As one of eight designers selected to participate in the KBIS Design Studios, I was asked to design a Outdoor Living Space for a hypothetical Generation X client and I would like to share that design with you here.
When I began the design process for this project I started out by giving myself some parameters and/or client requirements. In keeping with the current outdoor living trends, outdoor living spaces are becoming outdoor rooms. I feel strongly that outdoor living spaces should be designed to accommodate functions that at one time were only found indoors. I design outdoor living spaces to live in such as Kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms. These spaces are an extension of the home, comfortable living spaces that blend with life in your home, outside of your interior walls.
Here is my GenX Outdoor Living Space designed and presented at KBIS2013 in New Orleans.
Who is Generation X?
born 1965—1979 age today between 34-48
Work To Live are Tech Savy and Value Work/Life Balance
GenX Inventions
introduction of the personal computer
Microwave Ovens , Post-it Note, Rollerblades, Walkman,
the start of the video game era, cable television and the Internet
Historical GenX Events
the AIDS epidemic, the war on drugs, the Iran hostage crisis, the Persian Gulf War, the Dot-Com bubble, the emergence of Alternative Rock, new wave music, electronic music, glam metal, pop punk, grunge, rap music and hip hop. X’rs are often called the MTV Generation. Nixon resigns, Challenger explosion, Reagan, Thatcher, and Gorbachev, Fall of the Berlin Wall, Lennon shot, Kuwait invaded, Oklahoma City bombing, Death of Princess Diana, Clinton scandals, Women's Rights, Y2K
GenX Client
- Family of Four
- The Mr. & Mrs. are both working professionals
- Teenage children both on High School Swim Team
- They are an active family and want to create a new outdoor space that will to be an extension
of their existing living space. They enjoy being outdoors, cooking and entertaining.
Must Have’s
- Outdoor Kitchen—to include grill, pizza oven, refrigeration, ice maker, large enough to
accommodate seating for four.
- Dining Area—outdoor table and chairs seating for min. six.
- Living Room —oversized comfy outdoor furniture
- Other— fireplace, lap pool, sun deck, privacy.
Outdoor Kitchen ~ 1. Grill with Exhaust Vent, 2. Sink, 3. Icemaker, 4. Refrigerator, 5. Pizza oven, 6. Counter seating. Outdoor Living Room ~ 7. Fireplace (wood burning), 8. Seating area, 9. Outdoor drapery. Outdoor Dining Area & Patio ~ 10. open beamed ceiling grid, 11. Dining table for six, 12. Lap Pool, 13. Sun Deck, 14. Raised Planter / Privacy Wall
I designed four distinct areas - Outdoor Kitchen, Outdoor Living, Outdoor Dining & Lap Pool Sundeck area.
OUTDOOR KITCHEN COLOR / MATERIAL SELECTIONS
OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM COLOR / MATERIAL SELECTIONS
OUTDOOR DINING & SUNDECK COLOR / MATERIAL SELECTIONS
"Designing outdoor living spaces to live in!"
Carmen Christensen
