Today we move from our indoor kitchen to our outdoor kitchen & alfresco area including our pool!
In case you missed it – you can read all about our kitchen, scullery + study spaces inside here.
When stepping out to our backyard, we wanted to ensure our outdoor space was an extension of the home, so having good indoor-outdoor flow was high on our priority list! We love how the doors open all the way up to create a wide opening and seamless indoor-outdoor living. We also installed a large motorized external blind, enabling us to close in the space on those ugly weather days and still utilize the alfresco area.
This space has become heavily used by our whole family and guests. Perfect for any occasion – Sunday breakfast, extended family function, or neighborhood catch-up drinks, it really does cater to all!
OUTDOOR KITCHEN
So let’s chat about one of Darren’s favourite parts of the home – the outdoor kitchen!
Ensuring we had consistency between the indoor and outdoor spaces was important. It was achieved by doing the same curved range hood detail as we had in the kitchen. We also kept the same Staron Solid Surface benchtops in ‘Bright White’ as the kitchen – which we can use outside as it’s completely warranted for outdoor use.
The cabinetry substrates are all made in tricoya, an all-weather product with a 50-year warranty above ground. It’s definitely the only product we would recommend for outdoor use to ensure your much-loved kitchen stands up to the test of time and outdoor elements! We then installed Blackbutt timber cladding to the joinery fronts to match the cladding detail of the alfresco ceiling, as well as the soffit in the front entryway.
When it comes to the appliances featured in our outdoor kitchen, we opted for a Grand Fire built-in BBQ, with a Schweigen silent rangehood above and a double Rhino drinks fridge under the bench.
ALFRESCO AREA
We wanted to bring some of the details from the house’s front facade into the back area too, as the back deserves to be just as beautiful as the front! So we kept with the same use of blackbutt timber and white painted brick. Using the same ‘hit and miss’ technique as the entry support column, we brought it through to the alfresco area to create a breezeway feel. This results in a beautiful interplay of light and shade in the space. It also allows for excellent airflow.
Outdoor furnishings are often an essential part of many of our client projects as outdoor living is such a significant factor of Queensland seaside living. However, ensuring the materials and fabrics will be able to withhold the intense UV rays and environmental elements is crucial! We love Cosh Living’s outdoor collections, so we decided to go with their Forrest Sofa and Lounge Armchair in a beautiful neutral ‘Ice Grey’ fabric and ‘Shell’ rope detail, with a solid teak timber frame. We paired this outdoor lounge setting with a lovely Manutti Torsa coffee table in ‘Ceramic Fossil’ and Tribu Nomad ottoman/stool in ‘Sujan Ochre’ for versatility.
POOL
As a water-loving family, the pool was a must! However, being on a small lot block meant the location of the pool was key. So we placed it right along the back of the property to maximize the sun exposure during the length of the day. This also allowed us to add a painted brick wall along 2 sides of the pool – creating increased privacy and an opportunity for more brick detailing, of course!
We went with the natural stone ‘Teragio Anticated’ from Artedomus in a stack lay pattern for our external tiles in the pool area and alfresco. We also mitered this stone to create our squared pool coping edge. To give it a seamless look, we also set the glass pool fencing into the slab to ensure no visible mounting brackets.
We offset the pool to one side to create a small living area for our family to enjoy by the water’s edge. It’s become a perfect space to relax on a pool lounge (covered in SPF, obviously!) while the kids are having fun in the pool.
OUTDOOR SHOWER
We are not landscapers, but we did have fun dabbling in this area – we designed an outdoor shower garden set with stepping pavers, stones, and low set plant life. The space’s hero is the massive 316 stainless steel ‘Monsoon’ outdoor shower from Sussex – it’s a beast, and the kids love jumping in after the pool. Set on a curved wall, we rendered it in a beautiful soft terracotta colour with a cute tiled skirt detail.
Stay tuned for our next reveal – The Kids Bedrooms + Breakout Space!
