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From contemporary dining and seating sets to a fireplace and mounted TV for entertaining, this poolside outdoor space has everything needed to function as a second living room despite being detached from the home. A muted white and gray palette in the stand-alone structure contrasts neighboring farmland and reflects the home of Marc and Sarah Broussard, who envision outdoor living as something more than the typical grill-and-BBQ-island setup.
The Broussards still made room for a grill — and a smoker, too — but their focus is on entertaining and enjoying the complete outdoor experience with friends and family. “Being able to have people over and get together in this outdoor space whenever we want to is absolutely awesome,” Marc says.
The Backyard Brief:
-
Year Built:
2019 -
Location:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana -
Island Layout:
Linear -
Island Finish:
Ledge stone -
Frame Materials:
Aluminum -
Countertops:
Concrete -
Primary Fuel:
Natural gas -
Placement:
Detached -
Shelter:
Partial -
Water:
Yes
Take Your Seat
A big part of what makes this outdoor space feel like a living room is the inclusion of both a dining and seating set. Each Sunset West Laguna piece is made from rust-proof aluminum but resembles teak, giving the homeowners the durability and aesthetic they desire without requiring much maintenance. With an eight-piece dining set and a more intimate seating arrangement, this outdoor space is perfect for big family cookouts and quiet gatherings by the fireplace alike.
Piece It Together
The homeowners constructed the BBQ island as they saw fit using a modular set of aluminum frames that’s ideal for DIYers. Poured concrete countertops add another layer of gray to the outdoor space’s palette, while the ledge stone veneer is repeated in the central fireplace and hot tub. Vent panels were positioned near the top of the linear island so potential natural gas leaks from the grill can escape instead of building up in the outdoor kitchen.
Out of Sight
To maximize the space in this outdoor living room, the homeowners relied on undercounter components. A door-and-drawers combo doubles as tool storage and an access point to natural gas lines, an undercounter fridge keeps party essentials close at hand, and a roll-out waste bin removes the need for unsightly trash cans in the backyard. These island components are especially helpful in a detached space where the homeowners would otherwise have to frequently run into the home for supplies.
Customized Cooking
Part of personalizing a space is taking what you love about the indoors and bringing it outside, which is exactly what the homeowners did with cooking appliances. They appreciate the lack of pesky flare-ups while grilling burgers and steaks on the all-infrared TEC Patio FR, and it’s tough to beat the convenience of slow-cooking larger items like brisket with the Cookshack AmeriQue electric smoker. Pairing them creates the flexibility to cook exactly what’s needed no matter the occasion.
Paving the Way
A pattern of square pavers and turf connects the outdoor space to the home and decking both physically and conceptually. The pavers form a walkway linking the concrete deck with the concrete floor of the outdoor living room, while the turf breaks up the gray aesthetic and allows greenery to become interwoven into the decking. Turf is also much easier to maintain than the natural lawn, so the homeowners can spend more time enjoying their outdoor space and less time tending to it.
Meet in the Middle
By building around a centralized outdoor fireplace and mounted TV, the homeowners elevated their outdoor space from poolside seating area to year-round bonus room. The vent-free fireplace extends the outdoor season into colder months so they can always get plenty of use from the area during gamedays, holidays, and family events. A simple yet elegant wooden mantle, which repeats the wooden posts and beams in the vaulted ceiling, also helps create a cohesive and relaxing atmosphere.