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6 . Going Green
Believe it or not , artificial grass has enjoyed great improvements over the years and has cropped up in outdoor living designs throughout South Florida , especially in cities like Miami where contemporary style is king .
“ I ’ m seeing it — especially in areas where there is a lot of shade ,” says Keene . “ We like to use it in between travertine pavers to create diagonal patterns . The reason we ’ re seeing it more and more is because it doesn ’ t require irrigation . Sprinklers will keep the pavers wet all the time , and they can get moldy . Artificial turf manufacturers have really come along in the advancement of turf ; it ’ s hard to tell the difference .”
7 . Technology
For the finest Florida homes , technology is not a “ nice-to-have ” but a “ musthave ” feature — and it ’ s just as important for the outdoors as it is for the indoors . Wiring for outdoor TV screens is a given — and TVs are everywhere in today ’ s luxury backyards : above the bar , above the fireplace in the lounge area , in the dining room . without the worry of insects ,” says Weremeichik . “ Those screens , in some cases , hold in 80 % of your air-conditioning if it ’ s an indoor / outdoor space . You can keep your doors open and let the air flow to your outdoor patio .”
All of Keene ’ s luxury residential projects have some sort of smart home technology integration , he says . Weremeichik has seen an uptick , as well . “ This technology is slowly creeping its way into new homes , and home design and building professionals must adapt new plan designs to accommodate these needs ,” he notes .
Lighting is another important consideration . From task lighting ( so you can grill at night ) to dimmable ambient lighting , the trend is moving in one direction and one direction only : “ Everything is LED right now ,” says Keene .
“ TVs are becoming the norm , because on a really nice night , you can watch a movie outdoors while in the pool or sitting by a fire feature ,” says Weremeichik . “ That ’ s part of entertaining .”
Keene agrees : “ Nine out of 10 of my projects have a television built-in . TVs are very important . It ’ s part of entertaining . People also see the outdoor living area as an extension of the house . It ’ s just another zone .”
Other favorite outdoor technical features in Florida are permanent aluminum screens that are motorized .
“ Controlled via remote , these retractable screens drop down in between the columns of the outdoor pavilion , and you can enjoy the evening hours outdoors
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8 | Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate