What is the point of living on the Sunshine Coast if you don't make the most of the climate and the relaxed, outdoorsy lifestyle? The essence of life lived under a warm sun, by the sea, surrounded by natural beauty, is being relected more and more in the homes built here these days.
"Bringing the outdoors in" is a popular description for the way new homes, and well-thought renovations, are embracing the outdoors.
However, there are designers, builders and home-owners who are also taking the indoors out.
It is not just a matter of putting a wall of bifold door in to open up a house up to the outside world.
It is not uncommon now to have an outdoor batjroom, anything from a shower to wash the sand off to a lie-down and soak bath, or a spa to wash the day's worries away under the stars.
The job of preparing the evening meal is going outside to either a barbeque or a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, the most luxurious of which can even come complete with dishwashers and refrigerators.
Talk to your accountant or a real estate agent and tey will tell you that an outdoor entertainment area can immediately add value to a property.
How much? Well, that depends on the options you choose.
The Batista residence, at Doonan, is an example of the great outdoors, particularly with its outdoor entertainment space.
The home was designed by Ben Thornton, of SBT Designs, for Adrian Batista, the builder behind Hinternoosa Homes, and his wife, Anna and their three children.
"The client for the job had a brief that allowed me to create a lovely home designed around the natural beauty of the site," Ben said.
The home is built on a couple of acres of old palm farm, backing on to what will become a gold course.
Rows of palms and a shady lagoon-style pond give the property the feel of a private, tropical retreat, which Adrian and Anna aim to make the most of with their home.
What makes the home special is the way its living and entertaining spaces meet at the central pool and outdoor space.
The 10 metre by 3 metre pool is surrounded by timber decking and separates a covered barbeque area and media roomcum-guest quarters from the rest of the house.
The kitchen and living areas also focus on the outdoor space.
Kitchen windows push right back to open up to an outdoor lounge, and the informal and formal dining areas either side of the kitchen also open up, again through push-to-the-side doors to the outer space.
The outdoor area was a haven during summer for Adrian and Anna, and their kids, Luke, 9, Alicia, 7, and Ariel, 2.
"Over summer it was great. We lived out here. We have parties out here, with the sound system going. We've had some great parties," Adrian said.
