Special Section: The Outdoor Room
Design Ideas
We always welcome you to submit photos and descriptions of your Outdoor Room projects for publication in future issues of Hearth & Home. Please visit www.theoutdoorroom.com to fill out the project information form and upload photos.
Bravo, readers! You’re a talented lot! We were overwhelmed with submissions for our third annual Outdoor Room Design Ideas special section – so much so that it was nearly impossible to narrow the list to the 30 projects featured on the following pages. These spaces represent some of the best of the best. They are visually stunning, imaginatively designed, fully appointed, pull-out-all-the-stops outdoor living spaces that rival the most lavish resorts.
Thanks to the addition of a little heat and, increasingly, a covered roof, the Outdoor Room has moved far beyond its Southern California roots and, is now a fixture in backyards all across the U.S. and Canada. The creative geniuses behind these spaces include specialty retailers, builders, designers, architects, landscape architects, and other professionals who have carved out expertise in the Outdoor Room.
Actually, the term “Outdoor Room” is probably a misnomer. Just as in the interior of a home, most of the projects represented here have multiple Outdoor Rooms defined for cooking, dining, relaxing and playing. Whether large or small, rustic or modern, luxurious, whimsical, or even downright wacky, these spaces reflect many of the key trends in outdoor living today: seamless indoor-outdoor transitions; outdoor kitchens with both gas and charcoal grills and, increasingly, pizza ovens; incorporation of fire pits or fireplaces – many of them with a modern, linear design; coverage of at least part of the outdoor living area by a solid roof; and greater use of sustainable materials, water features, and outdoor televisions – way more outdoor televisions!
This 32-page section is available as a free PDF exclusively to Hearth & Home subscribers (available for download at www.hearthandhome.com). We hope you find it useful as an idea book, or reprint it as a giveaway to inform and inspire customers looking to create their ideal outdoor space. While most of these projects are high-end with substantial price tags, they all contain elements and ideas that can be tweaked for smaller-scale projects with tighter budgets because, one thing is certain: Everyone wants an inviting outdoor space for living and entertaining.
Quick Links
Wow Factor
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Joe Traina. | |
It started with a request for a floating, circular, fireside lounge. But designer Ryan Hughes took his client’s idea and ran with it, creating an imaginative, contemporary outdoor space best described in one word: Wow! The epicenter of the 5,000 sq. ft. project is a pool with the aforementioned circular fire patio. Surrounding the pool is a series of other equally striking and spectacular Outdoor Rooms.
In one, a dramatic outdoor entertainment lounge features a stone veneer and glass-tiled, audio-visual wall covered with four 50-in. televisions. This room flows to an adjacent hearth area with a large, linear gas fireplace and contemporary furniture that doubles as artwork.
A dining and bar area with modern seating and sleek, stainless-steel outdoor kitchen, is warmed with textural elements and natural Ipe hardwoods. Several additional lounging and deck areas are built around a spa, custom fire sculptures, water features, or other unique architectural elements. While the entire space is visually stimulating and complex, the use of a soothing, neutral color palette throughout creates a calming cohesiveness that unifies this extraordinary entertainment center.
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Designer: Ryan Hughes Company: Ryan Hughes Design Build, Palm Harbor, FL Website: www.ryanhughesdesign.com Project Size: 5,000 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – Ipe hardwood; Walls – white Quartz stone; Floor – Travertine tiles; Fireplace/Fire Pit – custom, glass tiles; Island Base – white Quartz stone; Countertop – granite; Gazebo – cypress with custom-molded concrete supports Brands: Grill – Fire Magic; Fire Pit – Grand Effects; Outdoor Furniture – Skyline Design; Pool Lighting – Savi Melody; Draperies – Custom made by Ryan Hughes Design with Maxwell Fabrics; Spa Tile – Lightstreams Glass Tile in steel blue; Pool – custom by Ryan Hughes Design Budget: Not Available |
Seamless Transitions
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This contemporary home in a planned development community in Florida, is the epitome of seamless indoor-outdoor living. Careful planning maximized the opportunities for customization during construction, making a big design impact in the small backyard, and increasing the overall living area of the home.
Multiple sets of sliding glass walls – some with disappearing outside corners – are used to integrate the indoor and outdoor kitchens and living rooms. Further, the limestone flooring continues from inside the home straight out to the pool edge, adding to the sense of seamless flow.
An outdoor kitchen with built-in grill, refrigerator and sink is in a sheltered nook with a ceiling fan at one end of the modern pool. A spa area with walnut-colored Zuri decking and a mosaic-tiled, linear gas fire pit, sits at the opposite end.
One potential negative – a utility station located just five feet from the back of the house and pool – turned into a positive once it was screened with large fishtail palms set in a bed of Mexican beach pebble, enhancing the secluded-tropical-resort vibe.
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Designer: Tim Grey Company: G2 Aquatics, Naples, FL Website: www.G2Fla.com Other Contributors: Interior Designer – Heather Grey, G2 Studios; Pool and Landscape Design – Tim Grey, G2 Studios; Architect – Scott Kish and Rodik Figueroa, KTS Group; Builder – Scott Kish, Rodik Figueroa – KTS Homes Project Size: 1,330+ sq. ft. Materials: Floor – limestone, walnut engineered decking; Pool – tile, “pebble” surface, glass; Fire Pit – mother of pearl mosaic tile; Island Base – PVC and resin cabinetry Brands: Grill – Artisan Grills; Refrigerator – U-Line; Island Cabinetry – NatureKast Cabinetry; Decking – Zuri Decking by Royal Building Products; Pool – Wetshelf Tile, PebbleTec BeadCrete Glass; Fire Pit – Fire by Design; Ceiling Fan – Minka Air Budget: $103,000 |
For When Your Clan is a Crowd
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 John Martinelli Photography. www.johnmartinelliphotography.com. | |
When you have a large and growing extended family and lots of friends, you need an outdoor space that can accommodate a crowd. Here, two pool houses bookend an expansive, self-contained entertaining area in the rear yard of this home. In between is a covered outdoor kitchen with built-in grill, pizza oven, warming drawer, refrigerator, storage and plenty of bar-height seating. The fireplace is supersized, too – and double-sided – lending warmth and ambiance to both the cooking and dining areas.
