Sam and Judy love entertaining in their backyard, but an existing concrete plaza in the middle of their beautiful brick patio was an eyesore that prevented them from creating their ideal space.
But after an extensive renovation with the help of Dana King Design Build Remodeling, the couple is ready to welcome a second summer into their beautiful outdoor kitchen, which blends their indoor design style with the durability and usability of the outdoors.
“It has truly improved my quality of life,” says Sam. “It's one of the best investments I've ever made.”
When the Dana King Design-Build Remodeling team first visited the home for a consultation, they considered adding a giant outdoor chess board on a concrete base to complement the other garden activities in the space, but after consideration, Sam and his team decided to create another feature essential to being a great entertainer: an outdoor kitchen.
“When we thought about the concrete lot, we realized that it was already a place where people could gather and eat because there was a grill there,” King says, “so putting a kitchen there was the natural next step.”
King's team used the existing geometry of the concrete slab to create the kitchen's layout, which is equipped with a grill, refrigerator, cooler, and Alpha outdoor pizza oven, a must-have for Sam, who loves to make gourmet pizzas. “We made at least 100 pizzas in that first summer alone,” Sam says.
Design-wise, King's team wanted to blend in with the home's existing brick and concrete and avoid adding stone or other hard surface materials to the space. “Outdoor spaces are often clad in stone on the outside and have stainless steel cabinetry,” King says. “But here we had an opportunity to change that.”
The design team chose outdoor cabinets that have the look of painted indoor cabinets. For the outside of the cabinets, they used Millboard siding, a new product designed for outdoor use that replicates the look of real wood and is durable and long-lasting. The dark gray cabinets and two-tone Millboard siding complement the exterior colors of the home.
For added protection from the sun, King's team added shade sails over the kitchen, which also became a dynamic design element that tied the entire project together. “We considered building a pergola, but he really wanted more shade during the hours when the sun was beating down, around 3 to 5 p.m.,” King says. “So we met on-site during those peak hours and outlined where the sails needed to be placed.”
To brighten the space in the dark, we installed outdoor lighting in the sails, and under-counter lighting illuminates the perimeter of the kitchen, illuminating the siding and cabinets and allowing you to see what's in your drawers at any time of the day.
Combining these design elements results in a beautiful outdoor kitchen. “Dana Design and her team did a really great job,” says Sam. “We're so happy here. It's such a cozy space that not only looks great, but it's also so practical.”
This post was written by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of Dana King Design Build Remodeling. Learn more about Dana King Design Build Remodeling here. danaking.comyou can schedule a consultation here.
