Daniel Gordon of LandCare Stone in Madbury and Stratham Hill Stone in Stratham, NH
Q: Which one should you choose—curb appeal or functionality?
A: Build for functionality and curb appeal will follow. It's true—the American homescape is changing, and our living spaces are changing to accommodate it.
By the numbers:
31%. The percentage of U.S. homes with multigenerational families sharing the same home and living space. Mom, Dad and the kids. Brothers and sisters, the grandparents and the grandkids. It's becoming normal again for households to have multigenerational families sharing the same spaces. Creating functional outdoor spaces will create a home that appeals to the people and pets within it—and the neighborhood around it. That’s curb appeal!
One in six. Retirees who have a “boomerang” child who moved back into the family home. Upsizing is a thing! In a recent Merrill Lynch and Age Wave retirement study, 30% of retirees actually moved into larger homes. Outdoor living spaces, pools and patio construction are at an all-time high as more parents welcome their kids and grandkids to spend more time together, not less.
Q: Is it better to bring the outside in, or take the inside out?
A: Allowing people to move freely between the inside and the outside of the home is using a home more productively. What was stated above is still true—the American homescape is changing and our living spaces are changing to accommodate it.
By the numbers:
25%. The percentage of the American workforce that will work remotely by 2025. With today’s changing workforce, functionality has become the number one focus for homeowners, landlords and property managers. Creating living spaces that merge the inside with the outside of the home results in better spaces to live, work and play—and it increases the value of the property.
86%. The percentage of U.S. Households that have an outdoor living space.
While the average American patio is 250 square feet, the average size patio in New England is 300 square feet. There is no such thing as a patio that’s too big. Patios aren't just for entertaining— they are a part of our daily household living. With computer and Wi-Fi mobility, the patio has morphed into one of the most desirable spaces in the home.
Q: Do we plan our outdoor spaces, or do the areas that we use just become them?
A: For many homeowners, the outdoor areas that we use become the outdoor areas that we plan for better use. The best outdoor spaces generally combine these five qualities:
1. There is ample seating and table space for work or play. There's no shortage of options for seating and flat spaces to cook, email, serve or create in your outdoor area.
2. You have the ability to enjoy any weather. From umbrellas to pergolas to fully enclosed spaces, your outdoor space can easily be a fluid part of your everyday living space.
3. It's a place to cool off, and it’s a place to warm up. Is it a simple fire pit, an outdoor fireplace or a combination of alternatives? Outdoor spaces are simpler to integrate into your four-season living.
4. It's a space to cook, eat and entertain. It's your outdoor kitchen! Setting your grill into a brick or stone counter is easier than ever. Fridges, cabinets and cooking space? It's all possible and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
5. It's a place to relax. TVs, stereos, screens and more—the outdoor space is outdoor living space.
With two stores and a distribution yard, LandCare is northern New England’s leading supplier of natural stone, brick pavers and hardscape products for homeowners, installers and New Hampshire’s premier natural stone suppliers. For product information, store directions and more, please visit:
“There's no such thing as a patio that's too big!”
—Daniel Gordon