"... bar, two-draft kegerator, oversize island, massive weatherproof television, elaborate sound system and semicircular fire lounge. 'I’m Greek. I love being outside. I wanted to extend my outdoor living during the winter,' says the 45-year-old dentist. His deck kitchen is only a few steps from the family’s sublime indoor one.... A second dining area, a pizza oven and a mammoth rotisserie grill from Greece. To control climate and mood, a louvered roof, infrared heaters, ceiling fans and Vegas-level lighting. Leading to the pool area, Paliouras desired twin curved staircases because — and this is a common exterior design request — 'I wanted to replicate the inside part of my house outside.' Sean McAleer completed the dream deck in June for $350,000; Paliouras’s entire outdoor extravaganza including landscaping, pool, waterfall, slide, hot tub and grotto, totaled $550,000. 'Why would you want to go to the beach when you can hang out on a beautiful deck with a TV, day beds and refrigerator?' asks McAleer, owner of Deck Remodelers."
From a Washington Post article with a headline that doesn't cue you in on the disdain expressed in the text: "The new American status symbol: A backyard that’s basically a fancy living room."
But the photograph under the headline will let you know that this is not a trend you need to be envious of. It's more: Oh, no! I hope my neighbor doesn't do this.
Scariest words in the article: "massive weatherproof television."
From the comments over there: "Here in south Texas, we had a neighbor who mounted a giant TV over his pool, right next to our fence. One evening shortly after installation I heard very loud gunshots coming from somewhere out back... very frightened, nearly called the cops. But, yes, it was one of his typical movies, turned up full blast." And: "I hate, hate, HATE my neighbor's outdoor television, which is usually at max volume to be heard over the hot tub. It sounds like it's coming from somewhere in my own house."
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6 comments:
Joe writes:
A few years ago our across-the-street neighbor did a complete redo of his backyard with a pool, fireplace, firepit, lighting, sound everywhere, TV, kitchen, etc., along with a roof structure (no walls). It was amazing and tasteful.
He spent $400k (he was president of a well-known bank here). When he unexpectedly got another job and had to move, the house sold in a flash for the highest (up until then) price in our development.
We are looking to do a backyard makeover ourselves, but mostly to get rid of the gopher-pocked lawn and reduce water costs that are bound to skyrocket soon. We'll also add some raised planters, more seating area, and lots of roses.
It will be horrifically expensive just because of our location. After just remodeling the kitchen, I'm a bit wary...
I can't imagine saying "amazing and tasteful" along with "sound everywhere."
If I'm ever involved in buying another house, I am going to check what the neighborhood sounds like at night. I would lose my mind if I had to hear the neighbor's sound system, even if all it ever played was gentle ambient music. If someone had TV shows running outdoors within earshot, I would never buy the house there.
Michelle writes:
"I would lose my mind if I had to hear the neighbor's sound system, even
if all it ever played was gentle ambient music."
Well. Suppose it wasn't the neighbor's "sound system," but the
neighbor's teenage violinist daughter, who sometimes practices with the
window open? Better, or worse? I presume the "gentle ambient music"
would not contain scales, or bad intonation, or the occasional loud "Shit!"
I guess that would be what I deserve after all the years I had teenagers with their progressive rock band (not to mention that punk rock band) playing in my basement.
Somehow that never got on my nerves.
I think the feeling of real people — especially young people — putting hard work into making music is entirely different from someone who's wired up the place and installed equipment to pipe sound into the environment.
I hate piped in music. I don't like it in stores or out in a park or at a beach. I don't play background music when I'm working around the house. This sense that there should be music everywhere... please, no.
Carl writes:
"I spend more time in my outdoor living room than any room in my house other than my bedroom and it is much more convenient for entertaining. Other than for occassional mosquitos there are few drawbacks in south Florida. Once, however, my neighbor and I had dueling superbowl parties and I clearly lost. My TV feed was about 15 seconds behind his and we would hear ecstatic screaming over the results of a play before the ball was even snapped on our feed."
Michelle writes:
I was trying to ease gently into the broader topic of "people who listen to music with their windows open."
For me, you see, it isn't "piped-in" music or "ambient" music. I review music for what passes for a living. Someone close to my window is apt to hear anything from Holborne to Handel to Haydn to Herzogenberg to Hindemith to Higdon. (Seriously: I've listened to all of those in the past month.) For a long time I was forced to shut the window, b/c there was no screen and the cats would jump out. But now there is a screen, and the cats sit peacefully on the sill.
Am I wronging my neighbors by making my presence audible? I do also practice (sorry, not a "young person," but it's not only the young who practice), and that's generally louder than music I'm playing. But sometimes not; I do have orchestral recordings, with enormous dynamic ranges.
I understand the vibe, I really do: live or attended-to music, good; negligent, "ambient" music bad. I agree with it. But do bear in mind that things aren't always as you see them from outside. And allow us listeners to open our windows.
Lisa writes:
"I had to laugh when I read the comment about the TV. Our former neighbors spent all summer on their back deck, which was raised such that we could see them very clearly. Unlike the upscale designs shown in the article, our neighborhood was pretty middle-class (aka "small and dumpy"). Every spring, our very visible neighbors would move all their favorite appliances to the back deck, including lamps, tv, microwave. Fortunately, they didn't listen to the TV too much, except for sports, but that damn microwave was dinging all day long!"
Kay writes:
"It occurs to me that, living in a medium to small town neighborhood, I wouldn't WANT to have an outdoor living space. I'm too close to my neighbors for that. Never mind listening to another neighbor's music and carousing - I don't want my neighbors listening in on MY music and carousing!
"That said, I have always sort of coveted these outdoor spaces (they are beautiful in the magazines and DIY shows), but in my heart of hearts, I know I don't like the outdoors enough to ever actually USE such a space to where the unreal costs would be worth it."
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