Relax. Soothe your nerves next to the babbling fountain, take in the caressing music that surrounds you at every angle, and sink into the cushy chair beneath you. Flowers envelop you and intoxicate you, and a fragrant summer breeze teases you with its touch. Home designers and interior decorators now delight in bringing the comfort of indoor living outdoors, making living in your new home one continuous flow of activity (or luxurious lack of it) a way of life using covered patios, porticoes, creative fountains and even outdoor kitchens.

Jumping on the bandwagon along with the custom homebuilding industry, production builders are offering options to new homebuyers for extending roof lines, both front and back, to include covered, outdoor living space. Patio surfaces are now as elegant as the indoor floor coverings, giving an extension-like feeling leading from inside the home to its beautiful conclusion out of doors. The now seemingly novel use of front patios actually dates back as far as to ancient Roman times, when guests were entertained on tiled verandas, sheltered from the mid-day sun, and were free to experience refreshing breezes, as well as the aromas and bursts of natural colors that surrounded them. Ask a Mediterranean type what defines the word "wealth" and an overwhelming number will indicate that it is not defined in dollars or possessions; it will be referred to as the beauty of nature, and how splendidly and successfully they can incorporate it into their every day lives. I am sure they would say that the ability to capture the outdoors within their own walls brings a wealth of intangibles even the Masters could not put to canvas.

Landscape architects are busy answering this new (yet old) trend in home design. The fully or partially covered patio entry, by way of a sculpted, elegant gate attached to garden walls is one of the latest trends in home architecture. And it's easy to see why this new element of outdoor living can be practical as well as beautiful. The gate offers security, delaying a front door guest arrival, and creates a gracious, spacious introduction to the home. If covered, its cool nature can offer a respite from the sun, yet the freshness of the outdoors as well.

Higher land costs are dictating builder premiums on many lots that would have been considered postage stamps in our parents' time, leaving room for only a 5-10 foot deep backyard depth before having a six foot fence smack homebuyers in the face. So, savvy home designers and landscapers have begun to take advantage of the front yard of the home as an additional patio opportunity. Some builders have taken the concept even further by designing homes with recessed front entry doors in order to achieve this purpose.

Del Webb, a builder of resort style retirement community, took this idea and ran with it in designing its homes in Northern California for its Sun City Lincoln Hills community. Walking their model home complex with a variety of 16 homes displayed is like a walk in a Mediterranean village. Wrought iron gates lead to slate tiled entry patios, hidden by garden walls. Most have fountains trickling their merry tunes as you enter, one ingeniously designed with the water spilling from old wine bottles integrated into the fountain design itself. Small, outdoor speakers waft gentle music, and comfortable patio chairs invite you to stop and rest a while before moving indoors. In one model portico, a stone laden patio "room" sits off to one side. Upon further inspection, it is a wine cellar and tasting room, replete with a table and benches, hanging wineglasses and books on tasting tempting strains of fermented grapes. (This was a builder option for a stall of the garage, along with the possibility of a teen room or workshop within the same space). Greenery and potted flowers complete the entry scene at every turn.

What is buyer reaction to this concept in outdoor living? Although not all opt for the portico entry, they are all entranced by it. It is a needed answer to more living space, especially in modestly sized homes with a limited lot size. Builders of townhomes or cluster style communities are even finding this space necessary to decompress the feeling of attached living structures, making areas such as this standard to each home.

For the larger variety of new home, John Laing Homes of California, believes the elegant outdoor entry has finally made its triumphant return. Landscape architect John Nicolaus of HLA Landscape Designs, takes delight in designing garden and patio entries for buyers of the builder's upscale "Tuscany" community in Roseville, CA. "The front portico is a great way to borrow outdoor space and bring it indoors," says John. "It also be used for secondary access points for other family members, as well as added space for exercise areas, spas, and dipping pools, especially when adjacent to a master suite."

It is interesting how some aspects of the "good life" never seem to change, no matter how wealthy one may or may not be. Old World ideas, with their emphasis on "la dolce vida" can become needed ports in our storms of voicemail pagers, cyber-business, and 50 hour work weeks. After all, who ever would have predicted that the cruise industry would experience such a revival in this age of high-speed jet travel? The restful portico entry may just be one of those anachronisms that has once again found its time in new home design, and just the anomaly new homebuyers need to feel simple elegance once again.

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