Five alfresco areas to get you inspired for summer

Indoor- outdoor flow

Increasingly, the lines between indoor and outdoor living are being blurred, and the Truganina display home by Impact Homes perfectly embodies that trend. Bifold doors and windows in dramatic black metal encourage the seamless flow between the dining/kitchen space and the covered entertaining area/deck.

Similar cabinetry and benchtops in the outdoor area add a sense of continuity from the kitchen, while the raked ceiling mimics the home’s roofing line. Austral Brick’s San Selmo Reclaimed bricks in “Reclaimed Original” are used to dramatic effect both internally and externally, adding another dimension to the sense of inside/outside flow.

Mixed Materials

Mixed materials continue to be a trend in outdoor living this year, adding texture and interest to any space. This covered entertaining deck by Beachwood Homes cleverly combines timber, brick and rattan to create a coherent contemporary look.

San Selmo Smoked bricks in “Opaque Slate” by Austral Bricks add a rustic note to the otherwise modern space, and timber decking in grey also creates contrast with the pale timber of the dining table. Rattan-look dining and casual chairs are on-trend, too, adding a mid-century vibe.

Small but perfectly formed

Not all of us are fortunate enough to have oversized outdoor areas to play with. For those with less room to move, this compact balcony in the “Palm Springs” home by WA’s Webb & Brown-Neaves is an inspiring example of alfresco chic.

Sitting off the main bedroom on the home’s upper level, the balcony incorporates GB Masonry Wedge Breeze Blocks in “Porcelain” to add a sense of light and air, and to mimic the interior blocks, which create a dividing wall between the bedroom and the en suite. Clean-lined white metallic chairs and a matching table with timber top, white pebbles and sparse plantings finish the look.

The Outdoor kitchen

What’s not to love about this schmick outdoor living space in the Barton Street home by Brisbane’s Phase Developments? At its heart is a mini outdoor kitchen, featuring timber cabinetry, stone benchtops, a built-in barbecue, rangehood and drinks fridge, all set against elegant, large-scale GB Masonry Honed Blocks in “Porcelain”.

Outdoor kitchens – ranging from the modest to the monumental – are still big news, enabling us to extend our love of alfresco living even more. A built-in timber bench is a delightful addition to this clever year-round space.

Neutral Territory

Neutrals remain a hot ticket for exteriors, and are used beautifully in this open-air oasis, framed in retro-style breezeblocks. The design features different nuances in its neutrals: the breezeblock wall is stark white, while the large-scale UrbanStone Opulence Pavers are sand-coloured, and the Bowral 76 “Chillingham White” brick edging is a shade darker.

Pops of colour in the form of a dark-grey stone garden bed, timber bench, greenery and a blue coffee table offer a counterpoint to the otherwise neutral palette.