From the romantic to the playful, the elegant and the easefully everyday, these enviable outdoor dining spaces add an extra dimension of wellbeing and charm to the lifestyles of the homeowners who relish spending time in them.
Good To Gather
In a climate where year-round outdoor living is very much an option, this large covered patio is in constant use by the homeowners. It’s a much-used entertainment area too, with spaces set aside for both dining and lounging. A clean-lined dining table is paired with a mix of simple wooden chairs and a slatted bench, making dining arrangements easy to reconfigure depending on how many guests need to be accommodated.
Cast In Stone
At this Mediterranean holiday home, the outdoor living area is a study in texture: natural stone, poured microcement, timber, river pebbles and a variety of vegetation come together to create an integrated and welcoming space. For alfresco eats, a large cast concrete built-in table is provided.
Desert Dreaming
“The Karoo landscape heightens the senses because there’s no clutter,” says the homeowner and creator of this contemporary farmhouse-cum-holiday home. “There’s a simplicity there – openness and a sense of freedom.” All these elements are heightened in this outdoor dining space, which is glassed in on one side to protect it from strong prevailing winds while still allowing its users to enjoy the expansive vista.
Perfect Symmetry
The dark exterior walls of this suburban house work wonderfully to emphasise the lush greenery of the garden, while the formality created by the box hedges and olive trees gives it a timeless quality. The symmetry of the planting means that in spite of being located outdoors, this space really does feel rather like an ‘exterior room’. And when the air is scented with lavender and a family of quails quietly pecking at garden pests close by, the hours simply melt away
Tree Tops
Tucked discreetly away behind a stone wall in a lush, landscaped garden, this island holiday home is a perfectly private retreat for its celebrity owners, who love to linger over meals in this outdoor dining area. The tranquil scene is completed by a pair of pendant lights sourced by the homeowner and hung from the branches of the tree that shades the space during the day.
Heritage Haven
Summer lunches with the family are regularly taken in this alfresco dining area, which is set in the courtyard between the living and kitchen wings of a storied homestead on a Cape wine farm. Shaded by a vine-covered pergola that ensures the space is sheltered from the intense summer heat – and fills it with dappled, green-tinted light – this dreamy space is redolent with heritage elegance.
Designer Vista
The roof of the deck of this spectacular holiday home, which is situated close to a river mouth near the sea, is supported by a curving pillar that is an element of organic sculpture as well as a structural essential. “This special column becomes the main feature,” says architect Silvio Rech, although the breathtaking view is certainly lovely enough to compete for alfresco diners’ attention.
A Vine Time
The stylish owner of this historic villa says its outdoor living area – which features a swimming pool as well as this delightful vine-covered gazebo – is like “having an extra room”. And located close by is a wood-burning oven that’s as perfect for pizza-making as it is for a long, slow roast. Situated at the heart of a large, lush garden that includes mature trees, water features and vegetable boxes, this space is all about rustic charm.
