52 May 2012

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52 May 2012
www.northernvirginiaMag.coM 53
i mp r o v e me n t s
to your home and your life
By Jennifer Shapira
outdoor
These days, people are staying
in their homes and enhancing their four
walls rather than moving. But whether
you plan to sell or not, outdoor spaces
are desirable. A sunny stone patio is
pretty and functional. A leafy, shaded
portico provides shelter from the sun. A
screened-in porch protects from all the
elements. A tricked-out outdoor kitchen
makes for an entertaining hot spot.
These are places where families gather,
where parties are in full swing, where you
seek solace in an early morning cuppa.
Why not enjoy springs frst dafodils,
summers bounty or the dazzling fall
color of sugar maples from your perfect
outdoor perch?

www.northernvirginiaMag.coM 53
54 May 2012
Enjoy cozy gatherings with family and friends
under the open sky with a handcrafted fre pit
from Merrifeld Garden Center.
In fact, experts say, these
spots are a must for any
suburban homebig or small
because people want to feel connected
to the outside. Theres no shortage in
the interest of creating new and im-
proving old outdoor spaces, especially
in todays economy.
Fortunately, these spaces are scal-
able, says interior designer June Shea.
You dont have to go big to enjoy a slice
of the outdoors. But depending on your
home, you certainly can.
With a litle expert insight, you can
have a customized, private surround-
ing that bursts with visual interest.
Hit the Deck
Rick Matus, senior vice president, di-
rector of design and sales at Case De-
sign/Remodeling, says one important
change he has seen in outdoor spaces
is a move away from decks. More ho-
meowners are interested in puting in
screened-in porches, which is a dra-
matic shif from fve or 10 years ago,
he says.
Ofen, that involves adding a struc-
ture to an already-existing deck, says
Matus, so that clients can actually en-
joy the outdoors, he says, not just a
couple weeks in the spring, but actu-
ally through the spring, summer and
the fall.
The biggest concern with adding a
screened-in porch to a deck is the pres-
ervation of natural light. No one wants
to sacrifce the morning sun of a break-
fast room for an outdoor space. Thats
where smart, creative solutions come
into play, says Matus.
Well suggest puting skylights into
the screened-in porch and have it be
positioned strategically so that it al-
lows sunlight to flter through into the
house itself. A lot of times, the skylights
that we put in screened-
in porches are not be-
cause we want to make
the screened-in porch
even brighter; its really
because we want to help
bring natural light into
the house.
Part of what we
want to do is educate the
client, he says. We talk
to them about where the
sun is at diferent points
in time because if all the
sun is in the early morn- c
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ing and youre going to use the screened
porch in the afernoon and evenings,
you need to think about how to deal
with the light.
In terms of materials, Matus says,
higher-end fnishes are more popular
among the requests his frm is hearing.
That is, use of maintenance-free mate-
rials like PVC instead of wood trim, el-
egant beadboard ceilings and compos-
ite decking for the fooring, which, he
says, is expensive, but it looks great,
and itll last forever.
Decks vs. Patios
How do you know which option is right
for you and your home? Matus ofers
up his solution.
When someone says, We want to
have a deck outside because thats what
all our neighbors have, we want to look
and assess the conditions of the site to
see if a deck is appropriate, or if a pa-
tio is appropriate.
Another important consideration:
Weve also found that if somebody has
to walk down a fight of stairs to get to
www.northernvirginiaMag.coM 55
their outdoor living space, they tend to
not use it as much.
A fx may be whats called a tiered
deck, or a more gentle transition: a cou-
ple of steps down from the main living
space to a grilling area, then a few more
steps down to the main patio.
The most common locally used
stones for patios are fagstone and
slate. Flagstone is a great option for
the homeowner who is interested in
shades of gray; slate ofers more of a
color palete with its grays, greens,
blues, pinks and purples.
Other options include interlocking
pavers, which are becoming more ac-
ceptable, says Renata Holt, landscape
designer at Merrifeld Garden Center.
People used to be adamant about using
traditional patio materials, she says,
but in the past few years, the products
have been greatly improved. Theyre
very strong and durable and theyre
equal to, and in some cases, less ex-
pensive, than natural stone.
One green option that Holt is par-
ticularly proud of: A homeowner in
56 May 2012
Springfeld built his own brick patio
some 30 years ago. His grown children
had been afer him in recent years to
redo it because it had begun to set-
tle and the steps were uneven. Holt
stepped in and redesigned the pa-
tio in more or less the same footprint
that he had. She used pavers to build
the steps into landings so they would
be easier to maneuver. The fnishing
touch: She breathed new life into the
existing 30-year-old brick. It certainly
doesnt happen in all cases, but some-
times existing materials can be part of
a new solution that makes everyone
happy, says Holt.