Integrating the remote crowd-size entertaining center with the main home was challenging for landscape architect Steve Chepurny. He used Travertine patio flooring to unify the space, extending it from the entertaining area to the decking around the uniquely shaped gunite pool, raised spa and tanning ledge, and right up to the house. He also incorporated gas tiki torches throughout the area to provide soft lighting and a resort feel. For the client’s everyday use with immediate family, Chepurny designed a separate, smaller outdoor space on a bluestone terrace adjacent to the home.
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Landscape Architect: Steve Chepurny, RLA, ASLA Company: Beechwood Landscape Architecture & Construction, Southhampton, NJ Website: www.beechwoodlandscape.com Project Size: 2,400 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – pine tongue-and-groove; Walls – masonry with natural stone veneer; Floor – walnut Travertine; Outdoor Kitchen – masonry with natural stone veneer and granite counter Brands: 54- and 42-in. Gas Grills; Two Refrigerators; Below-Grill Refrigerator; Warming Drawer; Two Beer Taps; Trash Receptacle; and Storage Components – Alfresco Open Air Culinary Systems; Fireplace – Isokern; Patio and Dining Furnishings – Alfresco Home Budget: $490,000 |
Party Pad
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Jeff Wilson. | |
The owners of this Redondo Beach, California, home enlisted landscape designer-builder Michael Bernier to wake up their tiny, tired and otherwise ordinary backyard, and turn it into a modern “party pad” for living and entertaining in style outdoors. A series of large, geometric, concrete rectangles “grouted” with grass now spans the yard, replacing the former small patio and adding visual interest.
Custom-formed poured-concrete benches line the new, sunken outdoor living room and surround a custom, concrete, linear gas fire pit. Wood-tone composite decking in the living room provides a soft contrast to the hard surfaces.
Bernier also converted a garage adjoining the outdoor space into a four-season cabana. With comfy furnishings and two sets of large sliding doors that open to the outside entertaining area, the cabana is party central for watching movies or entertaining in less-than-perfect weather.
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Landscape Designer/Builder: Michael Bernier Company: Bernier Design Group, Los Angeles, CA Website: bernierdesigngroup.com Project Size: 1,500 sq. ft. Materials: Floor – concrete, composite decking; Fire Pit – custom formed and poured concrete; Seating – custom formed and poured concrete with Santa Barbara stucco finish Brands: Floor – Trex decking Budget: $60,000 |
The Overlook
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Robert Nelson, Robert Nelson Photography. www.nelsonphotos.com. | |
Nestled among the trees and perched on the granite cliffs of Tobin Island overlooking Lake Rosseau in Ontario, Canada, “The Overlook” is a remote retreat accessed from the main cabin home by a transition walkway bridge. Designed to take advantage of the picturesque views, spectacular sunsets and natural environment, the building has banks of windows and sliding doors on all four sides. The interior of the 200-sq.-ft. structure can accommodate a large round dining table, small kitchenette, and future sleeping loft, and opens to additional seating on the wraparound exterior deck.
The building is designed to not only have seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, but also seamless integration into the natural surroundings. Because the homeowners strongly valued every tree and boulder for its role in the natural landscape, architect Brian Weber took extreme care in designing and siting the structure to minimize the disturbance on the environment.
The steep terrain, exposed granite and deep bedrock were other challenges. But none was greater than the need to transport all building materials and workers to the remote island location by boat during the warm seasons or by snowmobile in winter.
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Architect: Brian C. Weber Company: Weber Architecture, Erie, PA Website: weberarchitect.com Other Contributors: Builder – Darcy Sheppard, Sheppard Construction, www.muskokaconstruction.com Project Size: 3,500 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – pine; Walls – pine, plywood; Floor – Ipe decking; Fireplace – cultured stone; Structural Timber – fir Budget: $3 million (total project) |
Picturesque Pool
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Michelle Derviss. | |
A canopy of tall Redwood trees proved a design and logistical challenge for landscape designer Michelle Derviss. Fortunately, she was able to work around it to create a picturesque outdoor space with several distinct living areas surrounding a large, rectangular pool. At the far end, a comfortable relaxation area overlooks the pool’s water feature from a raised terrace. On another side, a row of chaises lines up for sunning or snoozing.
But the real action happens in the lovely outdoor kitchen. The focal point of the kitchen is an imposing wood-fired pizza oven that sits beside a matching stone grilling island, stocked with a built-in gas grill, smoker and warming drawer, and topped with a Redwood pergola. A nearby seating area is ideal for after-dinner cocktails and conversation. Pool deck planters and gorgeous garden beds add color and natural beauty to the space.
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Landscape Designer: Michelle Derviss Company: Derviss Design, Novato, CA Website: www.dervissdesign.com Other Contributors: Landscape Contractor – Jose Chavez, Fine Landscape Construction Project Size: 60,000 sq. ft. Materials: Floor – colored concrete; Fireplace – Napa Valley stone; Island – Napa Valley stone and granite; Pizza Oven Surround – Napa Valley stone; Pergola – Redwood Brands: Grill, Warming Drawer, Storage Cabinet – Viking Appliances; Wood-Fired Pizza Oven – Mugnaini oven insert; Outdoor Furniture – Summer Hill Furniture; Lighting – Illuminer Lighting Budget: $300,000 |
Chef’s Paradise
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 William Stewart. | |
The homeowner, a professional chef, had a long outdoor-kitchen wish list. One problem: His small home has an even smaller backyard, further limited by its perch on a ridge. Fortunately, designer Susanne Fyffe maximized every available inch to create an outdoor dream space where the entire family can cook, play and entertain.
The grilling island adjacent to the house allows the chef to be part of the action while manning the gas grill and sideburner and serving guests over the bar counter. A second cook station, with a built-in, charcoal-fueled kamado smoker, flanks the left side of a sizable stone fireplace. A third station, to the right, boasts a wood-fired, stone pizza oven with a handy storage compartment for fuel, below.
There is an equally impressive dining area to enjoy all this good food. It features a large, custom, cement-topped table set on a patio of crushed gravel. The table, which doubles as a ping pong table when dinner’s done, is shaded by a custom, wrought-iron trellis structure, and bordered by a fountain that screens street noise.
