Last weekend late on a Saturday afternoon, I carried an upholstered patio chair over to a shady spot under an Amur Maple in my backyard and took refuge with the July 2012 issue of Architectural Digest and an equally pleasant gin-n-tonic. Time like this is like a mini-vacation especially if I turn off the iPhone. I don’t however, I admit I have an addiction and am frequently Googling stuff I read about. That was the case when I turned to page 44. The photo used in an ad for Napoleon Fireplace and Grills (pictured at the left) really grabbed me. Not only because it looks like it could have been taken at one of Alexandria’s lakes but because I knew how much enjoyment it brings to living and because it made me long for a similar outdoor space.
I wholeheartedly believe what the Napoleon advertising team wrote, “One way to make your home larger and more conducive to entertaining, is to extend your living area to the outdoors”, and hope that it will either give you ideas for your current lake home or alter what you are searching for in a lake residence. It isn’t true for everyone but in my experience a common mistake most people make is ruling out lake homes, cabins or cottages because of square footage. I have many fond memories from summers at the lake but some of the fondest took place at the smallest cottage my family owned (around 780 square feet). Hardly any time was spent inside. We’d get up in the morning, brew some coffee and then head outside. On rainy days or to watch a Wimbledon match, being inside in a smaller space wasn’t a problem. There is something about having everyone in closer confines that is a tonic for fun, learning and understanding. Bigger is good too (especially if you have active, young children in the mix) but for me, a great outdoor space is a really great investment in yourself and your family. Now, time to visit Napoleon’s web-site and start dreaming…