Outdoor Kitchens: Cook-
ing and Dining Al Fresco
Also popular, says Matus, is the out-
door kitchen. Traditionally, the re-
quests for these spaces are from ho-
meowners who are already maximizing
their outdoor living areas and do a lot
of entertaining; this is just another ex-
tension of homes with large backyards.
Other requests both Holt and Matus
have seen on the increase include the
more personality-driven hearth-like
fre pits and rustic pizza ovens.
When you entertain outside fre-
quently, its important to have all the
necessities close at hand. You dont
want to have to go back into the house
for a beer, says Matus. But thats true
of the food preparation and storage;
even special outdoor-only silverware
and glassware can be stored in drawers
and under counters outside for conve-
nience. Top-of-the-line grills are built
into a stone structure for a much more
fnished look than that of a regular,
free-standing grill out on the deck. With
the proper wiring and plumbing, it can
be a homes second high-end kitchen,
complete with refrigerator, sink, dish-
washer and warming drawers.
When it comes to cabinetry, A lot of
times well use some kind of wood that
will withstand the outdoor elements,
says Matus, so a lot of times its teak
that would be stained and sealed. We
do heavy stone or even concrete coun-
tertops. Granite can be used, but what
we fnd is, it tends to become very dull
when lef outside throughout the sea-
Screened-in porch with skylights that
lets plenty of natural light into the house
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Outdoor stainless-steel cabi-
nets, warming drawer, gas grill
and infrared griller from Viking
www.northernvirginiaMag.coM 57
Q
&
A
with Rick Matus
Senior Vice President,
Director of Design and Sales,
Case Design/Remodeling Inc.
Q Besides screened-in porches
and patios, what are some cre-
ative solutions for improving
outdoor spaces?
A A great solution is to do a
pergola or a trellis, which basi-
cally means its got a couple of
artifcial columns, and its got
the rafters fat with the little
curlicue cutouts at the ends. It
breaks up the intense sunlight
and creates some shade. Thats
a nice detail to add to a house in
the back.
Q What are some changes that
people can make to the front
of their homes, to boost their
curb appeal?
A Well come to a home, and it
will have a nice front door and
the trim, but theres no defnition
of where the entry is. So well
suggest doing a front portico to
create more defnition and to
make it eye-catching when you
drive down the street. We can
also do a lot of cosmetic up-
grades that dont have to cost a
lot. Things like not only paint-
ing the home but adding wood
shutters, adding dormers to bun-
galows, to add some interest to
the house.

Q Why are homeowners at-
tracted to the idea of outdoor
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58 May 2012
sons. So, something like a stone is rus-
tic-looking, but it looks great even afer
fve years.
Overall, the design of the outdoor
kitchen generally leans toward con-
servative and thoughtful of the sur-
roundings, says Matus.
We dont want to have an outdoor
kitchen be so large that it overtakes
the use of that space outside. So even
though its going to be an eye-catch-
ing piece, we dont want to overwhelm
the patio with a lot of heavy structures
from the kitchen. We also dont want
to compete with the landscaping.
Backyard Green Thumbs
Outdoor spaces are not one size fts
all. They should be tailored to the ho-
meowners needs, says Holt.
Todays customers are much sav-
vier and more educated. They know
what they want, thanks to HGTV and
magazines, says Holt. They are ofen
prepared with their own portfolios of
plant and hardscape ideas.
When it comes to landscapes, there
are a couple of caveats, she says. First:
Native plants do not necessarily mean
low-maintenance. And second: No
plant is no-maintenance.
Even if you Google native plants and
buy them at your local garden center,
Holt says, it is still important to con-
sult a professional about the amount
of care and sunlight required to keep
them thriving outside your home.
But in general, people are seeking
year-round color: That is, a litle bit of
interest with each season like whites
and yellows in spring, jeweled tones
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www.northernvirginiaMag.coM 59
kitchens?
A Typically theyre larger homes,
which means that they have large
backyards. And most of the time
they already have an established
outdoor living space of some kind.
A patio, maybe a screened-in
porch, and the outdoor kitchen is
a result of doing a lot of entertain-
ing outside and not wanting to go
back into the house to get a beer,
or they want to be able to grill on
something that looks very nice. So
we build the high-end grills into a
structure that doesnt move, and
it really gives it a much more ele-
gant look than just having a regular
grill. We can incorporate things like
a bar area to sit at, so that when
somebodys grilling on one side,
somebody can be sitting on a stool
outdoors enjoying a drink.
Q What sorts of requests are you
getting for outdoor kitchens?
