Simple fixes deliver resort style to your own backyard

by | Mar 25, 2013 | 17, 18, 19, 7, Articles

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Simple fixes deliver resort style to your own backyard</font></h2><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">(ARA) – Sure you would like to live the fantasy this summer, spending a week lounging at a luxury resort, sipping colorful beverages, sinking into a plush chaise lounge beside a crystal blue pool while a cool breeze wafts through the fronds of a nearby palm. But .. there’s this whole thing about the economy.</span></p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Even though things are getting better, you may still hesitate to spend your hard-earned or hard-saved cash on something as transient as a luxury summer vacation. Instead of splashing money away on travel, why not bring the luxury home by creating a resort-like outdoor environment that will both enhance your enjoyment and improve the value of your house?</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Improving your outdoor living space continues to be a good investment. Great outdoor living spaces continue to top the list of most-desired features for both homeowners and potential buyers. And for what you might spend on a luxury vacation, it’s possible to create your own personal oasis of luxury that you can enjoy for the entire summer, rather than just for a week.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Not sure where to begin? You can add home-style versions of the high-priced appointments such as pools and wall murals that you would find in luxury resorts around the world.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Water play</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">A pool is a must-have for a high-end resort. Thanks to kits that include everything from the pool walls and liner to the filter, it’s possible to cheaply install an above-ground pool in your backyard – provided homeowners association rules allow it. Prices range from a few hundred dollars for basic pools to a few thousand for more upscale versions.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/16a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/16a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">If a pool is out of your budget, or prohibited in your neighborhood, or your yard is just too small for it, consider adding a different kind of water feature that takes up less room. Modestly sized fountains, rain chains, even a bird bath, can all deliver a restful mood and the charming sound of flowing water.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Set the stage</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">If you don’t already have a deck or patio, adding one is a great investment. You can go totally over the top – if that’s in your budget – or start with a modest deck that can be expanded later. If you already have a deck, consider upgrading it, along with the regular seasonal maintenance you already do. You can add designer touches like metal balusters on railings and decorative caps on posts. Accent lighting, built-in seating and firepits also can enhance a deck’s appeal.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Artful accents</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Resort designers recognize the power of a wall mural to transform a space from merely beautiful to exotic. Virtually any smooth outdoor surface can host a wall mural, thanks to easy-to-mount wallpaper murals available from websites like <a href="http://www.muralsyourway.com/">www.MuralsYourWay.com</a> . Adding a mural to an architectural niche, outdoor wall or even a sliding glass door can create a conversation piece for outdoor gatherings, establish a mood for your outdoor space and convey continuity between outdoor and indoor decor.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Luxury lounging</strong></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Outdoor furniture is one area where it pays to spend a little more to get a durable, well-made set that you love. For maximum luxury, you’ll need more than just a table and four chairs. Consider love seats, lounges and ottomans to impart depth, variety and comfort to your outdoor seating arrangement. If you already have a well-made set that just needs a little sprucing up, invest in quality new cushions. Metal sets can easily be freshened with a coat of spray paint and wooden sets can be refinished or painted to look like new.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/17a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/17a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Instead of spending money on a luxury vacation, keep the money and the value home this summer. With a few custom design touches you can turn your outdoor living space into your own personal resort.</p>  <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span&gt;</p></span>