How to decorate Outdoor room in progress

A woman gardeners retreat i am making, so ladies please feel free to share your ideas to making this a womans retreat you would love to spend time in as its for her.

Sun problem ; Externally outdoors is where I was looking to place a wind proof set of shutters *Ie dosnt flap around like a canvas blind. I am thinking building my own shutters as a first idea but I have never seen timber shaped like curved plantation blades or another solution. Or other solutions or creative ideas, I could try shape my own blades or leave them flat timber shape. I am thinking external shutters to create variable shade , internal shutters will block light but the heat will be trapped once it passes through the clear plastic wall. I allready can feel the heat trapped inside build up from the sun having entered plastic wall. So the idea is some sort of external variable sun shade (a winter sun will be welcome so thats why I need a variable solution. The outer green posts are solid uprights I can build to approx 1230mm apart, Tall side is 1930mm shorter side is 1680 mm but I can build a rectangle to match shorter side as it is a sun block for my wifes garden workshop. In front of the outside photo I am planning a garden bed with a couple of tall roses in front of shutters maybe to partly frame the windows this will block some light to adding green coolness.

So no solution is off the table If you have any thoughts to help I was even considering buying second hand louvers and weather proofing them.

So thanks for your creative thoughts in advance.

Oh into the room I am going to add some shelving and a desk/garden work bench so my wife can do some plant stuff shes the gardener, I will have separate garden shed for tool storage etc so no clutter in there.

I want to make it a dreamy little space too a lady would love to spend some time in some soft curtains and a comfy outdoor seat the idea is to make it also part outdoor room to relax in with climbing rose decorating the structure. I have added power outside for extection cords to power radio or spotify music etc I can add in a small 900mm ceiling fan, metal butterflys for decoration but what else a guy cant think of?

Out door room with garden space

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Comments

MitchellMc

What a fantastic project, @Jewelleryrescue!

Have you considered installing a Solar Roof Vent? That would help evacuate some of the built-up hot air. A 240v wall exhaust fan would move more air than the solar units but would require professional installation.

Another option might be to overlay your clear roofing with a solid colour during the hottest parts of summer. A smooth cream polycarbonate will allow 44% light transfer and block 67% of the heat, whereas your clear allows 90% light transfer but only blocks 14% of heat. If heat levels are a real issue, you could consider adding a window tint to the glass, which will assist further.

We have plenty of comfy chair options to choose from. I'd suggest something along the lines of a Marquee Reader Wicker Statement Chair.

Let me mention @prettyliving, @mich1972, and @LisasGarden to see if they have any thoughts.

I can't wait to follow along with your build. Please keep us updated and let us know whenever you have a question.

Mitchell

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/23859#Comment_23859

Thanks @MitchellMc for your feed back its helped me grow some more advanced ideas that I think will work.

Mitchell you are right that shaded and coloured polycarbonate does cut down UV and also varing degrees of heat thanks for reminding me of those materials propeties.

We used solar window tint for some areas which is great mid summer but we use it sparingly as we want to warm the house in winter with as much as we can get out of the sun too. Basically our idea there is to use some of this new electronic blinds that can be programed to open diffent times for summer and winter. Not yet done as there are so many home systems sprouting up that may become obscure still researching.

Yes a good comfortable chair is a great idea and I have being scrolling through your suggestions of the links to other people doing projects thank you some food for thought there.

I practice passive heating and cooling where i can basically that out door space is all ready providing shading for the north wall of the house and dramatically cut down on heat reflecting through the windows and doors and we used to grow a grape vine on that pergola and it was green cool till we planned the out door room and swapped the rambling rose. We have allready planted a rambling rose to grow across the roof as shade and to break up buildings harsh lines but that rose will need 2 to 3 years to get the coverage.

I was talking about going to install timber louvers inside the end sun tuff wall end (facing NW hot afternoon sun). But MitchellMc your idea about a flexable system might be the perfect passive solution. As the idea is to block the heat before it enters the outdoor room so we dont have to extract it later.