A This isnt driven by us tell-
ing our clients what they should
have; its the clients saying, 'This
is the look I want.' It typically in-
volves stone for the foundation of
the outdoor kitchen, cabinetrya
lot of times well use some kind of
wood that will withstand the out-
door elements, so a lot of times
its teak that would be stained and
sealed. We do heavy stone or con-
crete countertops. We dont want
to have an outdoor kitchen be so
large that it overtakes the use of
that space outside. We also dont
want to compete with the [sur-
rounding] landscaping.
Q Is there an interesting idea
for an outdoor space that you
havent done for client yet, but
would like to?
A What I want to do is have a TV
that you can have on the inside
part of the house and have it be
such that you can push it and turn
it around so that its in the house
in the winter. Then you can spin it
around and use it in the summer.
So have it be on an insulated panel
so that you can just turn it around.
That way youre not taking the TV
of the wall. If it sits out in all sea-
sons, the electronics of the TV will
get damaged. I want try it soon,
maybe in my own house.
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60 May 2012
Top Outdoor Home
Improvements
no one wants to be the owner of the
neighborhood eyesore. From front to
back, follow these expert tips and tricks
to increase your homes curb appeal and
enhance those private outdoor spaces in
your backyard. A little thought and main-
tenance can prolong the beauty and liv-
ability on a daily basis. And in the future,
should you decide to sell, the time and
efort you put into your homes outdoor
improvements will speak for themselves.
It sounds basic, but if your home
doesnt have a dedicated outdoor space,
consider adding a little green. If you
dont have the greenest thumb, you may
want to start small. Invest in a couple of
beautiful pots and plant container gar-
dens of summery tomatoes or a favorite
herb. Thinking about a putting in a pa-
tio? You can locate your favorite spot in
the sun or shade before consulting an
expert. If youre not ready to go perma-
nent, set up a movable, makeshift bistro
set. And add some colorful cushions for
pop and comfort.
Here are some other ideas:
To preserve fower pots, at the end of the
season when it starts to freeze, you really
need to make sure you turn those pots upside
down, so they dont fll with water, because
if they fll with water, the pots will expand
and contract. Thats how they break. Another
option, bring them inside. June Shea, interior
deSigner
Improve your homes entryway. Replace
an aging handrail. Clean up the pathway that
leads to your front door. Fix any broken steps
and add a new light fxture. BoB Bell, SpecialiSt,
contractor ServiceS, home depot
If you think you might want to have an
outdoor kitchen, think ahead and get that
part of the home wired in advance. June Shea,
interior deSigner
Bring in your cushions and/or outdoor
furniture to prolong their lives as well; keep
them safe from bad weather and wildlife.
darla mccrary, owner, the Final yard
To enhance the front walkway, remember:
Youre building a walkway so someone will
say, This is a beautiful home. So you want
the stoop, the walkway, whatever you do, to
be an accessory to your home; you dont want
it to be the main show. renatta holt, landScape
deSigner, merriField garden center
Add some brightly colored, interesting pots
and set them on your front stoop. If your skill
set allows, change out the plants by season.
BoB Bell, SpecialiSt, contractor ServiceS, home
depot
Look for year-round interest in your
homes landscaping. renatta holt, landScape
deSigner, merriField garden center
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fabrics, and you cant tell that theyre
designed for outdoors. In fact, a lot of
times Ill use those fabrics inside, if [the
client has] small children or pets.
Todays outdoor fabrics are much
softer and more sun-resistant, says
McCrary, adding that bold colors and
patterns are growing in popularity. A
lot of what were seeing is geometric
patterns, whimsical patterns, medallions
and Suzani patterns, she says.
While sun wont fade the upholstery,
McCrary suggests prolonging the life of your cushions and furniture by
bringing them in during the of-season. While wood and metal furniture
generally lives forever, she says. You dont want to leave cushions out
there for the wildlife to have fun with.
Sitting Pretty
Everybody wants to expand a homes living spaces. So a natural
extension is an outdoor space, says Darla McCrary, owner of the fabric
store The Final Yard, in Winchester. Its all about maximizing the square
footage of your home, inside and out, she says.
Interior designer June Shea knows frsthand. She recently worked
to beautify the outdoor living area of a home in the Beverly Hills
neighborhood of Arlington. The home already had a pool, but Shea
improved the lounge space to create a seamless transition from
indoors and out. Theres a sectional sofa and a cofee table, made from
materials specially designed to be outdoors.
The industry has caught up with the importance of outdoor living in
style. This is not the patio fabric of old, Shea says. Its new all-weather
materials that look like indoor materials. You can use some really nice
in summer, crisp hues in fall and ev-
ergreens in winter.
