story by Ingrid Bradley photography by Jason Hook

Outdoor living spaces have become quite exciting due to an expanded design focus and new materials, all helping homeowners express their own personal style and sense of place.

For many, especially those living on the balmy Space Coast, their home’s indoor-outdoor connection is of utmost importance. That’s why Christopher Burton Homes is taking front entrances, back patios and lanais to exciting new levels.

Front entrance design specifically has been the hallmark of a home’s attractiveness since man moved beyond the cave. From elaborate and ornate columns and commanding porte-cochere (covered driveways), to simple, yet welcoming, front-door steps, the front entrance sets the tone and personality of a home.

Front entrances are not only an extension of the home, they are very much an extension of the homeowner’s personality. As such, Christopher Burton Homes takes these outdoor living spaces seriously and has developed a reputation for the area’s most stunning front entrances. Oftentimes, the homebuilder will use materials such as stone, tile, wood and iron to blend with other design elements to characterize the homeowner’s style, purpose and focus.

A SYMPHONY OF INDOOR/OUTDOOR LIVING

While the front entrance may give the first impression, the back patio has become an artful combination of clever composition, spatial organization and function. And the design professionals at Christopher Burton Homes are experts at pulling it all together to form a symphony of indoor/outdoor living that defines relaxing, unwinding, dining
and entertaining.

Back patio design is drastically changing due to homeowners seeking smaller, more manageable homes with expanded outdoor living spaces. Lots are also getting smaller which necessitates smarter patio designs that take into account acoustics, views, lighting and more.

Tom Davis, vice president and director of business development and residential design at Christopher Burton Homes, is part of a team of smart designers. Look at any of his company’s model homes and note the patio details.

“The new architectural model blends indoor and outdoor living space in a seamless and integrated way,” says Davis. “With homes becoming smaller and lot sizes for new construction becoming smaller as well, we have had to become very innovative in how we use and coordinate space. Buyers today are not interested in purchasing more interior space than they will use on a regular basis. Enlarged outdoor living areas make a home feel and live bigger.”

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Home design in Florida is about the view and the light, according to Davis. “Light and bright has been the trend for years and anticipating our clients’ lifestyle and living habits plays a big role in what we do. From modest grilling areas to full-amenity summer kitchens or simple areas for picnic-style dining to complete outdoor dining rooms, outdoor living has changed the way people live in our homes,” he says.

Traffic flow is another design consideration for Christopher Burton Homes. Traveling through French doors or oversized sliding-glass doors gives clients the feeling of luxury previously only found in extremely high-end resorts or residences.

 

“Open design allows us to eliminate barriers to sight lines and movement and take full advantage of the beautiful views so many of our clients are looking for,” says Davis. “Coordinating the color flow and texture between inside and outside is another theme we are ever mindful of in design. Our exceptional structural and interior design teams have decades of experience creating homes that live beyond their walls and feel bigger than their footprint. One of the most abundant comments about our homes is how remarkable they feel and how the patios, porches and interiors look like a model and feel so wonderful to live in. Several of our homeowners have remarked that they dine in more and go out less since their homes and patios feel like a resort.”

 

DESIGNED TO CARRY THE INDOORS OUT

The once-plain concrete patio of days past has been replaced with materials that provide homeowners choices in color, design, texture — again, all helping establish style, tone and personality.

“Today we use more and more natural materials or manufactured stone products to carry the inside out. Our talented team at Inspirations Home Design Center is masterful at assisting each homeowner to match and complement their patio or pool deck with their great room or living room to make the transition to the outside feel both natural and inviting,” explains Davis.

Today’s choices for materials include cedar patio ceilings; natural stone, such as flagstone and slate; elaborately designed tiles; stamped and designed concrete; pavers; exposed aggregate floor coverings; lighting and more.

Christopher Burton Homes’ forward focus on harnessing and making best use of limited-energy resources makes them a leader of the pack when it comes to efficient designs and products. “When you consider all the things that go into our designs, both indoor and outdoor, energy efficiency has always been one element on which we have concentrated our efforts … and today more so than ever. Sustainable materials, environmentally friendly products and construction methods that ensure both superior performance and comfort for each of our clients are all part of the formula that drives our brand. Whatever we do, we consider best practices and superior materials first and foremost,” says Davis.

A single visit to any Christopher Burton Homes’ model home will immediately confirm that the craftsmanship and design is a cut above.

Christopher Burton Luxury Homes is located at 3999 N. Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne. The company’s slogan, “Building homes for life and relationships for a lifetime,” is a statement of the homebuilder’s intention. The team firmly believes building homes is much more about people than
it is about houses. For more information, call (321) 757-3247 or visit BurtonHomes.com.