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Designer: Susanne Fyffe Company: Fyffe Landscape Architecture, Arlington, VA Website: www.fyffela.com Project Size: 2,000 sq. ft. Materials: Floor – stone, gravel; Fireplace, Kamado Cook Station and Pizza Oven – stone; Grill Island Base – stone; Dining Table – cement, wood Brands: Grill, Sideburner, Kamado Smoker – Viking; Fireplace – custom, Jopal Construction Budget: $210,000 |
Natural Beauty
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Richard Mandelkorn. www.richardmandelkornphotos.com. | |
The goal of this extensive outdoor makeover was to turn the existing urban backyard into a scenic and functional landscape that looked like part of an established natural setting. The focal point of the space is a dramatic waterfall that appears to emerge from the woods to form the backdrop for the entire outdoor living area.
It has upper and lower pools with stepped-stone spillways created using existing, massive, stone boulders from the property. Centered at the base of the waterfall is the stone fire pit area. Situated on a rustic stone patio partially enclosed by a stonewall, it’s a great vantage point for viewing the surrounding landscape and enjoying the water sounds.
Bordering the fire pit patio, a curved pergola covers a lounge area and outdoor grilling island with a raised bar ledge at the rear for seating. Moving closer to the house, the rustic stone materials chosen to blend into the bordering woods are swapped for neat-and-trim bluestone. This creates a more formal look on the outdoor dining patio situated between the grilling area and the home.
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Landscape Architect: Scot Indermuehle Company: Sudbury Design Group, Sudbury, MA Website: www.sudburydesign.com Project Size: 6,500 sq. ft. Materials: Floor – natural stone pavers; Walls – natural stone; Fire Pit – natural stone Budget: Not Available |
Gorgeous Garden Redo
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Brett Hitchens. www.brettryanstudios.pixieset.com. | |
Hardscape meets Green-scape in this sprawling garden makeover in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The new space includes multiple water features, among them an ornamental pond with recirculating stream, an in-ground swimming pool with tanning shelf, and a seven-foot-diameter hot tub. The pool’s low-profile equipment shelter with solid, shingled roof and open, lattice sides is designed to blend into the surrounding foliage.
An outdoor kitchen and dining area, elevated three risers above the pool deck for prominence, features a grill, refrigerator, garbage disposal and bar, and sits beneath a solid-roof structure with clean, modern lines. Its cedar ceiling is outfitted with recessed lights and radiant heaters to extend the season when the Canadian weather turns chilly.
Also useful in that department is the precast concrete fire table in the poolside lounge area. But it’s the plants that really make this outdoor garden room come to life. Designer Adrienne Brown stored and replanted dozens of existing plants from the yard, relocating them with a host of beautiful new trees, plants, and even a vegetable garden, once the hardscaping was completed.
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Landscape Architect: Adrienne Brown Company: ALaurel Design, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Website: alaureldesign.ca Other Contributors: Architect – Bernard Decosse, Bernard Decosse Architect; Builder – Ed Trasolini, Trasolini Pools, www.trasolinipools.com; Landscape Contractor – Rob Huffman, Carefree Greenery, www.carefreegreenery.com Project Size: 11,000 sq. ft. Materials: Pool Deck – sandblasted concrete with sawcut joints; Patio – Rustic Lafitt pavers Brands: Grill, Bar and Refrigerator – Twin Eagles; Ceiling Heaters – Infratech; Fire Table – Solus Decor; Patio Pavers – Belgard; Pool Interior Finish – Hydrazzo by CL Industries Budget: $300,000 |
Enjoy As Needed
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Len DiTomaso, LLA. | |
The sign above the entrance to the covered entertaining pavilion in this outdoor oasis reads “p.r.n. (pro re nata),” a Latin phrase found on medical prescriptions meaning “take as needed.” This tricked-out space is the perfect remedy for the modern-day ills plaguing today’s stressed-out, time-crunched, overloaded families.
The pavilion houses a large bar area equipped with kegerator, refrigerator, sink, storage, huge outdoor TV, lighting, heaters and ceiling fans. There’s also seating for a crowd at the bar and high-top tables, and on comfy furnishings.
Just outside the pavilion, guests can access the upper patio between two horizontal fire features that define the entryway. This space is home to an outdoor kitchen complete with gas grill, smoker, searing burner, wood-fired pizza oven, outdoor-rated refrigerator, storage cabinets, and trash drawer, all built into an elongated stone island.
The expansive patio has plenty of room for a large dining table, and a relaxation nook beside a soothing water feature made from a trio of urns nestled in a rock bed. Our prescription: use often, for outdoor living is the best medicine.
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Landscape Architect: Len DiTomaso, LLA Company: Landscape Perceptions, Oakland, NJ Website: www.landper.com Other Contributors: Outdoor Appliances and Furnishings – Will Evertz, Eastern Outdoor Furnishings, www.bbqsandmore.com Project Size: 2,200 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – wood; Walls – interlocking block; Floor – porcelain tile; Fireplace – natural stone veneer; Island Base – galvanized steel, rock board, stone veneer; Countertops – black leather finish granite Brands: Grill – Alturi by Summerset Grills; Searing Burner – Alfresco Open Air Culinary Systems; Pizza Oven – Chicago Brick Oven; Kegerator – Summit Appliance Budget: $175,000 |
Exceptional Design in Tricky Backyard
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 George E. Brown. www.georgebrownphotography.com. | |
With three-fourths of the half-acre backyard designated a “no build” environmental zone, and an erosive storm runoff cutting right through the property, it required a lot of design ingenuity for landscape architect Don Nesmith to satisfy both the homeowners and local officials on this project.
He came up with a plan to divide the yard into two distinct areas – a lower, naturalized space, and an upper patio and pool-deck outdoor living area. Between the two, Nesmith created a natural-looking, dry stream bed lined with boulders and water-loving perennials, shrubs and flowering trees, to collect rainwater runoff and discharge it into a storm drain at the edge of the property.
The hub of the living space is a 16-by-42-ft. salt-water pool with water feature and sun shelf. Surrounding the pool is a three-foot high fieldstone retaining wall with a five-foot, sheer-descent waterfall and underwater lighting, against a backdrop of dense plantings of evergreens, ornamental grasses and perennials chosen to provide color in every season.
To add further visual interest and spatial illusion, the pool-deck pavers are placed on a diagonal. Overlooking a 1,500-sq.-ft. putting green, and also in view from the spa and grilling station, is a five-foot-diameter, raised, wood-burning, fieldstone fire pit. The client’s reaction? According to Nesmith, “They said we knocked it out of the park.”
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Landscape Architect: Don Nesmith Company: Land & Water Design, Haymarket, VA Website: www.landandwaterdesign.com Other Contributors: Builder – Walter Santana, Santana Design Build; Builder – Phuong Nguyen, Phuong Carpentry Company; Landscaping – Rick Shoemaker, Shoemaker Landscape Company Project Size: 5,000 sq. ft. Materials: Walls – natural fieldstone; Floor – concrete pavers, composite decking; Fire Pit – natural fieldstone Brands: Grill – Lynx Grills; Pavers – Techno-Bloc Blu 60 mm; Composite Decking – Fiberon Ipe; Lighting – Unique Outdoor Lighting; Spa – Hot Springs Spas Grandee; Putting Green – Southwest Synthetic Putting Green Budget: $325,000 |
Escape Route
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 David Munsey. | |
To meet his client’s request for an after-work escape, builder David Munsey completely renovated this exterior property, first installing a retaining wall to extend the pool deck, before constructing a 550-sq.-ft., covered, pool-house pavilion. The pavilion’s centerpiece is an imposing wood-burning fireplace with natural-gas-assisted lighting and a television mounted above the mantle for viewing from the cozy fireside seating area.
To one side of the fireplace is a galley-style outdoor kitchen with grill, refrigerator, sink, storage and bar-height seating; to the other side is a spacious dining area. The pavilion’s dark-stained, exposed cedar beams create a striking contrast against the light-painted, tongue-and-groove pine ceiling. The same native Ozark stone is used to unify the fireplace, kitchen island, and the oversized column bases which function as both an interesting design element and a handy spot for guests to rest drinks.
When the homeowners really want to escape, they can head to a nature trail created by Munsey on the three-acre property. Along the trail is a custom-built pergola with a swing that overlooks their cattle pasture. Final touches on the outdoor living space include 17 flower-filled pots around the pool deck, and 125 smart-controlled, low-voltage landscape lights.
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Builder: David Munsey Company: Better Lawns and Gardens, Little Rock, AR Website: www.betterlawnsar.com Project Size: 3 acres Materials: Ceiling – tongue-and-groove pine; Floor – Pavestone pavers; Fireplace – natural Ozark native stone; Island Base – concrete block with natural stone veneer; Countertops – granite; Pergola – custom wood structure Brands: Grill, Storage Drawers and Access Doors – Twin Eagles; Beverage Center – True Refrigeration; Fireplace – Isokern 46-in.; Walls – Anchor wall; Outdoor Furniture – Summer Classics, Elegant Earth, Mallin Casual Furniture, Elaine Smith Pillows; Planters/Pots – Jackson Pottery; Pavers – Pavestone Venetian and Pavestone Plaza Stone; Retaining Wall – Anchor Budget: Not available |
Rustic Luxury
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Edie Ellison, Accent Photography. www.accent-photography.net. |
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Designer Jay Henson combined luxury amenities with rustic details in this indoor-worthy outdoor entertaining space that reflects the style of the rest of his clients’ home. He used dark wood ceilings with contrasting white beams in the covered space for cozy elegance, and added a matching, stained, wood pergola extension to let in natural light.
An outdoor kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, including grill, sideburner, sink and range hood, is built into a brick island base that matches the home’s exterior. Dining is available at the island’s jewel-toned, granite-topped raised bar or the nearby dining table.
A relaxation area just outside the covered space features oversized sectional seating surrounding a large gas fire pit, topped with granite that matches the outdoor kitchen. A separate, shaded conversation area with deep-seating chairs offers great views of the large, wall-mounted outdoor television. The rich colors of the cushions, flowers and decorative accessories further add a sense of luxury to the space.
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Designer: Jay Henson Company: HensonFoley Design, Huntersville, NC Website: hensonfoley.com Other Contributors: Designer – Donna Esposito, Decorating Den Project Size: 400 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – wood; Fireplace – granite; Budget: Not Available |
Rooftop Retreat
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Tony Soluri Photography. www.soluriphotography.com. |
It’s hard to beat the view or the amenities in this spectacular rooftop retreat overlooking Chicago’s Lincoln Park and nearby Lake Michigan. The 3,400 sq. ft. space covers the entire footprint of the building, a result of combining two condominium units to form the penthouse apartment below. The modern outdoor space includes a full kitchen with built-in grill, sideburner and refrigerator, all sheltered by a contemporary pergola.
Also included is a dining area; an elevated sundeck; outdoor shower; a kids’ play area and sport court; a seating lounge oriented for sunset viewing around a linear gas fire pit; and a fun, oversized hammock bed. The expansive space was designed with sustainability in mind. Terraced steps connect multiple levels of decking made from sustainably harvested woods. Built-in planters combine drought-tolerant ornamental grasses and plants with edible herbs including mint and oregano.
Birch trees are used for privacy screening against the neighboring building, while a green wall of willows forms a lush backdrop for the sundeck. Plantings of flowering sedum create a rainwater-absorbing Green-roof border around the perimeter of the space.
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Architect: Kevin Toukoumidis Company: dSPACE Studio Architecture, Website: www.dspacestudio.com Other Contributors: Builder – Neil Corcoran, C & S General Contractors Project Size: 3,400 sq. ft. Materials: Floor and Planters – Garapa, Ipe (used on some stair risers/treads), porcelain tile pavers; Island Base – Garapa; Countertops – white Corian; Pergola – steel and cedar Brands: Kitchen Cabinetry – custom designed by dSPACE Studio; Grill and Sideburner – Lion Premium Grills; Refrigerator – Bluestone Appliance; LED Lighting – Luminii, Lumiere, Stone, Hinkley, Atlantis; Outdoor Shower – Hydrology Thermo Stainless Steel Shower Column; Paint – Benjamin Moore Aura and Ironclad Super Satin Budget: Not Available |
El Caracol
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Ann Kunke. | |
The spiral of a conch shell – El Caracol – is the inspiration behind the cabana in this outdoor space. Guests enter the structure through a rounded teak door and then follow the singular outside wall as it spirals in on itself, creating separate private sections for the sink, shower, changing room, and toilet areas. The building sets the whimsical tone for the outdoor entertaining space the homeowners refer to as their “Magical Island.” An extension of the cabana’s roof shelters the ultimate party spot, a large U-shaped outdoor kitchen and bar.
Large boulders serve key visual and functional points throughout the space. They are used for seating around the raised gas fire pit, and as a diving board into the waters of the dark, pebble-bottomed pool. The dark color serves a practical purpose, too; it absorbs the sun’s heat, reducing pool-heating costs.
A separate raised spa has a recirculating waterfall that makes soothing music as it spills into the larger pool. Lush tropical plantings, and outdoor lighting that sparkles on the water at night, further add to the magic of this special space.
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Designer: Reno Bradfield Company: Bradfield Design Studios, Boulder Creek, CA Email: renodesign@mindspring.com Other Contributors: Landscape Designer – Ramon Falkowski, Landscape and Natural Design; Pool Contractor – Corby Gould, Corby Pools; Construction – Alan Cress, Alan Cress Construction; Island – Shelly Winchell, Treasure Islands; Millwork – Dean Coley, Architectural Millwork & Design; Concrete – Tom Ralston, Ralston Concrete Project Size: 4,375 sq. ft. Materials: Floor – pavers, concrete; Pool – Pebble Tec textured pebble bottom, rough stone cap; Retaining Walls – concrete; Cabana Door – teak Budget: Not available |
Three-Season Outdoor Space
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 John Martinelli Photography. www.johnmartinelliphotography.com. | |
A wide range of amenities offering warmth, cooling, cooking and entertainment ensures this outdoor living center can be used three seasons of the year. Landscape architect Steve Chepurny divided the large space into smaller rooms, each with its own focal point and function. A custom fire pit is the centerpiece of a conversation area surrounded by a seat wall.
The dining area is defined by a cedar-beamed pergola that incorporates a television and both a shade canopy and ceiling fan for added comfort when it’s hot and sunny. An outdoor living room with comfy seating is sheltered by the home’s exterior walls, and heated, when necessary, by freestanding propane heaters. Finally, the outdoor kitchen with built-in grill, sink, refrigerator and storage can handle entertaining no matter the season.
While a decorative fountain feature adds visual interest and melodic background sounds to the space, incorporated behind the scenes is a township-required subsurface basin to control storm water runoff.
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Landscape Architect: Steve Chepurny, RLA, ASLA Company: Beechwood Landscape Architecture & Construction, Southhampton, NJ Website: www.beechwoodlandscape.com Project Size: 1,350 sq. ft. Materials: Floor – Natural Cleft Bluestone full range color; Outdoor Kitchen – custom masonry with natural stone veneer and granite counter; Pergola – cedar with Permacast columns Brands: Grill – Wolf; Refrigerator – Sub-Zero Budget: $187,500 |
Rising to the Challenge
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Kyle Kohlmann. | |
The list of challenges was lengthy: drainage was difficult given the space was bordered by the home on three sides; multiple elevations, including the fact that every door opening to the space at a different height required thoughtful design; and a hard-capped budget necessitated reusing as much of the existing material as possible.
Landscape architect Kyle Kohlmann not only addressed every one of these issues in his renovation, but transformed this outdoor courtyard into a space his clients love.
All surface water within the space was directed to an existing catch basin and an overflow pipe for a previous water feature in the courtyard. To deal with the disparate elevations, the outdoor area was divided into three major sections – the entry walkway, upper patio, and lower fireplace patio – to minimize steps while maximizing usable space. Existing irregular bluestone was repurposed in decorative inlays to help define and unify these separate living areas, and existing decorative rustic stones were incorporated as sitting stones within the design. The focal point of the new, clean, contemporary outdoor living area is a stone fireplace that is especially inviting on cool Wisconsin evenings.
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Landscape Architect: Kyle Kohlmann Company: Bret Achtenhagen’s Seasonal Services, Mukwonago, WI Website: www.seasonalservices.com Project Size: 2,400 sq. ft. Materials: Walls – Chilton veneer stone and Bedford Stone coping; Floor – brushed concrete with irregular Bluestone and Unilock Courtstone inlays; Fireplace – Chilton veneer stone, Courtstone paver accents, Bedford Stone mantel pieces, copper chimney cap Brands: Fireplace – Stone Age Manufacturing (masonry kit), Halquist Stone (Chilton veneer stone and Bedford copings); Copper Chimney Cap – Vogler Metalwork & Design; Courtstone Paver Accents – Unilock; Irregular Bluestone – Halquist Stone; Lighting – Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting Budget: $58,700 |
New England Charmer
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Richard Mandelkorn. | |
This tranquil outdoor space combines the vibe and amenities of a California resort, with the classic, formal detailing that reflects the home’s New England setting. A multi-use pool with an exercise lap lane and an integrated spa is the highlight of the outdoor area. Gas fire-feature urns flank both sides of the pool steps, inviting family and friends in for a dip.
Poolside seating options abound, including a row of lounges on the sun deck; deep-cushioned couches in a conversation area; and small groupings of tables and chairs in between. Perfectly uniform, square stepping-stones embedded in the grass lead to a stately dining area near the pool zone.
But the further the meandering lawn takes you from the refined pool area, the rougher and more naturalized the elements become. For example, a rustic, wood-burning fire pit, constructed from huge, reclaimed granite boulders, sits amid a serene woodland setting. A group of modern Adirondack-style chairs rings the fire pit, their sleek lines contrasting with the jagged patio stones they rest on and the lush, woodsy plantings that surround the area.
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Landscape Architect: Michael Coutu Company: Sudbury Design Group, Sudbury, MA Website: www.sudburydesign.com Project Size: 20,000 sq. ft. Materials: Floor – Bluestone; Fire Pit – natural stone Budget: Not Available |
Fire and Water
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Joel Shilliday, Diving Dog Media. www.divingdog.com. | |
This Outdoor Room stunner maximizes the property’s breathtaking views of the Chesapeake Bay off the coast of eastern Maryland. The design features a large, L-shaped outdoor kitchen with built-in gas grill (repurposed from the family’s existing cart model), charcoal kamado grill, storage and, of course, a power burner to prepare those iconic Maryland crab feasts.
Builder Brad McCready surprised the family by turning their no-longer-needed, former grill cart into a mobile island for extra serving and storage. A pergola defines the outdoor kitchen, built from modular stainless-steel cabinetry and finished with fieldstone and a granite counter. The materials and L-configuration are repeated in the fireside seating area on the opposite end of the outdoor space, where a 12-by-12-ft., custom, linear, fire feature wraps atound the corner of the deck, drawing the eye out to the shoreline.
Each level of the two-tiered composite deck is defined by a border of darker decking material, but the space remains open for excellent flow when entertaining large groups. Numerous electrical outlets, overhead and freestanding heaters, well-placed outdoor lighting, and ample comfy seating, add to the functionality of this beautiful waterfront retreat.