Some of Holts suggestions: witch
hazel, sweetbay magnolia, Fothergilla,
serviceberry.
In addition, in more recent years,
Holt has noticed an increase in the
number of requests for incorporating
edibles into landscapes, like blueber-
ries and raspberries. Asian-inspired
gardens, which ofen include water fea-
tures, are popular because they can ft
into compact spaces. The plants are
typically small and slow-growing so the
maintenance on them is very, very low,
yet you can get a very elegant, fnished,
clean and serene look, says Holt.
When youre looking to landscape
outdoor kitchens and gathering spaces,
Holt says the most important consid-
eration is to assess the area and fnd
plants that will ft. In addition to look-
ing for year-round interest, add plants
that fower, and those that have color-
ful stems or berries or nice fall color.
Think about the plants bloom time be-
cause you dont want something bloom-
ing around your patio thats going to
atract a lot of bees or insects during
the prime time that everyones going
to be out there, says Holt.
Shut the Front Door
Even if you have a spectacular back-
yard, you dont want to neglect the front
of the house. Think curb appeal.
Its important to remember that the
front of your home, even though its
your home, is a semi-public place, says
Holt. Thats where guests come, so you
want the front of your yard and your
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62 May 2012
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Whole house remodeling, additions, basements,
kitchens, baths and more.
garden to look neat and tidy as much
of the year as possible.
Evergreens are always a good idea
out front, says Holt, then you can
play with the natives and deciduous
things in the back where you can en-
joy them as they come and go through
the seasons, but the front always
looks good.
There are a number of other im-
provements you can make to add some
pop to the front of your home.
For example, paint the front door,
says Bob Bell, specialist in contrac-
tor services at Home Depot in Reston.
Thats a change you can make without
replacing the front door, he says, sug-
gesting a non-streak, high-gloss paint
for added drama. It kind of makes
it sparkle a litle bit, and for just an-
other couple dollars, you can put in a
new door knocker or a new door knob,
he says.
Replace or repaint the handrail and
fx a decrepit stoop. Add interesting-
ly shaped pots as accents in varying
heights with plant choices. Stick with
low-maintenance plants if thats your
skill level; swap them out with bloom-
ing varieties if thats your strength.
Container gardening is growing by
leaps and bounds, says Holt, who has
seen a surge in interest in the use of
tropicals, like hibiscus trees, garde-
nias or jasmine that you can enjoy out-
side all summer long and then bring
indoors in the winter.
If more than the front door needs
some cheering up, add or paint shut-
ters in a color that will provide some
pizzazz, says Shea. Or give the whole
Its important to
remember that the front
of your home, even though
its your home, is a semi-
public place, says Holt.
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house that she repainted a pale yel-
low. She added dormers, set of the
windows with red shuters and paint-
ed the door a deep blue, so the house
went from looking kind of boring to
almost like a litle storybook cotage,
she says.
Now thats what you call a breath of
fresh air.
List of Vendors
Annapolis Lighting
10362 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax;
888-847-7295; annapolislighting.com
Armor Fence Company
703-361-1141; armorfenceco.com
Backyard Shed and Deck Company
11425 Mercury Drive, Manassas;
703-396-7299; backyardshed-deck.com
Berriz Design Build Group
5765-F Burke Center Parkway, Burke;
703-552-7565; berrizdesign.com
Bowers Design Build
6715 Whittier Ave., Suite 200, McLean;
703-506-0845; bowersdesignbuild.com
Case Design/Remodeling Inc.
701 Park Ave., Falls Church;
703-241-2980; casedesign.com
Merrifeld Garden Center
Merrifeld, Fair Oaks, Gainesville;
merrifeldgardencenter.com
Northern Virginia Design Center
111 Rowell Court, Falls Church
By appointment only.
703-803-2273; 703-289-5703 (VA ofce)
Pyne Studios
6448 Elmdale Road, Alexandria;
703-462-3405; pynestudios.com
The Final Yard
33 East Gerrard St., Winchester;
540-678-0085; thefnalyard.com
The Levine Group Architects and Builders
2323 B Stewart Ave., Silver Spring, MD;
703-525-4646; thelevinegroup.com
Shea Studio Interiors Inc
7721 Fullerton Road, Suite A-2, Springfeld;
703-891-1570; sheastudio.com
Sun Design Remodeling Specialists Inc.
5795-B Burke Centre Parkway, Burke;
703-425-5588, Ext. 101; sundesigninc.com
Surrounds Landscaping
21635 Cascades Parkway, Sterling;
703-430-6001; surroundslandscaping.com
Winn Design and Remodeling
100 W. Jeferson St., Falls Church;
703-876-9696; winndesign.com