Open up your home

As part of your next renovation project, consider imagining your home and its exterior areas as an integrated whole, rather than separate spaces. Opening your house out into the back yard could not only give you more functional living space, but might also free up some internal rooms to be used differently.

Can the garden, courtyard or views easily be seen when you are inside the house? Many older houses tended to have small windows which framed the view like a picture, rather than opening fully up to it.

An easy way to create a smooth flow between inside/outside spaces and take advantage of connections is by arranging windows, doors, decks, courtyards, gardens and garden features to maximise their attributes.

- If a hallway shares a common wall with your deck or backyard, consider replacing it with floor to ceiling glass panels and sliding doors. It might not be especially wide, but the space will immediately feel and appear bright and spacious.

- Borrow an architects’ trick to make a room appear larger, lighter and airier by replacing a wall with a window. More, instead of limiting the glass to one wall, consider extending it around the corner to double the impact. This also works where you wouldn't expect to see a window, such as just below the ceiling line along a wall.

- Create your own favourite spot for quiet reflection by replacing the windows in your bedroom with French doors that allow you to step out to a private deck accessible only through that room.

- For an increased connection to your outdoor space, consider installing glass doors that can be flung open. Using the same flooring for both spaces will give a heightened sense of continuity and spaciousness.

When the very best feature of your kitchen is the courtyard beyond, why not stretch your kitchen straight out into it. The extra space would ideally allow for a dining table, barbecue or even pizza oven plus a wall of pantry cupboards to house glassware, plates, serving dishes and cookware for your outdoor kitchen.

To prevent the addition looking like an afterthought, use materials and render to match your home. Save money by asking your builder to smooth finish the concrete slab, doing away with the need for outdoor pavers. Installing overhead or standard heaters will allow for outdoor use all year round.

Ideally, French or folding doors will open the wall between the spaces, but if you don’t want to replace the whole wall, consider changing the existing windows to a casement you can fling wide open, making a convenient servery through to your new dining area.

If the backyard slopes up from your new space, incorporate two or three steps the width of the deck in your design to lead you to the garden while also providing informal seating for sitting and chatting or sipping a drink as you enjoy the outdoors.