Photo, SunbriteTV, 3210HD
… Complete Your Backyard Paradise!
If you love dining al fresco in the privacy of your own backyard, imagine what it would be like to finish your meal, slide on over to your cozy outdoor sofa or favorite hammock, kick back under the stars with one of your favorite movies and watch it on your own big screen TV, munching on popcorn, sipping your favorite drink, your own surround sound system adjusted to just the right volume for maximum enjoyment, cooled by the summer evening breezes.
Sounds fun and relaxing, huh?
What’s New?
While media rooms have been a hot trend in housing the past few years, they are now expanding to include the great outdoors. Weatherproof LCD televisions are becoming readily available. These state of the art products are virtually indestructible and are designed to withstand high summer heat, cold mountain winters and even heavy rain. Just like the units designed for use in your home, these TVs can be mounted on the wall or on a table stand.
It’s Hot!
Want to invite friends over to watch the game? Instead of crowding into your family room, why not relax outside and have a real party where everyone can spread out and not worry about spilling salsa on the carpet? Well, with the new advancements in weatherproof technologies, you can grill at the BBQ, feed your friends outdoors, and never miss a point! SunBriteTV recently introduced the 4610HD which is a 46 inch outdoor 1080p high definition LCD television.
If you are into really big screens, Frontgate has an outdoor theater system with 12′ wide movie screen and an Epson MovieMate 72 projector. Brings a whole new meaning to home movie night! This system sets up and breaks down in under 20 minutes and comes with its own speakers and storage bags on wheels.
Feel the Music!
You can add excellent outdoor surround sound systems for music which of course can also be hooked up to your TV. Now your al fresco dining can be enhanced with great sounding music. With the amplifier, you can listen to music in one area and watch TV in another. You can host your next superbowl party on your patio and not worry about spills. You can enjoy family movie night under the stars or cozy up with your favorite pillow on your hammock and enjoy your favorite film while letting the summer evening breeze keep you cool.
That’s a hot home trend I think I could get into, how about you?
Lani Anglin-Rosales
June 25, 2008 at 12:55 pm
A lot of restaurants have incorporated this, why can’t we do this at home?? I *LOVE* this trend- if it becomes more common, the prices come down, hooray!
This would also be cool for the outdoor party deck for the office…. (gears are turning)…
Victor Lund
June 25, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Great Post. We have been pulling our Mac Cinema Display outside to watch movies.
Vicki Moore
June 25, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I haven’t seen that yet. That is HOT!
Loren Nason
June 25, 2008 at 6:11 pm
aaaahh NINJA!
I’ve got a inflatable Projection screen in my backyard.
Irina Netchaev
June 25, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Nickie, I’d love to have a projector screen outside. That would be really neat! Love this trend!!!
Larry Yatkowsky
June 26, 2008 at 12:26 am
Just when I thought I was simplifying my life and getting rid of stuff.
Nickie
June 26, 2008 at 8:39 am
Lani, Yes, our family are big movie fans, so getting together to hang out and watch movies in style in the backyard would add a whole new level of fun for us. And why not the office deck? With the portable one, you could even take them on road trips…
Victor, Thanks! Yes, I like that now these sets are so much more easily available and are coming into price ranges that make them affordable for more folks. Media rooms inside the home are one thing, but so much more fun outside!
Thanks Vicki! Kicks up the backard patio a notch or two on the extra living square footage concept!
Hi Loren! Having a screen in the backyard is just too cool! Must be the best place to hang and watch the games in the neighborood!
Thanks Irina! The 12′ wide one at Frontgate sounds pretty interesting. You can fold it up and put it away when you’re done, and I’ll bet the family would get a kick out of watching their favorite movie on that puppy!
Hi Larry, yes, you’re right…there’s always some new temptation waiting for us! I figure, eliminate some things that no longer fit your lifestyle anymore and then there will be room to bring in something new!
Larry Yatkowsky
June 26, 2008 at 9:22 am
#7
Nicki – “some new temptation …..that no longer fits your lifestyle … to bring in something new “. I won’t be letting my main squeeze see this response otherwise I may become part of the simplification process and be part of that stuff in the garage sale. 🙂
Nickie
June 26, 2008 at 9:30 am
🙂
I doubt anyone would let go of you that easy…
Larry Yatkowsky
June 26, 2008 at 9:34 am
Nickie,
yah never know – what used to be a flat screen has evolved into some high definition curvature 🙂
Ken Smith
June 26, 2008 at 9:57 am
I am going to blame my new obsession on you when talking to my wife. A TV would go great on my deck! To bad in Chicago we would most likely have to take everything indoors for a few months…still would be nice for the summer.
Jennifer in Louisville
June 26, 2008 at 10:32 am
I wonder how long before the problems start showing up: TV starts getting fuzzy, condensation build up, sun fade, etc. Another concern would be, how thrilled would the neighbors be to hear the TV blasting at 1:00 in the morning, as the big game is going into double overtime.
Nickie
June 26, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Hi Ken, No problem, you can blame me 😉 Hopefully she will enjoy it too… movie date night on the deck under the stars, just the two of you…you might be able to talk her into it 🙂
Hi Jennifer, I don’t have one my patio yet so I can’t say from personal experience, but from what I have heard, these babies hold up to the elements quite well. The noise level at 1am is another story though. Probably best to bring the party indoors by then 🙂
Paula Henry
June 27, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Nickie –
Here in Indy, it’s all about theatre rooms, limited to indoors though. We don’t have the great outdoor weather for most of the year to enjoy outdoor theatre, but I love the idea, I know in Arizona, outdoor dining is huge with grills, fireplaces, covered eating space and can easily see a theatre area being added to optimize the outdoor experience.
Might be great in a 4 season room in the Midwest.
Nickie
June 27, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Hi Paula!
Yes, I guess they don’t make sense everywhere, but they certainly do seem a romantic notion, don’t they? Conjures up thoughts everywhere from the old drive-in theatres as kids to a great hotel with a swim up bar, all in the comfort of your own backyard.
It would be fun to have a slide show of all your listings playing on a big screen in the backyard during open house though, wouldn’t it?