Create an Outdoor Space that Offers Moderating Sun and Shade by Choice and Enhances a Home’s Value and Square Footage.
(Family Features) – In early times, backyards were mere utilitarian areas. By 1950, these spaces were popular for entertaining, featuring grills and folding lawn chairs. More recently, backyards were transformed into outdoor rooms with appliances and furniture. Today’s modern exteriors call for yet more flexibility.
A space designed to offer an alternating choice of sun or shade when desired is key. Planning an outdoor space with structure and flexible cover does not have to be a daunting task. Just ask Louis Maglio, president of Walpole Woodworkers, and Steve Ostrowski, president of ShadeFX Canopies. They partnered to co-create shade pergolas, a line of high-quality, handcrafted pergola structures with exclusive retractable and integrated canopy systems that provide functional architectural style to outdoor areas.
By following design trends and with knowledge stemming from years of outdoor home products industry work, Maglio and Ostrowski help homeowners give new life to their yards and patios. At the heart of planning these adaptable living areas, understanding trends helps shape decisions.
Trend #1: Real Estate Rivalry – The market is causing people to remain in their homes and renovate spaces for long-term value. The trend is to upgrade for gleaning higher value, not to mention the benefits of beauty and usage. Shade pergolas address the call for extended and remodeled outdoor living spaces. “Shade pergolas add square footage and can cover areas up to 600 square feet. Typical retractable awnings extend only 13 feet,” says Ostrowski. “Installation of one offers structural beauty and scale.”
Property value increases with living area, but the structure has to be sturdy and suited for the elements. “Part of the reason we created shade pergolas was to offer homeowners the ability to add true value. Our cellular vinyl pergolas are a low- to no-maintenance realistic wood alternative and last more than 25 years. The durable canopies offer 10 to 15 years of use,” says Maglio. The addition of a significant outdoor room like this will stand out to potential buyers.
Trend #2: Wavering Weather – Climate change is leading to more unpredictable weather, causing shifts in when people can plan outdoor events. With seasons out of kilter, homeowners are no longer promised mild dry days for pre-planning barbecues. “Sanctuaries that are covered from rain, protected from prolonged sun, and impervious against wind are very possible,” says Ostrowski. “Plan for spaces offering a high level of flexibility.”
A patio with a shade pergola allows homeowners to switch from sun to shade at their leisure. Since shade pergola canopies are retractable, they address the need for outdoor seating areas with the moderating comforts of sun and shade, and protection from rain. This kind of reliability is essential when scheduling outdoor gatherings.
Trend #3: Developing Design – Possibly, the most exciting trend includes new materials and technologies reshaping the design of exterior areas. Innovative products and durable fabrics are evolving to accommodate changing patterns of outdoor living. This is even yielding whole new product categories, giving designers, architects and homeowners many new options.
Technical advancements in new products that address consumer needs are leading to creative changes in style. The example of shade pergolas creating a new shade product category is reminiscent of advanced choices. “Shade pergolas combine the features of fixed awnings – covering large areas with wind and rain resistance – and roll retractable awnings – made retractable with universal mountings – while being neither,” Ostrowski says. Ultimately, this led to the introduction of the new product category.
Color options are also growing. Water-resistant fabric canopies for Maglio and Ostrowski’s shade pergolas are available in five standard colors from Sunbrella, in addition to custom options. It was chosen because it is a leader in performance fabrics. Homeowners designing with the latest styling options such as these will result with valuable at-home havens. To learn more, log onto www.shadepergolas.com.