So I have decided to buy for $200 approx a pair of the old fashion floor to ceiling glass window louvre system that I will mount parallel on two wall vertical studs 50x 200mm on the extenal (in front of the suntuff walls as a variable sun shade system. The louvres dont have to be all glass they can be polycarbonate, full block out timber stain glass on polycarbonate, metal strips. All most endless less options now. And at winter time the panels can be changed to allow the welcome winter sun in. The only weakness with my idea is the angle of the sun louvers will have to be varied from outside which I can live with.

That window will look out across our new to be formed raised vegie patch out in the sun. Ironically the inside of the outdoor room in question was the old vegie patch but as it is tucked in behind the north fence and didnt get a good amount of sunlight vegies need. I placed full length mirror on the wall of the house to try reflect some sun light in that helped.

Next step is to lay a marble floor in there (honed Quality ie some saw blade marks in the stone you can see some tiles laid pre cut in the photos on the floor) I plan to attempt to fully polish the floor with my belt sanded and orbital starting at 80 g and working to 1200 wet and dry should give a nice shine. this worked on a marble test wall Need 3000 to 6000 for ultra polish shine but will need to crawl before i can walk. Ie grow my skills. Normally we should use specialized wet polishers for this task the good machines start at $1000

I also going to use some left over 50mm by 200mm treated pine timber to make solid timber work bench I plan on buying vinyl flooring planks and covering exposed surfaces with that I will need to look at vinyl planks and see it they can make a good working surface. WE where hit by moderatly aggresive termites around the house for 2 years (but we stopped them coming into the house) so out doors we try not to use plain wood that attracts them. We think we have won the termite battle for now but ever vigilant. WE use out door termite traps 20 of them with timber in them as bait to test for new invasions.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/74590#Comment_74590

Hi @Jewelleryrescue,

It sounds like you have some great ideas there, and I trust this will be an amazing space once completed.

Please keep us updated as you go, and reach out again if you have further questions.

Mitchell

Jewelleryrescue

I retitled this project to invite people to view the outdoor room and offer creative design ideas for it as I build.

Thanks @MitchellMc for updating title and merging.

The out door room is for my wifes gardening potting desk and other project ideas and it then will have a second comfy seat for just sitting next to a small sheltered garden.

Gardeners Question: that small garden is open to the sky with mixed shade from the gazebo beams over head. Would orchards like that space ie no full sun? I was thinking wall gardens too?

MichellMC has kicked started those ideas with a comfy seat at the potting bench as well as other ideas as I am going to add a gardeners work bench and a a few shelves for stuff. Keep in mind I will make separate shed for garden tool and general other garden storage like wheel barrow.

I was going to add some stained glass to sunny windows and some tin art butterflys to the house brick wall. Think grown up cubby house but young at heart.

New update just added marble tiled floor. Stuff my knees again even wearing pads

Honed Marble floorOutdoor room and end garden

These tiles are honed finish that means has minor saw marks in them. I didnt clean all the glue off as I am going to sand them. With belt and orbital sander for starters.

So I plan to get in there and sand it nice maybe even polish the marble as my skill grows. To do marble needs the wet polisher. Think variable speed angle grinder with water flowing from it for a proper stone polisher. Start price $1000 is it worth the money.

The floor was less them perfectly flat hand screeded on old knees but I did get my desired fall in the slab 1:10 approximatly incase there is ever an water spills/ roof leaks in there the water will flow out and drain away.

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/23879#Comment_23879

Hi all

A quick project update the marble floor has being belt sanded to get all the honed (saw marks ) out 5o grit paper then Orbital sander to around 500 grit wet and dry paper. This is as much polishing as we want to do a slick outdoor floor is asking for falls. Typically a purpose polishing wet grinder will go 3000 to 5000 grit for mirror finishes.

