This is the third outdoor project completed by Franko-LaFratta Construction, Richmond, Va., in the past year, so co-owner Mark Franko is declaring outdoor projects a trend.
Franko says people understand that a recession can be a good time to remodel. He had done an interior project for these homeowners, so when they told him they were considering an outdoor project, his advice was: “If this is your forever house, do [the project] now. You’ll get good pricing and get good use out of it.”
The home, on the James River, had limited views and, Franko says, “even worse, no great relationship to the outdoors.” The earlier renovation expanded river views from the foyer through to the living area. For the outdoor project, the clients put together a team that included Franko, architecture firm 3North, which has a landscape division, and a decorator. To create outdoor zones that flow together, the team shared ideas on transitions, furniture size and placement, and the color palette for the best design outcome.
—Nina Patel, senior editor, REMODELING.
