Outdoor living spaces have been growing in popularity and amenities for years, but the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus are spurring even greater demand, new planning strategies and interesting new amenities, industry pros report. Here’s what they’re seeing and predicting through next year.
Pandemic Effects
“Stay at home and shelter in place orders have made homeowners keenly aware of both their indoor and outdoor space,” observes Kate Bailey, senior director of category management for the Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery chain. “They are investing more now that they are spending more time at home and traveling less due to the pandemic.”
There’s a silver lining to the restrictions, she notes: “You’re able to see this as a time where you can reconnect with your family or nature. You can create a space where you embrace a more active lifestyle. Perhaps you can begin a circuit workout or take up a new hobby like gardening, grilling or bocce.”
“Everyone has been cooped up since mid-March,” laments architect Michael A. Menn, owner of an eponymous Chicago-based design build firm. “If you live in the northern half of the U.S., you might not have been able to spend much time outdoors” earlier this year. “I have seen more people ask for outdoor living environments, screened porches, gazebos and decks,” he shares, adding, “Being able to spend outdoor time with your family has been an escape – and close to freedom! People are enjoying their outdoor environments more and more.”
Fellow Chicago design build pro Vanessa Slivinski, design director of Chicago Roof Deck & Garden, agrees: “We have received a record amount of leads since the beginning of April.” What’s new and potentially pandemic-related, she comments, is many clients’ approach. “Not all homeowners are looking to bite off on an entire project at once, due to the uncertainty of the economy. We’ve seen a lot of clients interested in designing a master plan and then discussing how to break up the project into a few phases.” She calls this strategy “phasing,” and says it’s become a popular topic of conversation this year.
Veteran landscape designer Susan Cohan in Chatham, New Jersey is also seeing surging demand, she says. “Our design business was sluggish in March and April due to cold, rain and COVID-19 shutdowns. In late April, the floodgates opened and we are very busy now. We are even working on projects to be built in 2021.”
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