Take advantage of natural light

After one of the dullest springs in living memory we're all craving a little more sunshine.

It's only natural, of course. Take a stroll down Lonsdale Avenue when the sun finally does come out and you'll experience it first hand. We all want sunlight. We need it. Why is it then that so many homes fail to capture it?

The relative position of the sun in the sky is determined by the time of day and by the season of the year. In northern latitudes facing south means facing the sun. It will rise in the east and set in the west. We all know this but we often fail to translate this understanding into a meaningful expression when it comes to our homes.

Photograph by: Mike Wakefield, NEWS photo

When laying out a new home the first thing the designer will do is determine the lighting requirements for specific spaces and then locate these spaces to best take advantage of natural light. This typically means maximizing southern exposure (for us dwellers in the northern hemisphere) and often encourages a form that stretches along an east-west axis. Not every property affords such a layout so understanding the movement of the sun to best capture its rays is an essential first step for any project.

As a general rule spaces like a dining area or den require less light than do the kitchen or living room. Morning light is best utilized by morning activity areas such as en-suites and breakfast nooks while afternoon and evening light better illuminates spaces that buzz later in the day.

Once a general room layout based on sun movement has been established the designer or architect begins to consider how this natural light will illuminate the spaces it enters. Light coming from two directions is always ideal. This might be from windows on adjacent walls or from a window wall and skylight above but having light illuminate a space from two directions adds a vividness to the room and enhances its three-dimensionality.

The use of a wall or ceiling surfaces as a reflector can create interesting and appealing lighting options while helping illuminate from multiple directions as well.

A clerestory is a wonderful way of bringing additional light but one must be cautious about bringing in too much. With sunlight comes warmth. Incorporating well-designed overhangs will block out the unwanted, near-vertical rays of summer while still allowing the warming light of a winter sun to make its way deep into the home.

Everything seen in space is perceived and understood through the light that falls upon it. The more we anticipate how natural light affects our layout, the more we move towards an optimal design for our homes.

Outdoor room extends space

North Shore residents have a special connection with the outdoors -- I'd say we're among a select few "big city" dwellers who aren't shocked to see a black bear or coyote rambling down our neighbourhood streets -- and for many of us it's this proximity to nature that's the reason we live where we do.

Photograph by: Mike Wakefield, NEWS photo

The newly coined "Nature Deficit Disorder" that's plaguing many urbanites these days will have a tough time affecting us.

We're seeing a popular trend in home design to extend the interior day-to-day living spaces of a home to the out-of-doors through the use of well-defined outdoor rooms. The barbecue nook with adjoining multi-purpose plastic chairs and table is transforming into dedicated outdoor kitchens, eating and lounging areas that truly bring the indoors out.

If you're thinking about creating an outdoor room for your home here are a few ideas you may want to incorporate:

• The outdoor room should be a natural extension of the interior space of a home with the delineation between inside and out as seamless as possible. Keep the floor levels between interior and exterior spaces as close as possible and pick exterior furniture and accessories that reflect the style and design of the interior. Long gone are the days of the molded plastic garden furniture as today's offerings are stylish, colourful and comfortable.
• Plan your outdoor room as you would any interior area within your home. Delineate areas for specific tasks. If you're focusing on an outdoor kitchen then anticipate adequate areas to work and to lounge. If you're designing an outdoor living area think about how you will furnish the space, how you will circulate through it and what elements might become a focus for the space such as an outdoor fireplace or a landscape feature.
• Think beyond a simple barbecue and purchase or build a grill island. This full-service cooking centre may have storage cabinets, warming drawers, a sink and even an under-counter fridge - but make sure it's only a cold storage for drinks and the like or those rambling north shore bears will be enjoying your outdoor kitchen as well.
• Think about adding gas or electric heaters to your layout.The addition of heat can make a huge difference on how frequently an outdoor space is used. If designed correctly an outdoor fireplace can produce lots of heat and can make an outdoor lounging area an inviting place even on the chilliest of evenings.
• Make sure to generously cover your outdoor area to ensure greater use year round. A pergola with grapevines is visually nice and will provide shade but will not keep out the rain. We live in a very wet climate here on the North Shore. Our outdoor spaces need to reflect this reality.
• Think about sheltering your outdoor room from the wind as a cool breeze is a sure way to send everyone inside. Latticework with trailing vines, a tight wood screen or a densely planted hedge will all do the trick nicely.
• Exterior lighting is a critical component of a successful outdoor room. Think about lighting the outside as you would the inside with general, task and feature lighting. There are loads of new energy-efficient all-weather options on the market these days.

Adding an outdoor room to your home is a wonderful way of expanding your daily life into the outdoors and making nature a place to inhabit rather than just a place to look at.