Houzz Landscaping & Garden Trends study, 45% of homeowners most value designs that focus on outdoor living, while a whopping 80% think easy maintenance is the most important aspect of function. Here’s a look at five of the outdoor design trends that Pedroso sees homeowners requesting now that will add long-term value to their homes.
1.BRINGING THE INDOORS OUT
“The walls are disappearing more and more and you’re no longer seeing that division between inside and outside,” said Pedroso. “So your outside really becomes an extension of the home.”
GEORGIA MARBLE – PEARL GREY™ pavers and Indiana Limestone Vanderbilt Classic® thin veneer are pictured here.
“Homeowners are focused on making these spaces as comfortable as they can be, with even the same accessories that are inside of the home, like your rug area, pillows, everything,” said Pedroso. “It’s incredible. The outdoor furniture market has really evolved to supplement this as well.”
This Polywood chair sitting atop a CAROLINA CORAL™ granite patio is made of recycled materials, such as milk jugs and products that are oceanbound and are able to sustain all weather conditions just like the stone. The versatile pillow and pouf from SmithHönig can be used both outdoors and indoors.
2.BIOPHILIA
Biophilic design, the understanding that people thrive in spaces with natural elements, has been a big trend in commercial design for years and is now becoming a force within the world of residential design as well.
Indiana Limestone garden steps harmoniously blend with the natural look of the sandstone boulders and rustic Berkshire™ veneer.
“Biophilia is about that seamless connection with nature and only a natural product can do that right,” said Pedroso. “Natural stone products blend with nature because they come from nature, are authentic to their origin, and also blend well with other building materials.”
For outdoor spaces, natural stone provides homeowners with an exceptional balance of aesthetics and performance; they are low maintenance and highly durable. Sheetz Landscaping has worked with numerous natural stones. It is our favorite to work with.
3.ENJOYING YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR LIVING
“We’re going to see a lot of technology come into outdoor living, like it is already embedded inside of our home,” said Pedroso.
A rustic fireplace clad in Indiana Limestone Berkshire™ thin veneer fits right into this wooded setting on Lake Shannon.
“Any element that brings you heat and gives the opportunity of staying longer in your outdoor living space, I think that is that is key,” said Pedroso. “The opposite is also true. Someone living in Phoenix needs protecting from the sun, just like someone living in the north needs protecting from snow.”
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Homeowners in hotter climates are even more willing to invest in elements that will offer respite on hot, sunny days, including pergolas, patio umbrellas and misters, to extend their time enjoying their outdoor space.
The cover for this Carolina Coral granite patio and outdoor kitchen featuring Indiana Limestone and Pearl Grey marble is made up of solid pergolas that meet at the start of the outdoor kitchen making it seem like it’s almost one. The cross hatch design provides not only more shade, but also added an extra level of vertical detail and interest to the structure and patio design.
4.CLEAN, MODERN & NATURAL AESTHETIC
Homeowners are increasingly inspired for their outdoor spaces by the aesthetic of the commercial settings they have been missing, like five-star hotels and upscale restaurants. This is resulting in a shift toward sleek, contemporary designs and materials, smooth surfaces and clean lines. Modern exteriors with clean lines and simple designs are increasingly requested, with a particular emphasis on subtle texture and larger dimensions to unify the space.
This contemporary patio features large Woodbury Gray granite pavers.
“We can already see with tiles right now, nobody wants the small little tiles with thousands of joints that just accumulate dirt and dust,” said Pedroso. “We want low maintenance. It has to be very practical and it has to look seamless, just like with countertops. You want that beautiful big slab all the way through. So I think that’s really where things are moving.”
Innovations in hardscaping—equipment for cutting and installing pavers give more options to place extra-large slabs—make it easier than ever to create a clean and modern outdoor space. These extra-large natural stone pieces don’t just make a big impression, they give the space harmony.
Indiana Limestone – Full Color Blend pavers and pool coping
“One of the great advantages of natural stone, is that you can bring the same product that you’re using in your walkway, and in your backyard,” said Pedroso. “The continuity of having the same product around your house is something you couldn’t do before. But now you can.”
5.THE COLORS OF NATURE
“Grey is really the one color that is the symbol of being contemporary and new,” said Pedroso. “A beautiful grey blends into any landscape. The natural stone colors that are in our hardscapes and masonry portfolio really capture this.”
“You don’t want your paver to be like the star of the show, it has to blend in.”
A monochrome hardscape design with light and dark granites: Woodbury Gray and CAMBRIAN BLACK®.
Accents in brighter hues, like Pantone’s 2021 colors of the year “Illuminating Yellow” paired with “Ultimate Gray” help enliven a sophisticated space.
Cleansing whites are another frequent ask, with an emphasis on warmer—not stark—takes on the hue. “The soft whites are so important,” said Pedroso. “If you watch HGTV, you’re going to see a lot of the design shows talking about bringing back to white to the inside of the home, bringing the light in.”
“When you look across all these trends, you can see how natural stone hits the mark on all of these, and in most cases better than anyone else,” said Pedroso. “Natural stone has that balance of aesthetics and performance, on top of being sourced locally, and a natural, sustainable material. Materials come and go, while natural stone is an authentic, long-term affordable and sustainable product.”
Check out our gallery of pictures for more inspirational ideas! Click here!