My Alfresco Dream

PhoenixStar · Apr 29, 2008 3:26 pm

Ok, i've had plenty of ideas in my head lately for our new alfresco area and what i can do to turn it into our private oasis....!!!!!

Well i'm up to my 3rd redesign of it and Ian's about to kill me!!!....
I keep changing my requirements and he keeps buying the stuff we need, to construct it all...LOL and then i change my mind!!!

Aaaaaah but it IS a woman's perogative to do so isn't it???? :roll:

Anyway, Ver. 3 is like this.
Before:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/matthewnathan/IMG_7853.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/matthewnathan/IMG_7314.jpg

And this is what i'd like to have:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/matthewnathan/alfrescofinaljpgpic.jpg

(Firstly a big thank-you to Missy for teaching me the art of Photoshop...it's been a long time since i used it....thanks so much Missy!!!!)

Can you picture it?

An open fireplace with a rust paint (most probably from the Porters range for the surround), then on either side, ochre coloured (most probably), stacked stone each with it's own cascade waterfall.
There will be a trough the entire length of the alfresco with associated pump etc required (hidden behind the structure itself) 2 or 3 sandstone "floating" steps in front of the fireplace to assist stoking of the fire and placement of wood and to make it even feel even warmer/cozier out there, timber flooring leading out to the water....

We know what we want....LOL now i have to supervise Ian constructing it!!!

Am i dreaming or what??? Please feel free to provide your feedback...good or bad???

Most of the components are ready...just need the house.
Heatmaster open fireplace, 2 x cascading waterfalls, pumps, etc.....

Aaaah i can picture it now......close my eyes and i can just about hear the ripple of water.......

Michelle · Apr 29, 2008 3:32 pm

Have you just inclosed an outdoor area?

Done good P…..but what about an outdoor space? :wink:

Paula · Apr 29, 2008 3:33 pm

Ohh very nice,

Is it the wall opposite your sliding doors?

Have you thought about wood storage if you have an open fire?

Have one wall water feature the other have the wood stacked - you know nice all the way up? Need a pic for you!! If you can picture it??

Well thought out and nice colours.

We want progress pics!!

Rachelle · Apr 29, 2008 3:36 pm

It looks fantastic but I'm confused about what is where.

Which is your "before" shot so to speak.

PhoenixStar · Apr 29, 2008 3:41 pm

Michelle

Have you just inclosed an outdoor area?

Done good P…..but what about an outdoor space? :wink:

It will still be open on the sides at this point.....not sure if Ian will let me close it all in....

The water/fireplace will be along the back fence, so should still provide a feeling of space...hopefully.

Outdoor space... i've got to work on the 2 side gardens soon too.....aaaah more Photoshop.....love it......can't wait to start on those.....

PhoenixStar · Apr 29, 2008 3:48 pm

Paula

Is it the wall opposite your sliding doors?

Thanks Paula, yes it is opposite the sliding doors, it will be along the back fence.

Paula

Have you thought about wood storage if you have an open fire?

Sort of, don't want to hold a lot of wood because of the spider factor....so will keep a small stash in a wrought iron bucket that i bought many years ago.... for the moment anyway....

Rachelle

It looks fantastic but I'm confused about what is where.

Which is your "before" shot so to speak.

Before is the pic just above it Rachelle. I removed one since it seemed to confuse the orientation.

So walking out our sliding back door, you would see the wall in front of you....running along the back fenceline.

bec · Apr 29, 2008 4:27 pm

would it be quite noisy with both waterfalls going at once?
I guess you can turn them off
I find water features quite distracting noisewise but I think
that prob is just me! or maybe Ive only known noisy ones
having said that you always have great taste and ideas P
I always love to see and hear about them!!!

bec · Apr 29, 2008 4:45 pm

love the idea of fireplace

Rachelle · Apr 29, 2008 4:51 pm

So you would install doors on the open sides?

Bi-folds?

That would be lovely, as that way you could create a really open "outdoor room" when the weather is nice, but when it's cold it would be a lovely cosy "indoor-outdoor room" all closed up with the fire place going.

Paula · Apr 29, 2008 5:30 pm

**Phoenix**

Sort of, don't want to hold a lot of wood because of the spider factor....

