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For the residents of this lakeside suburban vista, spending time outdoors was an essential part of life long before they built the multi-functional space they enjoy today. Being outside, whether for yard work among blooming flower beds or a simple afternoon of relaxation in nature, always appealed to them more than staying indoors. With so much time already invested in outdoor living, the homeowners set out to create a backyard filled with the comforts of home. It started as a “blank slate,” they say, nothing more than a small patio right off the indoor kitchen. But over time, the space slowly evolved into a highly versatile outdoor area capable of hosting both large events like couple’s showers as well as intimate family pool parties.
First came the brick-lined pool and spa spillway, which extend from the original patio that serves as the primary outdoor dining area. They constructed the brick arbor several years later to help accommodate guests for a particularly crowded gathering, and it now doubles as an outdoor kitchen and cozy outdoor living room. A poolside dining table, 2 adirondack chairs, a pair of palm trees, and other lush greenery round out this space nestled against a tranquil neighborhood lake. As if the homeowners needed more reasons to spend time outdoors.
The Backyard Brief:
-
Year Built:
Completed in 2018 -
Location:
Prairieville, Louisiana -
Island Layout:
L-Shaped -
Frame Materials:
Brick and stucco -
Countertops:
Concrete -
Primary Fuel:
Propane/charcoal -
Placement:
Detached -
Shelter:
Partial -
Water:
None
Make Yourself at Home
This stand-alone structure is as comfy as an indoor living room, a feeling the homeowners achieved by bringing indoor elements outdoors: a chandelier, rug, wood-burning fireplace, deep seating set, and club chair with an ottoman. Add it all together with string lights for nighttime ambiance, and this area is the perfect place to curl up with a good book or doze off after a long day of work (or play). Though the structure was originally an open-air arbor, the sweltering Louisiana summers eventually prompted the homeowners to build a covering so this outdoor living room can be enjoyed to the fullest.
Get to Grilling
A cozy living space isn’t all the homeowners managed to fit inside the stand-alone area. The space also functions as an outdoor kitchen, complete with a gas grill and charcoal kamado on an L-shaped, brick-and-stucco BBQ island. While the built-in, 3-burner Bull propane grill is great for burgers during afternoons by the pool with their children and grandchildren, the homeowners have recently started trying more dishes on their Primo kamado. Smoked meats like ribs and stuffed pork tenderloin are becoming more common in this outdoor kitchen, showing just how much versatility 2 grills can provide.
Tables for 2
By placing 5-piece dining sets on either side of the pool, the homeowners rarely have to worry about mealtime seating when hosting bigger groups of guests. The first dining set is right next to a mounted TV just a short distance from the detached outdoor kitchen/living room, perfect for family dinners on the patio. Additional guests have a spot at the dining area on the opposite side of the pool, which is sunken into the terraced yard so they can chow down while chatting eye-to-eye with swimmers or taking in the lake views. If needed, a pair of adirondack chairs can handle any overflow seating.
Free up the Fridge
When the homeowners first installed this built-in Blaze outdoor refrigerator, they figured its best use was keeping cold drinks outdoors so pool-goers don’t have to dry off before going inside for refreshments. That concept still holds true, but they’ve begun using the outdoor refrigerator to their advantage when cooking, too. Raw and marinating meats now have a dedicated place in the fridge on the day of cookouts, as do condiments and slices of cheese. The homeowners don’t have to run inside to keep the BBQ going, and by placing the fridge right by the gas grill, they really don’t have to go far at all.
Drain the Rain
To keep their outdoor seating and living spaces free of excess water from rainstorms — and particularly impressive cannonballs, perhaps — the homeowners laid down French drains beneath slotted lines of brick in their concrete patio. Water falls between gaps in the bricks and into the French drain, which is just a trench with rocks and a perforated pipe that creates natural drainage. The primary dining area and outdoor kitchen/living room were also built with a slight slope toward the drains, helping the process run smoothly. Between the pool and nearby lake, there’s already enough water in this outdoor space.