Outdoor Living
From picturesque beaches to massive oak trees draped in Spanish Moss, the Lowcountry is practically synonymous with natural beauty…and for locals, the outdoors feels more like an extension of who we are. At Furnish, we believe our homes should feel exactly the same!
We thoroughly enjoy designing dreamy outdoor spaces for our clients. Outdoor living is a quintessential part of life in the Lowcountry, and creating a great entertainment space is a surefire way to elevate events and spark joy within the walls of your home on a daily basis. There’s a lot to consider when building a custom home, so we’ve done the hard work for you by assembling our top tips for creating a screened porch, backyard, and front porch that just might turn your world—or at least your social gatherings—inside out!
Create a second living room
We’ll cut straight to the chase: Your screened porch should feel like another room in your home. This means that the decorative and functional choices you make in this space should reflect your taste and lifestyle preferences just as strongly as your interiors.
If your family enjoys watching football on the weekends, for example, let’s add a television to your screened porch. Is winding down with a glass of wine a favorite pastime around sunset? We’ll be sure to incorporate a fireplace and a cozy seating area for you. If entertaining is your thing, a supersized table that can hold the contents of a Lowcountry Boil is a must. Of course, a grill is essential for those idyllic summer months—and while we’re at it, why not create a fully-functioning outdoor kitchen your family can enjoy all year long?
In the photo above, we placed couches close to the fire and television, which immediately turned the space into a gathering zone that is comfortable and inviting. Layering in pillows and other furnishings ensured that the homeowners will be able to use their porch just as easily to host guests or hop on a Zoom call. In keeping with the natural beauty of the home’s surroundings, we developed a design scheme that included rich wooden elements and hues of blue. A splash of greenery was the perfect finishing touch and helped create cohesion between the backyard and transitional porch space.
Don’t forget the
fire pit
Fire pits are wonderful additions to backyards, and that goes double for backyards in the Lowcountry. This is a space where your family can swap stories, make s’mores, and roast an oyster…or twelve.
Though you can buy a moveable fire pit, we recommend building a custom in-ground fire pit that’s sure to stand the test of time. Surrounding the fire pit with a brick or stone patio will help to create a focal point and establish the area. Then comes our favorite part: adding plush chairs around the pit to make it an ultra-comfy relaxation zone. Your outdoor fire pit is sure to be a favorite spot for making memories and spending cherished time together!
A modern solution to comfort - hanging swing beds for the porch
When porch space allows, we love creating custom hanging daybeds for our clients. On a warm day, there is nothing like enjoying the soft sway of a hanging bed with a glass of sweet tea in hand. In addition to upping your curb appeal, a porch swing makes a delightful spot for reading and relaxation!
As shown in the picture above, swing beds allow homeowners to mix fabrics and have a little fun with the decorating process. Piles of plush pillows add texture, color, and most importantly, comfort to a porch swing. We like to use Sunbrella performance fabrics when creating outdoor pillows because, in addition to being beautiful, they are breathable and easy to clean. These top-quality fabrics are also UV, water, mold, and mildew resistant, ensuring your swing will be able to stand up to years of naps in the sunshine.
Southern front porch staples
You absolutely need rockers on your front porch in the Lowcountry. Where else would you sip your sweet tea (except maybe while lounging on that hanging swing bed we just mentioned)? One of our favorite ways to upgrade traditional rocking chairs is to add pillows in modern patterns that lend a dose of comfort and style.
Rugs and side tables can also help soften your porch space, and planters are an extremely easy way to brighten up the area next to your rockers. To make life a little easier, we can even tie your planters into the rest of your landscaping with driplines so that you never have to worry about watering anything. No matter what you’re envisioning, we’ll carefully craft a plan for your front porch that’s sure to turn heads without requiring a high level of maintenance.