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Builder: J. Brad McCready Company: McCready’s Hearth & Home, Cambridge, MD Website: www.chimneysystems.com Project Size: 2,800 sq. ft. Materials: Walls – stone; Floor – pavers, composite decking; Fire Pit – stone, granite; Island Base – stone, stainless steel; Countertops – granite; Pergola – composite Brands: Grills – Napoleon Grills, Big Green Egg; Crab Steamer – Bayou Classics; Modular Cabinetry – Napoleon Grills’ Oasis; Heaters – Napoleon Bellagio, Bromic Heating; Outdoor Furniture – Homecrest Outdoor Living; Outdoor Speakers – Bose; Fire Feature – custom from The Outdoor GreatRoom Company Budget: $100,000 |
Super Staycation
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Felicia Evans Photography. www.feliciaevans.zenfolio.com. | |
Outdoor living design, build and retail specialist Ted Tidmore of the Holloway Company created a sprawling “staycation” resort at this Virginia home. Adjacent to the house, an upper-level sundeck shelters an outdoor entertaining area that boasts a complete built-in kitchen with gas grill, refrigerator, ice maker and storage; a living area with deep-seating furniture; a flat-screen television; and a beaded fir ceiling with recessed lighting, speakers and ceiling fans.
Just down the steps is a poolside retreat where the family can make pizzas in the pizza oven while relaxing in front of a dramatic fireplace with 60-in.-wide hearth opening. A custom fire pit area with Adirondack chairs offers a separate, more intimate and informal gathering area on the opposite end of the outdoor space.
When the family is ready for action, there’s an endless-edge, blue-tiled swimming pool complete with water spouts and slide, as well as a hot tub, and a three-hole putting green with chipping fringe. The entire Travertine patio area is accented by gas tiki-torch lighting. The tiki lights, hot tub and pool, are all controlled via WiFi on a smart phone.
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Designer: Ted Tidmore Company: Holloway Company, Sterling, VA Website: www.hollowaycompany.com Other Contributors: Builder – Joe Gwiz, Lewis Aquatech, Project Size: 5,000 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – beaded Fir; Walls – Hardie Board and stone; Floor – Travertine, Trex decking; Fireplace and Pizza Oven – natural fieldstone veneer, bluestone mantel, flagstone caps; Fire Pit – natural fieldstone veneer, flagstone caps; Island Base – natural fieldstone veneer; Countertops – bluestone Brands: Grill, Ice Maker and Access Doors – Twin Eagles; Refrigerator – Delta Heat; Hot Tub – PDC Spas; Pizza Oven – Chicago Brick Oven; Decking – Trex Transcends; Outdoor Furniture – Summer Classics, Kingsley-Bate, Gloster Furniture; Landscape Speakers – Sonance Budget: Not Available |
Made in the Shade
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Alsa Photography. www.alsaphotos.com. | |
The problem: A small, concrete patio with southern exposure was scorching hot in the late afternoon sun and barely usable by this active, outdoorsy family. The solution: Create a three-season, sheltered, shady space for relaxing and entertaining in comfort, regardless of the unpredictable Montana forecast.
While the extensive concrete work for the spacious new patio was underway, hearth and outdoor living design-build-retailer Tim O’Brien was able to save time by fabricating the structures for the outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and custom TV-wall feature offsite in his shop. Then, when ready, he delivered and set the pieces in place on the patio, and applied the stone finish on premise.
Thanks to cooling shade from the solid roof, ceiling-mounted radiant heaters, and dimmer-controlled under-counter and recessed lighting, the family can cook and entertain at the grilling island, relax and watch a movie on the outdoor television, or toast marshmallows around the fire pit to fully enjoy their outdoor space, day or night, from early spring through late fall.
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Specialty Hearth & Outdoor Retailer: Tim O’Brien Company: R&T Services, Billings, MT Website: www.randtservices.com Other Contributors: Builder – Rich Naylor, My Handyman Project Size: 745 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – vinyl with matching soffit; Floor – concrete; Fire Pit – Boral Black Rundle Cultured Stone; Island Base – EFIS Cultured Stone; Countertop – granite; Lighting – LED Brands: Grill – Memphis Pro built-in pellet grill; Storage Doors and Drawers – Napoleon Grills, Blaze Outdoor Products; Radiant Heaters – Infratech; Fire Pit, Grill Island and TV Wall – custom-built by R&T Services Budget: $80,000 |
Expansion Plan
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 TK Images. www.tkimages.com. | |
A pretty and practical Outdoor Room addition expands the usable living space of this 1,800-sq.-ft., 1929 bungalow home by nearly 25 percent. The soaring wood ceiling, painstakingly hand-cut and crafted from natural-finish, smooth cedar, makes a dramatic first impression upon entering the space.
Its vaulted center section, lined with decorative tin, was designed to accommodate a large chandelier purchased by the homeowner to hang over the dining table. A section of the ceiling extends to the top of the fireplace, creating a unique backdrop wall for mounting the television.
A horizontal, see-through fireplace with glass and river-rock medium, and faced with two colors of slate, was selected to keep sightlines open to the rest of the yard. The quartzite used on the fireplace mantel is repeated on the counter of the compact outdoor kitchen, with built-in gas grill and refrigerator set into a slate island. A spa sits just off the composite deck ready for a dip, and stone and slate seat walls offer extra seating along the perimeter of the super-functional living space.
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Builder: Katherine & Rob Douglass Company: Texas Custom Patios, Houston, TX Website: www.texascustompatios.com Project Size: 440 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – smooth cedar with clear finish, painted tin in vaulted section; Seat Walls – slate fascia and stone top; Floor – composite decking; Fireplace – slate fascia, gas with glass and river-rock medium; Island Base – slate; Countertop – quartzite Brands: Grill and Refrigerator – Fire Magic; Composite Decking – Fiberon Budget: $95,000 |
La Dolce Vita
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Kris Winegeart. | |
When a client asked for a Tuscan-inspired backyard retreat to remind her of her native Italy, landscape designer Mardel Fraivillig paid attention to the details starting from the ground up. Travertine flooring forms the base of the outdoor space and looks like it could be right out of the Italian countryside. It runs beneath a 27-by 38-ft. pergola structure that extends from the home’s covered porch, and sports thick cedar beams hoisted from stucco arches that rest on Cantera stone columns and Texas limestone pediments.
