Take It Outside
Homeowners transform outdoor spaces into sanctuaries where creature comforts and the beauty of nature intermingle
Much grander than simple patios and porches, outdoor living spaces have become extensions of the home; some even include full kitchens. Their purpose: to blend comfort and functionality with the beauty of the natural world. Homeowners throughout the Philadelphia area and across the country are transforming ordinary backyards into tranquil sanctuaries where the veil between inside and out fades away. Maybe it’s a quiet spot beneath a pergola for morning coffee, or a fire feature where family members can gather beneath the stars, or a stone pathway leading to a cozy reading nook in the middle of a lush garden.
Any homeowners who have a desire to build an outdoor living space or reimagine an existing one have some careful decisions to make, according to Diane Marrazzo, an outdoor design specialist with Marrazzo’s North River, a Wycombe-based creator of unique outdoor environments for homes in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and surrounding areas. She shared her perspective to help homeowners make informed decisions as they move forward.
Q&A
What factors should a homeowner keep in mind as they go about transforming their properties to include a new outdoor living space?
What is the motivation behind the need to create, recreate, or expand one’s outdoor living space? Is there an upcoming family event with a time frame to be considered? A budget for the investment of the outdoor project will define the project’s allowances. Being honest about one’s budget will help the designer design for you.
What factors should a homeowner keep in mind as they go about transforming their properties to include a new outdoor living space?
What is the motivation behind the need to create, recreate, or expand one’s outdoor living space? Is there an upcoming family event with a time frame to be considered? A budget for the investment of the outdoor project will define the project’s allowances. Being honest about one’s budget will help the designer design for you.
Does a home’s interior have any bearing on how an outdoor living space should be designed? If so, how?
Absolutely. A client’s interior lifestyle ought to carry through to the outdoors, keeping both spaces—interior and exterior—cohesive in nature. For example, a light, bright, and cozy cottage-like interior may lend itself to a colorful blooming exterior that may include a water feature, bird feeders, and natural stone paths set in pea gravel; while a Tuscany interior may render an exterior environment with more evergreens and boulders, possibly including a dark heavy wood structure with a formal patio with formal walkways. Bringing interior elements into the outdoor environment also feels as if one’s home was created at once. Let’s say your kitchen’s backsplash’s ornamental tiles may be included in the backsplash of your outdoor kitchen; or an interior wood beam stain color is the same as the outdoor wooden arbor or pergola. Bringing elements of the interior to the exterior establishes cohesiveness about one’s home and style.
Absolutely. A client’s interior lifestyle ought to carry through to the outdoors, keeping both spaces—interior and exterior—cohesive in nature. For example, a light, bright, and cozy cottage-like interior may lend itself to a colorful blooming exterior that may include a water feature, bird feeders, and natural stone paths set in pea gravel; while a Tuscany interior may render an exterior environment with more evergreens and boulders, possibly including a dark heavy wood structure with a formal patio with formal walkways. Bringing interior elements into the outdoor environment also feels as if one’s home was created at once. Let’s say your kitchen’s backsplash’s ornamental tiles may be included in the backsplash of your outdoor kitchen; or an interior wood beam stain color is the same as the outdoor wooden arbor or pergola. Bringing elements of the interior to the exterior establishes cohesiveness about one’s home and style.
When vetting contractors, craftspeople, or other professionals to help create an outdoor living space, what questions should a homeowner pose to each candidate?
Personally, we have kindly asked from our selection of contractors, “This is just strictly business, but are you licensed and insured in the state of Pennsylvania? Will you please provide proof?” PA contractor numbers are provided by the state with the knowing that you are licensed and insured. Having both the PA contractor [license] number and a [certificate of insurance], you know the contractor you have selected is properly in business. Ask for two or three recent references, perhaps local contracting projects completed to see or speak with the client. Are they [Better Business Bureau] represented and rated?
Personally, we have kindly asked from our selection of contractors, “This is just strictly business, but are you licensed and insured in the state of Pennsylvania? Will you please provide proof?” PA contractor numbers are provided by the state with the knowing that you are licensed and insured. Having both the PA contractor [license] number and a [certificate of insurance], you know the contractor you have selected is properly in business. Ask for two or three recent references, perhaps local contracting projects completed to see or speak with the client. Are they [Better Business Bureau] represented and rated?
Unlimited Potential
The Philadelphia area has an abundance of craftspeople, artisans, and purveyors who specialize in creating outdoor living spaces. Here are some of the best and brightest.
The Philadelphia area has an abundance of craftspeople, artisans, and purveyors who specialize in creating outdoor living spaces. Here are some of the best and brightest.
Amazing Decks
anotheramazingdeck.com
anotheramazingdeck.com
Better Homes Hearth & Patio
betterhomeshearthandpatio.com
Bucks Country Gardens
buckscountrygardens.com
C&J Outdoor Services
(215) 908-9308
Gale Nurseries
galenurseries.com
betterhomeshearthandpatio.com
Bucks Country Gardens
buckscountrygardens.com
C&J Outdoor Services
(215) 908-9308
Gale Nurseries
galenurseries.com
Homestead Structures
homesteadstructures.com
Main Line Gardens
mainlinegardens.com
Marrazzo’s North River
marrazzosnorthriver.com
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, May 2025.
homesteadstructures.com
Main Line Gardens
mainlinegardens.com
Marrazzo’s North River
marrazzosnorthriver.com
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, May 2025.
