Innovative al fresco spaces
It’s a life-changing decision and a major financial investment. And the way that you will live inside of your new home is only part of the total decision. Life outside or around a new home is as much of a factor as the interior layout and number of bathrooms.
For that reason, builders conduct research and surveys to anticipate buyers’ needs long before breaking ground. Whether a family wants to be outside more often or simply see more of the outside from inside, builders accommodate their buyers’ need for al fresco living at homes of all sizes.
Porches, decks and balconies
Starting with the urban infill communities or closer-in suburban neighborhoods, builders such as Davidon Homes and Van Daele Homes incorporate outdoor spaces that offer beauty and ease of use.
Several elevations at Davidon’s Park Ridge community in Antioch include a covered front porch and offer an optional covered loggia on the back. Above the loggia, which many buyers choose, the homeowner can also
opt for a deck off the master bedroom.
Another new Davidon community, Woodbury Highlands in Lafayette, which soon begins construction, will feature 99 condominium-style homes throughout 16 buildings in four distinct groups of plans.
“The first plan at Woodbury includes beautiful decks, but virtually all homes will have generous, outdoor patio living,” said Marc Burnstein, vice president of sales and marketing for Walnut Creek-based Davidon Homes. “It’s kind of nice, having the feeling of a detached home (with a private outdoor living space) and the simplicity of condominium living.”
The Gables in Morgan Hill by Van Daele Homes, a modern neighborhood of 37 attached townhomes, features three smartly designed floor plans and beautiful low-maintenance outdoor spaces. These spaces might include second-story balconies or private outdoor courtyards that owners can enhance with hardscape features such as slate patio flooring and seating areas. Two elevations at The Gables include covered front porches.
Enclosed spaces in the outdoors
Several builders also bring the outside inside by incorporating variations of the California Room into their designs.
Carrie Newbery, vice president of sales and marketing for TRI Pointe Homes, explained that each of the three plans at its Harvest and Bloom communities at Green Valley in Fairfield offers popular California Rooms or covered patios.
“These options need to be selected before we start to build the home,” said Newbery, noting that in certain plans, the covered patio comes standard. “In some cases, the covered patio sits in a corner of the rear of the house and is open on the other two sides. The buyer can also choose options such as ceiling fans, outdoor kitchens and bars, or even a fireplace.”
Out in Lathrop, each of the Van Daele Homes neighborhoods at its three River Islands communities either includes a California Room or offers one as an option.
“With the largest plan, the Bridgeport home, the California Room is standard,” said Michael Van Daele, COO of Van Daele Homes. “Most of those also back up to the lake, giving the outdoor living space extended views of the water.”
In Van Daele’s middle-size plan at River Islands, Latitude, the California Room is optional. And even with some of its higherdensity Castaway plans, Van Daele has made ideal use of outdoor living space.
“Two or three of the 12 Castaway homes are on oversize lots, where the buyer can fit a California Room,” said Van Daele, adding that the Castaway plan homes fall under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) conforming loan limits for San Joaquin County. “That’s a contributing factor to why these homes are selling so quickly.”
Finally, for those seeking new homes with outdoor living in the North Bay, the Reserve by City Ventures in Santa Rosa offers a popular option.
“Our California Room there has an outdoor fireplace and outdoor seating,” said Phil Kerr, CEO of Homebuilding for City Ventures. “Almost every homebuyer there is choosing that option!”