A Texas limestone fireplace – elevated so the client can appreciate the fire from inside the house and while seated at the outdoor dining table – anchors the far end of the pergola space. An L-shaped outdoor kitchen with gas grill, double side burner, sink, refrigerator, and dishwasher built into a stucco base with granite counters, offers all the key amenities for enjoying la dolce vita. The client’s reaction? She invited the entire design team to the inaugural party and happily exclaimed, “Now I have a piece of Tuscany with me!”
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Designer: Mardel Fraivillig Company: Bay Area Design & Landscape, Seabrook, TX Website: www.bayareadesignandlandscape.com Project Size: 1,026 sq. ft. Materials: Pergola – stucco, Texas limestone, Cantera stone, cedar; Fireplace – Texas limestone; Outdoor Kitchen – stucco, Venetian gold granite; Floor – Giallo Travertine Brands: Gas Grill – DCS by Fisher & Paykel; Double Sideburner – Bull Outdoor Products; Refrigerator – Summit Appliance; Dishwasher – DCS by Fisher & Paykel Budget: $63,800 |
Screened-in Simplicity
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Linda McManus. www.lindamcmanusimages.com. | |
This compact Outdoor Room skips the bells and whistles to focus on quality design, craftsmanship and materials. The functional, multipurpose space sees frequent action as a relaxing fireside living area, reading nook, TV-watching den, and alfresco dining room. The focal point of the space is a custom, wood-burning fireplace with attached wing walls, all faced with two-in. natural stone veneer. In fact, natural materials are used throughout the retreat, including slate flooring, reclaimed barnwood ceilings, a metal roof, and a reclaimed mantel.
The 460-sq.-ft. peninsula pavilion, accessed from the house by double French doors, has three open sides supported by stone walls and columns. The columns hold the room’s biggest surprise, motorized retractable screens that keep bugs at bay, but fully recess to disappear out of sight when not needed. Other creature comforts include recessed lighting and ceiling fans.
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Architect: Joshua Sukenick Company: Joshua Sukenick Design Solutions, Spring City, PA Website: www.sukenick.com Other Contributors: Builder – Jamison Glennon, The Bethany Group, www.bethanygc.com Project Size: 460 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – reclaimed barn wood; Walls – board and batten, stone veneer, slate caps, motorized screens; Floor – natural slate; Fireplace – stone veneer Brands: Stone Veneer – Quarry Cut Natural Stone; Columns and Beam Wraps – Azek; Screens – Phantom Screens; Outdoor Furniture – Restoration Hardware Budget: $139,500 |
Faux, Fast, Fun, Fantastic
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Stephen Topia. | |
In just five days, design-builder David Montoya and his team transformed a hard-to-access patch of sandy soil and sparse grass behind a lakefront summer cottage into a fantastic and fun outdoor living space. Amidst the trees, they created a level patio, multiple planter beds, and 70 linear feet of two- to three-foot high retaining wall from poured concrete that they textured, cut and colored to look like flagstone.
The rustic entertaining center at the hub of the space has seating for 10 around a U-shaped bar and cooking station with built-in grill, refrigerator and storage cabinetry. Using a custom, frameless, stone-panel system for the island base, and polished concrete for the countertops, were timesavers, while still offering the durability and appearance of masonry.
The rustic look continues on the wood-beamed pergola supported by faux, tree-trunk columns made of concrete. Polished concrete and frameless stone panels were also used to create a wood-burning fireplace with attached wood box and seating wall, as well as the boulders for the water feature. Says Montoya, “We began the project on a Tuesday and completed it in five days, start-to-finish, to meet the clients’ Memorial Day party plans.”
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Builder: David Montoya Company: ClifRock, Merrimack, NH Website: www.clifrock.com Project Size: 850 sq. ft. Materials: Floor – poured concrete; Pergola – wood, decorative concrete; Fireplace – ClifRock Stone Masonry Panels; Island Base – ClifRock Stone Masonry Panels; Countertops – polished glass fiber reinforced concrete Budget: $42,000 |
Bali Hideaway
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 George E. Brown. www.georgebrownphotography.com. | |
After returning from a vacation in Bali, Indonesia, landscape architect Don Nesmith’s client wanted to create a backyard retreat inspired by the tropical paradise. At the top of his wish list was a replica of a large Balinese entertaining pavilion called a Palapa. Nesmith swapped the pavilion’s traditional thatched roof for a composite shingle roof, but otherwise included every amenity necessary for resort living.
A huge natural stone fireplace defines the central seating area, perfect for relaxing in front of the fire while watching the 70-in. flat-screen TV. One wing of the space is home to a complete outdoor kitchen with grill, warming drawer, refrigerator, ice machine, wine refrigerator and sink, all built into a wraparound bar with granite counters. A pergola extends from the opposite wing, shading a rope hammock that beckons the weary.
The space features Brazilian Ipe hardwood flooring and tongue-and-groove cedar ceilings throughout, as well as built-in lighting, ceiling fans, infrared heaters and WiFi capability. The expansive space is also home to a Zen meditation garden, with meandering stream, waterfalls, and an Asian-inspired bridge. For everyday convenience, there is a second outdoor kitchen area with a built-in grilling island and dining table just off the house.
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Landscape Architect: Don Nesmith Company: Land & Water Design, Haymarket, VA Website: www.landandwaterdesign.com Other Contributors: Builder – Tim Trimmer, Pro Grounds, www.progrounds.com Project Size: 1 acre Materials: Ceiling – cedar tongue-and-groove; Walls – natural fieldstone; Floor – Ipe Brazilian hardwood; Pergola – Ipe Brazilian Hardwood; Fireplace – natural fieldstone Brands: Grill, Warming Drawer, Refrigerator, Ice Machine, Wine Refrigerator, Sink, Faucet, Sealed Pantry, Trash and Recycle Center – all Lynx Professional Series Budget: Not Available |
Fires Featured
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Anne Attinger. | |
Dancing fire is everywhere in this modern outdoor retreat at a golf course home set against the backdrop of the Desert Mountains in Indian Wells, California. A contemporary fireplace with a custom metal fire sculpture is tucked into an architectural column, adding coziness and warmth to the dining area. After a day on the links, guests can gather around one of the three fire features situated along a low wall on the patio perimeter to watch the sun set over the golf course lake. Beside the pool and spa, the latter enhanced with a custom mosaic, is yet another fire vessel, this one a fire pit hewn from a large boulder.
