LATEST ARTICLES

Andrea Stetson, Special to the News-Press12:13 a.m. EDT July 6, 2014

Homes in Southwest Florida are bringing the inside outside. All the comforts of home from the plush couches to dining room tables to state-of-the-art kitchens are heading outdoors. A huge trend in outdoor living keeps getting bigger and more elaborate in new homes.

It used to be that homeowners wanted a small covered area on their lanai for a gas grill and a table to eat outside. Now the stand-alone grill is something of the past. The new outdoor kitchens have everything from grills and slow cookers to stovetops and refrigerators. The tables have gone from plastic to metal or glass and the seating from wooden chairs with a cushion to full couches.

"Everyone has an outdoor kitchen," said Nicky Weston, marketing manager for London Bay Homes. "That one I do have in every house. That is important to every client that I have. I haven't met one that doesn't want an outdoor kitchen."

London's Bay's new Brighton model not only has an outdoor kitchen and living area, but a design that keeps the flooring, ceiling and furniture inside and outside streamline so with the doors pushed fully open it is hard to tell where the inside ends and the outside begins.

The outdoor area in the Michelangelo models feature a table, seating area and a mini kitchen.(Photo: Photos by Andrea Stetson/Special to The News-Press )

Builders say it's a lifestyle that their clients clamor for.

"We hear a lot of times people get off work and they want to be outside," explained Dan Dodrill, owner of Daniel Wayne Homes. "I just live out there. We have a barbecue, nice furniture, TV, fireplace.

It's a lifestyle. They say they just want to live out there, retreat and really enjoy the Southwest Florida weather."

Snowbirds spend their time here when the weather is at its best. They don't have to worry about the heat and bugs. They are also grateful to be away from the snow and cold and want to take advantage of the outdoors.

Dennis Casey loves his huge lanai that feels like an extension of his Quail West home.

"That adds 1,000 square feet to the house," Casey said. "When we're down there we spend a lot of time outside so that the outdoors are important, not just for entertaining, but for living.

That living just keeps getting bigger and more elaborate, local developers say.

"It used to be just a niche for a gas grill," described Karen Tracey of Tracey Quality Building. "Now it is much bigger and they want the outdoor living atmosphere."

"This is a big trend. They want lots of room for outdoor entertaining," added Rob Woods, vice president of Michelangelo Custom Homes.

Don Krispin had a Michelangelo home built in Miromar Lakes and loves the outdoor living his home provides.

The Hayworth model has a huge outdoor area that adds more than 1,000 square feet onto the home. (Photo: Photos by Andrea Stetson/Special to The News-Press )

"The attention to architectural detail is second to none, and it just allows for the full enjoyment of the outdoor living that Florida offers," Krispin said. "We have a covered lanai with roll-up screens, huge pool area, and a cabana house as well, which is sort of unique."

Some of the more upscale homes have lanais with screens that roll down from the covered portion of the outdoors. That allows residents to have an unobstructed view when there are no bugs and nice weather, yet roll down the screens when needed.

"Especially in season we all want to be outdoors," said Regan Reed, owner of Croix Interiors. "That's why they buy in Naples."