Oh yes I didnt think of that---I HATE spiders

bec

would it be quite noisy with both waterfalls going at once?

I think it could be a soothing sound (just get ones with quite motors

)

Yak_Chat · Apr 29, 2008 6:41 pm

If your going to do the open fire P, I'd be doing it as a pizza oven style so you can use it to entertain and cook at the same time.

Hey - why not throw some hot rock in there too, close the doors, and then you can dab a bit of water on them every now and then for that sauna effect too

Steve

Cabinfever · Apr 29, 2008 6:53 pm

A fire and a water feature ? Seems weird to me. What happens when all the soot and ash gets (accidently) scraped into your trough ? And are you going to sit watching the fire while listening to tinkling water ?

To be brutally honest this looks to me like the result of someone who couldn't make up their mind between fire and water.

PhoenixStar · Apr 29, 2008 7:06 pm

Yak_Chat

If your going to do the open fire P, I'd be doing it as a pizza oven style so you can use it to entertain and cook at the same time.

Hey - why not throw some hot rock in there too, close the doors, and then you can dab a bit of water on them every now and then for that sauna effect too

Steve

Thanks Steve, nice ideas....that means i really need to get the doors on. Like the pizza oven thing, not so sure about the Sauna????

Cabinfever

A fire and a water feature ? Seems weird to me. What happens when all the soot and ash gets (accidently) scraped into your trough ? And are you going to sit watching the fire while listening to tinkling water ?

To be brutally honest this looks to me like the result of someone who couldn't make up their mind between fire and water.

Oh well thanks CF, your honesty is appreciated. I did ask for good and bad feedback didn't i ?

I understand that it might not be to everyone's taste....but its something that we'd like to have. Both the fireplace and water does not have to be going at the same time remember??

It just gives us the option of using the area as an extension of our home/living space all year around in my opinion....

And i suppose it's better than having a feature that hardly every gets used or noticed??

LOL anyone know how does Chinese Elm burns in the fire by the way??? :wink:

Yak_Chat · Apr 29, 2008 7:11 pm

Re the water feature P. Be careful on how it will look when it;s turned off. Slate and water tends to calcify lots.

PhoenixStar · Apr 29, 2008 7:19 pm

Yak_Chat

Re the water feature P. Be careful on how it will look when it;s turned off. Slate and water tends to calcify lots.

Thanks, is that only with the slate? What about the other stone varieties like granite? It will be run with salt water too, will that make any difference?

OK, so we might have to do some homework on the type of stone we use... Thanks

Hey davinci??? any advice???

Yak_Chat · Apr 29, 2008 7:26 pm

Just check out any city council fountains.

Most of them are turned off due to the drought.

It is the calcium and minerals, chlirine etc in the water that leaves deposits on the stone.

And you want one at home?

Steve

to_do_list · Apr 29, 2008 7:59 pm

Thanks Steve now I'm worried...this is what is in the new place.... :shock:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/mikeb1968/Image4.jpg

PhoenixStar · Apr 30, 2008 12:00 am

to_do_list

Thanks Steve now I'm worried...this is what is in the new place.... :shock:

Hey Mike, what sort of pump setup etc you got running there? Salt or freshwater?

BTW, Ian came home this evening, saw the drawing and said "yep, that's it"....but he does not want to enclose it in with doors/shutters just yet....he wants to "live with it for a while and see how it goes?" :roll:

Even without the doors/shutters, he said yes to the rest....so i'm very happy!!!

to_do_list · Apr 30, 2008 12:11 am

**Phoenix**

Hey Mike, what sort of pump setup etc you got running there? Salt or freshwater?

Sorry **P** I'll let you know in 15 days when I move in....I'll have lots to post about I'm sure....

PhoenixStar · Apr 30, 2008 12:17 am

to_do_list

**Phoenix**

Hey Mike, what sort of pump setup etc you got running there? Salt or freshwater?

Sorry **P** I'll let you know in 15 days when I move in....I'll have lots to post about I'm sure....

Easy to pick, if there's fish in the pond, then it's fresh water...and no chlorine.
OK, so in 16 day's we'll hear from you then??? :wink:

I'm sure you'll be fine....how bad can calcification be really??? Just brush it off with a broom every now and then??? Big deal. You'll be right!