Because the homeowners love to entertain, landscape architect Anne Attinger also incorporated plenty of live-fire cooking capability in the outdoor kitchen. The island cooking center features a built-in, charcoal-fueled kamado-style grill, along with a gas grill and stainless-steel cabinetry. All the decorative fire features are fueled by natural gas and can be controlled by switches inside the house or by remotes, for on-off convenience at the end of the evening.
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Landscape Architect: Anne Attinger Company: Attinger Landscape Architecture, Palm Desert, CA Website: www.anneattinger.com Other Contributors: Builder – Greg Scrivens, GL Scrivens Construction Project Size: 2,500 sq. ft. Brands: Grills – Big Green Egg, Lynx Grills; Stainless Steel Cabinetry – Lynx Professional Series, Fire Magic; Tile – Hirsch Glass by Avalon, Oceanside Glasstile (mosaic); Fire Boulder – Roger Hopkins Stone Sculptor; Fireplace Sculpture – The Fire Place of Palm Desert Budget: Not Available |
Absolutely Fabulous
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Michael Gotowala. | |
According to designer Michael Gotowala, there’s outdoor living, and there’s living outdoors fabulously. This amazing outdoor entertainment area definitely exemplifies the latter. Off the home’s main interior living area is a large mahogany deck with both a beverage station and outdoor cooking island with bar seating.
This upper-level deck doubles as the roof of the lower-level outdoor Great Room, home to another fully featured outdoor kitchen with grill, power burner, warming drawer, pizza oven, sink and storage cabinetry, as well as an outdoor television and comfy furniture. A third outdoor kitchen with an EVO flattop grill stands ready to serve guests by the huge stone fireplace near the pool. A cool beverage is always handy thanks to six outdoor refrigerators and multiple wine refrigerators and beverage stations within the expansive entertaining area. Other amenities include heated marble flooring, radiant overhead heating, a swim-through spa, outdoor shower, and remote-controlled fire walls for nighttime ambiance.
The multi-dimensional space works equally well for day-to-day family living as it does for intimate gatherings and grand-scale entertaining, day or night, any season of the year. That’s pretty fabulous.
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Designer: Michael Gotowala Company: The Outdoor Kitchen Design Store, Cheshire, CT Website: www.outdoorkitchendesigner.com Project Size: 4,000 sq. ft. Materials: Ceiling – Mahogany; Floor – Blu Marble, heated; Fireplace – cut stone texturized with square, rectangle and stacked stones, double-thick Azul Granite hearth; Island Base – modular cabinetry; Countertops and Backsplash – Azul granite, hand-cut Turkish marble; Pool Coping – Turkish marble bullnose Brands: Grills – DCS by Fisher & Paykel, EVO; Pizza Oven – Wood Stone Ovens; Power Burner and Warming Drawer – Alfresco; Beverage Center – Glastender; Refrigerators, Beverage Coolers, and Wine Chillers – True; Outdoor Cabinetry – Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens; Spa – Sundance Marin Spa; Lighting – Juno Outdoor Lighting, Preferred Properties; Fire Walls – HPC; Heaters – Bromic Tungsten Heaters Budget: $500,000+ |
Master Plan
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Candace Melton.. | |
Knowing the renovation of this once-barren backyard will be phased-in over time, landscape architect Candace Melton designed the extensive planting and irrigation plan for the entire space from the get-go, ensuring continuity as each stage is completed. The first phase fulfilled the homeowner’s request for an intimate outdoor lounge to enjoy a cigar or entertain couples for a quiet alfresco dinner.
Melton created such a space on a rectangular flagstone patio just outside the home through a set of new French doors. Its focal point is a custom, raised, 6-by-6-ft. stone fire pit with a wide surface ledge ideal for holding a platter of hors d’oeuvres or a glass of wine. Thanks to a newly plumbed 440,000-Btu natural-gas line, the fire pit provides ample heat without the hassle of refilling a propane tank.
Lit at night by the cozy glow of string lights, the patio and fire pit are centered on the French doors, within eye-shot of the television just inside. The client’s reaction? Melton says, “He told us that waking up and walking past the view outside every morning is a delight.”
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Landscape Architect: Candace Melton Company: Skii Landscape Architecture, Tulsa, OK Website: www.skiila.com Project Size: 216 sq. ft. Materials: Floor – Blue Mist Flagstone; Fire Pit – Arkansas Hackett Stone, stainless-steel triple fire 30-in. ring burner Brands: Outdoor Furniture – chairs from Jax Collection by Woodard, table from West Elm Budget: $35,000 |
Playground for Grownups
| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 David Phelps Photography, JETT Landscape Architecture. |
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| Photos Courtesy: ©2016 Lina Duong, JETT Landscape Architect + Design. Kimberly Sikora photographer. www.kimberlysikora.com. | |
From the balconies of the Hotel Zephyr at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, guests get a bird’s-eye view of the adult playscape in the courtyard below. The fantastical space, inspired by iconic childhood board games, pays homage to the industrial history of the wharf through furnishings and finishes that appear as though they endured decades of decline and decay.
There is an outdoor living room of eroded concrete and repurposed shipping-container panels, a fountain made of “leaky” broken pipes, and cocktail tables made from weathered, old, cable-wire spools.
Playful elements capture the imagination, including a “Tuble Tennis” game (table tennis in a five-foot steel tube); full-scale Connect Four and Jenga games; shuffleboard; an oversized marble maze; and colored paving that winds around the space in a game-board pattern, a la Candy Land and Shoots-and-Ladders.
A “pyrotechnic sculpture” – a fire pit made from flaming computer monitors and discarded electronics – adds to the fantasy. In a nod to the old salts of the wharf, portholes, harpoons, rugged coastal plants, and gabion walls filled with recycled aluminum cans, abalone shells and cobblestones, add to the madcap wonderland.
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Landscape Architect: Bruce Jett, ASLA Company: JETT Landscape Architect + Design, Orinda, CA Website: www.jett.land Other Contributors: Design Architect – Dawson Design Associates; Executive Architect – Michael Stanton, Stanton Architecture; Artists – Charles Gadeken and Julie Coyle; Engineering – James Mogannam, KPFF Consulting Engineers; Irrigation Consultant – Chris Mitchell, Russel D. Mitchell & Associates; Concrete Contractor – Michael Price, Bay Area Concretes |