The marble was then sealed with a color enhancing Sealer to contrast the marble patterns in the stone look before and after re previous post photos.Pre polishing and sealingSealed marble tiles 12- 15mm thick

The back window (which is actually a door turned sideways) To le more light in looks at a color bond fence so to keep the light but not the view we used Stained glass look contact adhesive. Note the panel with blue triangles that ply wood saved me a trip the the glaziers.

Removable stain glass contact adhesive

We then had western sun heat issues coming though the tall polycarbonate panels so I found at Bunnings a window film with 99%UV ,90% inferred and 28% loose in visible light. well this took a lot of the sting out of the suns rays but it is still to uncomfortable to sit in the sun (keep in mind we want the winter suns warmth). So plan c will be addition of old fashion louvers outside I am still debating what sort of block out to use on the louvers.

I am going to cut up a new sheet of 5mm thick polycarbonate into 1200 mm louvers I may have to stiffen then with glued on alumunium 10mm angle I will cross that bridge as i need to.

The photo shows the Tint fitted behind the box Yep there are a couple wrinkles that refused to come out. Its garden outdoor room i can live with that.

Tint is shown applied behind product box

Next I assemble 2 units of Bunnings cube storage cubes 4by 1. and joined them together to make 8 by 1 and secured them to the over head rafter and rear wall. While building the cubes I used glue and 4 times the extra screws as they typically not meant to by used they way They only need to support them selves and light boxes. But I swing my whole body weight off them not dramas

8 x1 Floating cube storage

Next The desk at the end I was going to use clunky braced angles super strong but visibly intrusive for inside and out. So went for a side mounting timbers and a cross alumunium support of high no flex strength out of my scrape pile. Followed by a strip of mounting foam and the desk top with a tight fit.simple Desk frameBunnings laminated desk

So still not finished I am aiming to get it ready for Xmas day for the most part then I will help my wife place her decorative touches in.

I followed some of @MitchellMc advice and got her a comfy chair with white wheels so marble not blackened ?

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/74826#Comment_74826

Hi All

Work continues

Today built and added a flat pack added chest of draws and trimmed the legs to the same height as the desk top and window sill to increase desk top area. Then I added a desk top offcut between the set of draws and the upright 2x 4 cube storage to increase more desk space.

The Artiss 6 Chest of draws was purchased at bunnings I/n 0356366 via Market place whom posted me the flat pack $234.95

The Artiss flat pack was very well made for the price it had little details like counter sunk spaces for screw heads and the draws had a chipboard cross support under the draw base normally I have to add them myself.

The slide out draw mechanisms are a little low grade but work I sprayed them with silicon to help them move more smoothly

The cabinet tops and desk tops arnt very hardy I was gong to plastic cover them but instead I am going to try an experiment and Clear high gloss uv resistant polurethane finish them to give them a hardened top. At least if the srcatch they can be sanded lightly and re coated.

The desk tops are behind polycarbonate window out of the weather and roof sheeting which has nateral UV blocking properties so I dont expect later Gloss sun damage.

Furnature legs cut to match desk height

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/101081#Comment_101081

A quick up date.

I added a timber balcony hand rail I still am not sure why I like it. I think it just helps define the space with out actually enclosing the space which is only 1.2 meters wide on the inside, a personal quirk. My experiment worked the high gloss polurethane is giving the desk and side returns a nice sheen my main goal is a hardy or sacrifical) working surface to resist scratches to desk and furniture soft laminates.

Hand rail just to define the are a bit more.

Well in the effort to make this a nice place for my wife I added some multicolored rope lights for night with some cute special effects for a bit of fun. I dont expect her working in there at night those but the leds can go white and give a decent working light. I wanted her to have a radio and good ones cost $100 plus. So Instead I took an adventurous first journey into Google Home speakers that sound pretty decent and you can ask it to put on any radio station and play just about any music you can imagine via Spofify ( a music app ) I listened to the very first LP record I ever bought as a teen ager as a test for free how incredible. The important thing about the google speaker (or Alexa if you go that way) is it is voice controlled which means a person non technical can use it once setup disabled or older people, myself.

