There was a time when custom home design was all about the interior. Countless hours were spent working on floor plans, choosing materials, and discussing everything from traffic flow to mechanical systems. Outdoor spaces were not given as much attention. A patio or a deck, and maybe a screened-in Muskoka room were sometimes added with very little thought of how the space will be used.
More and more clients building custom homes are thinking about both the outdoor and indoor spaces; considering the outdoor an extension of the indoor, with a lot of thought on how to maximize the utilization of the space during all seasons.
“People want their home to function as a cohesive unit,” says Matt Pryce, who co-owns Prycon Custom Building and Renovations with his brother, Steve.
“They want to have a seamless flow from indoor space to outdoor space so that you can access everything effortlessly. And, of course, it all needs to tie together visually.”
Visual integration can mean installing flagstone flooring in an entranceway to match the flags on the patio right outside, or building continuous timber accents inside and out. Certainly, it means considering the way that exterior spaces will look when viewed from inside, and vice-versa.
Functional integration often means building a transitional space that is neither indoors nor outdoors – or can be converted from one to the other.

Driven by design
This approach is driven in part by design styles that originated in warmer climates, places like Florida or California where indoor-outdoor living is a feature of year-round life. “The modern design style that has become all the rage here incorporates a lot of indoor-outdoor spaces,” says Steve. “People see homes they like online or on a design show, and naturally want to emulate some of those kinds of spaces.”
The trend had been growing for years, but it really took off during COVID. “Even when we weren’t stuck at home, there was a reluctance to go out, a feeling that you wanted to have everything – and everyone you love – close at hand,” says Matt. You might still have a cottage, but you also wanted to be able to enjoy cottage-like amenities at home; similarly, your cottage may include more home-like features.
“We started seeing a lot more interest in features like rooftop patios, porches with deep roof overhangs, rooms with fully retractable screens,” he says. “It’s the same sort of impulse that has our clients asking for indoor pickleball courts, private cocktail bars, and walk-in wine cellars – this desire to be able to enjoy all the things you love without leaving home.”
“And our summers are so short, so intense, that it makes sense to look for ways to extend the season in any way you can.”

Old is new again
At the same time, some of this is a modernization of some very classic building features. Deep front porches, for example, can be found on homes that are a century or more old. The same goes for screened-in porches. The difference now is that homeowners can add fully retractable screens or sliding doors and windows to those screens, allowing them to be converted from indoors to out at the touch of a button.
“Spaces that were once used only in summer can now be turned into three-season or even year-round spaces, without losing any of that outdoor summertime feel and function we all love,” says Steve.
All this has been aided by the tremendous advances in materials and construction techniques. Take rooftop terraces, for example. “Years ago, even if you had a boathouse with a flat roof, it was probably coated with tar and gravel, and you wouldn’t dream of walking on it,” Steve says.

But waterproof membranes that double as flooring have allowed boathouse owners to turn those flat roofs into terraces. And, not surprisingly, custom home buyers have started looking for ways to have similar features in their homes.
“That second or third storey outdoor seating area can be gorgeous, giving
you views and a breeze, and just a wonderful place to relax,” says Steve. “If you have the option, why wouldn’t you incorporate that into the design?”
Of course, construction details are vitally important. “Our entire team takes pride in attention to detail,” says Steve. “We invest constantly in training and upgrading our skills. Even the best materials in the world won’t work if they’re not installed by trained professionals.”
With the right design, the right materials, and skilled installation, a custom home really can give you everything. “What it really boils down to is allowing you and your family to enjoy the things that brought you here in the first place – indoors and out,” says Matt.
TEXT A. WAGNER-CHAZALON
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN