Given Pittsburgh’s mosquito population in the summer and chilly breezes in the fall, it’s probably not a bad idea to also invest in some sort of table-top bug zapper for the former, and a chiminea, portable fireplace or outdoor blankets for the latter. (Textillery’s all-weather throws, which are made from durable, fade-resistant Sunbrella yarn and feel as soft as chenille, are especially nice.)

You should probably also factor in a place to eat, even if it’s little more than a corner, and some sort of lighting.

“If you’re not comfortable, you’re not going to use it,” says Ms. Whiteside.

Above all, treat your outdoor room like you would an interior space. Build it around a focal point — say, a custom-made table — and decorate it with interesting accessories and accent pieces.

And don’t be afraid to mix and match colors and textures, or old pieces with new. Some homeowners will play off the hues in their gardens or landscaping, while others will choose what makes them feel good. Both are perfectly OK.

“You want it feel individual,” says Mr. Hollihan. “No one else’s space should be quite like yours.”

This entry was posted on Monday, July 10th, 2006 at 8:48 am and is filed under Exterior Doors, Garden Decor, Home Loans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.