I heard a story that crooks call out to Google and ask it to open Garage doors though closed windows, Well my doors arnt connected to that and also they are learning to recognise and strictly respond to invited user voices to stop outsiders messing with your devices. lol

Just dont ask it for a joke they are a little cring worthy.

Funky purple

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/117459#Comment_117459

Love the handrail @Jewelleryrescue; it's a lovely timber feature that compliments the rest of the build nicely.

It's great to see your project is still coming along well and looking a treat. I can't wait to see your results.

Thanks for the update.

Mitchell

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126939#Comment_126939

Thanks for following the story @MitchellMc

After you sharing your ideas I have added the solar film I decided to buy her a small desk fan(bladeless) I bought a bunnings industrial fan to mount on the post but it was over kill in size and returned before mounting it to Bunnings ( the return option is the best thing as unneeded whole materials can be returned and replaced) Further more to our ideas as the solar film is still too warm to sit behind I am adding the external olde fashion glass louvre windows but using cut up poly carbanate roof as glass panels if at need I can add aluminium foil as a sun blocker so finally then the sun can be controlled for winter warmth vs summer roasting. THE louvers are reversed and operated from outside as the outdoor room panels (clear are fixed like a wall.)

Now I need to start making a custom seat at the garden end of the outdoor room. I searched high and low for a commercial off the rack curved seating solution.

It was so nice building those Cube storage units and not have to think about then apart from reenforcing then to hang from rafter as side walls are not much stronger than internal doors,

Whats a good waterproof or water resistant material you know of ia m not into current fabrics My mum did teach me to sew and stuff as she wanted me to be independant. It is a use full skill to have.

Well after xmas day my lady has some xmas gifts to pimp up her space whatch this space 🙂

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133234#Comment_133234

I am not aware of too many waterproof materials, but you can typically achieve reasonable water shedding of fabric with Selleys 200g Watershield Silicone Aerosol. What did you need the fabric for?

Mitchell

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137124#Comment_137124

Hi @MitchellMc

Thanks for the heads up on the silicone spray.

I am basically planning to cut up a foam block out of a spare camping bed to use as seating so I might just use upholstering technics of pinning material over a foam seat and nailing it underneath I will use a calico cloth underneath a top water resistant cloth /material as it contains the foam allowing the top material to sit there under less stretching strain and increases its life usage.

I have a custom curved seat concept in mind as I build it I will need to adjust it on the build as materials allow.

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137124#Comment_137124

Yesterday added the external Louvers made them out of Light weight but rigid and strong Polycarbonate roofing twin wall Sun tuff I/n 1010852

cut them up 4 louvers per sheet with small wastage (I love that too, low wastage)

The panels with twin walls where 8mm thick the louver mechanism only 5mm slots easy fix squashed the 8 mm twin walls in vice at the tips and they slotted in nicely. The afternoon sun was still blasting in so I add some aluminium foil as a test for reflecting the heat away in the upper louvers I am waiting for next days after noon sun to test it. If This works I will cut up some aluminium flashing to louver size and glue it to the polycarbonate louvers externally. After all life is a box of chocolates now the outdoor room looks like a box of chocolates. I told my wife I was wrapping the outdoor room as a xmas present, I got the look. I also added a real stained glass panel we picked up at a building materials recycler.

Its starting too get too hot to enjoy working outside I might have to slow down till Autumn But only the seat to do apart from tiding electrical wires etc

The messy area outside the windows will be a new vegie patch and garden full of greenery and a new fences sections gate etc currently it is my materials storage area. as I finish the landscaping/ yard work I will use the materials up or sell them. I dont want the junk yard look forever

Aluminium test foil for sun heat control

Inside view of foil test on louver and new stained glass feature added

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