Design Spotlight: Outdoor Escape

This homeowner learned the hard way that he wasn’t in California anymore. But with the help of Mom’s Design Build, he discovered an even better outdoor lifestyle here in Minnesota. Hint: no wildfires, earthquakes or mudslides to threaten his investment.

To be kind, this homeowner’s outdoor living plan “evolved” as he adapted to his new Independence hillside surroundings. First came the cut-and-fill grade leveling, see-through stone fireplace and wood-fired pizza oven. Then the golf area, fire ring overlook, plantings, paving and outdoor kitchen came into play. Finally, the fixed kitchen shelter and operable dining space pergola transpired. Read more about this amazing space in Midwest Home Magazine.

“When the designers suggested a pergola at the beginning, I said, ‘Why would I want that? I want to be outdoors,’” he recalled. But after a string of rained out gatherings, he accepted the realities of Midwest weather and continued to adapt the site. That meant rethinking parts of the initial design: ultimately, the shed roof for the kitchen morphed to a larger flared gable design. Then the posts and footings were modified to support the combined weight of the fixed roof and motorized StruXure, louvered roof pergola.

Today the avid outdoor chef says he feels like the Captain of Captain and Tennille, surround by cooking instruments rather than synthesizers in his fully equipped sunken kitchen. Best of all, no more rained out culinary performances. And when the site gets a brisk hilltop breeze (and wood smoke?), he says Minnesota mosquitoes won’t crash the show.

• To create a Captain & Tennille cooking experience for serious California chef.
• To tie the cooking and eating elements together under a versatile roof system that offers relief from elements without diminishing the landscape view.
• Refine the terraced area on a steep slope to incorporate a chip & putt golf area and a fire circle area.
• Embrace the client’s affinity for natural wood, stone and steel.

• The custom, motorized Struxure Pergola with integral water management offers either blue-sky views or shelter from rain. The sensor automatically closes the louvers when rain starts to fall; the owner also has control over it from his smartphone.
• This extraordinary outdoor kitchen includes a wood-fired pizza oven, Lynx Sedona grill, burners, a sink, a fridge and taps for beer and root beer. Low bar chairs also accommodate for extra seating at the dining table as needed.
• Warmth from overhead heaters, the fireplace and oven extend the outdoor season. The see through fireplace serves both the dining area and the open patio.
• Entertainment awaits the golf-loving family on synthetic turf chip and putt course.
• This entertainment space is extremely versatile and allows for open traffic flow and multiple seating areas. A special hanging basket seat has a 360-degree view of the valley, chip and putt golf area, fireplace, kitchen and television.

• A sunken cooking area and chair-level bar preserve the panoramic landscape view from the patio and creates an outdoorsman style cave that the client desired.
• The dramatic, flared copper roof enhances their valley view from the home’s master suite.
• A traditional fireplace, gas fire ring and wood fired pizza oven leverage the power of dynamic flame movement to generate atmosphere and visual focus.
• Massive wood beams, brackets and an abundance of natural stone create an old world counterpart to the modern louvered pergola.
• Open or closed, the white pergola louvers brighten the dining area.

Kitchen features fixed roof, wood-fired pizza oven, grill, burners, sink, fridge and two beer taps.

Heaters in ceiling, decorative Azek panels in privacy screen

• Features a custom flared copper kitchen roof.
• An attractive but random stone pattern on the fireplace and pizza oven.
• Intricate natural stone paving with contrasting colors at the steps.

• Custom fan beams and stand-off brackets keep heaters the required distance from combustible surfaces.
• Buffer zone plantings along the terraces avoid obtrusive railings while keeping guests safe.
• A copper pot added to the pizza oven chimney top helped achieve the required clearance when the kitchen roof design morphed from shed to gable.
• Decorative 2” x 4” Azek polymer panels add visual interest and screen an undesirable view from the sheltered lounging area under porch.

Gas fire ring feature remote ignition. Step-down bluestone design reduces retaining walls.

What do you think of this transformation? Click below to schedule an appointment and let our award-winning designers transform your outdoor living space into your dream!

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