For the past 32 years my family and I have lived in the Sunbelt. From Broward County, Florida, to Grapevine, Texas, over to Scottsdale, Arizona, and on to Irvine, Santa Clarita, Santa Barbara, and Laguna Niguel, California we have cherished the many months that we have been able to relish spending time outside. We have probably moved more than the average family, each time enjoying the adventure.

Each home had something different to offer, nevertheless, all of them had wonderful outdoor spaces. In Florida, we lived in a townhouse with a screened in patio that we utilized at the end of a hard week for relaxation. Grapevine had a sizeable backyard, which we lost with our move to Irvine. There we had a postage size backyard, but we did have a small lattice pergola that housed our outdoor table and four chairs and a patch of grass with room enough for our young sons to play.

Our move to Santa Clarita enabled us to choose a home with a spectacular view, a large backyard with another lattice pergola that permitted us to purchase a larger dining table and more chairs for our growing family. 6 years later we headed toward the coast to Santa Barbara and were fortunate enough to purchase our next home in the foothills. The home was a ranch style with one level and the roof of the house created an overhang that provided shade for our alfresco dining and on the far side of the pool a gazebo accommodated our friends and family during parties and events at our home.

There are many things that my husband and I analyze when we are purchasing a new home, one is the location, another is the view and an important consideration is the exposure. Outdoor Living is essential to our lives, so the exposure will affect our ability to spend time outside. When the front of a home faces east, the back naturally faces west. Having a western exposure has its positive and negative aspects. Watching the colors in the sky change as the sun sets is a beautiful benefit, while the late afternoon sun and heat can be a disadvantage on a hot summer day.

The addition of awnings over westward facing windows add flair as well as protection. There are so many colors of awning grade that can accent or blend with the decor. Awning hardware can be Old World and Tuscan inspired or sleek and modern. A motorized awning sits idle up against the building or home and will transform the space when it is fully extended.

Even the eastern exposure will need protection from the early morning sun for a few hours. Adjustable awnings are the perfect solution for this space. When needed the awning can be extended and when the sun has moved over the house and shade is no longer necessary the awning can be placed back in its resting position. Just as a tilting umbrella or a pop up structure provide shade as the sun moves around the earth, awnings furnish cover in appropriate places, they create outdoor living rooms that are sheltered from direct sunlight. Al fresco living is energizing to the body and soul just as the sun supplies much needed sustenance to plants and fauna in our environment.

Now homes with less desirable exposures can become more appealing with an awning made with Sunbrella fabric.  Add value to a home or even a commercial setting as you add design, color and useful protection from the elements.

Spend as many hours outside as you do inside with the addition of one of these shade options, a pergola, a gazebo or an awning.

Leave a comment to let me know what you use in your outdoor living space to create a shaded outdoor room!

Enjoy the outdoors.

Marcia