"It's an interesting phenomenon," said Michael Glassman, of Sacramento-based Michael Glassman & Associates, who has designed many outdoor spaces, including this one, which is also in Sacramento. "Designers always think about function when designing a kitchen inside the home, but when they step outside to create one, it's that thought that goes right out the door." More than just a pet peeve to Glassman, who has built his award-winning reputation on visualizing a home's exterior as another large room, it's a mistake. "You need to think about how the clients are going to use the space," he said. "Otherwise, you miss the opportunity to capitalize on its potential."

Needless to say, there were no missed opportunities in designing the outdoor environment of this California residence. There's plenty of room to socialize, whether around the fireplace or kitchen counter, which is what outdoor entertaining is all about. "People, especially outdoors, want to mingle and gather," said Glassman. "The whole beauty of having an outdoor kitchen is that company and cooks can interact with each other." As Glassman pointed out, "We've seen a lot of instances where an outdoor kitchen has all of the amenities, but the cook or prep person has their back to the guests. Each time I see it, I wonder why." The designer underscored his advice by adding: "Take commonly used indoor techniques and apply them outdoors. Kitchen design is so crucial. The client hires a professional, affords all of the expensive solutions and lives through the construction, but you didn't think about where to put the barbecue and amenities? Not good."

Glassman's response to this common gaffe: Reorient. "By simply positioning the kitchen area to open up to the entertainment area, like you would with interior kitchens, you open up a world of possibilities," he said. "In this project, when people come out of the house, right from the kitchen and family room, they don't walk smack-dab into the outdoor kitchen." Glassman pushed the outdoor kitchen further over and gave it its own space—and plenty of it. He chose to create a U-shaped kitchen with abundant counter space (with granite tops) and seating (for seven people), the barbecue to one side, the sink to the other. At no time do the hosts turn completely away from their guests, but rather include them in conversation or preparation. "In fact," he said, "sometimes their caterer holds cooking classes out there."

Said Glassman, "Another thing to remember is to give your clients plenty of room in which to work." Again, a common mistake for many designers in creating outdoor kitchens, he said. "Inside the home, you wouldn't hesitate to maximize the amount of allowable space for the kitchen proper," noted Glassman. "But often, when designing these amazing, open outdoor spaces, very little space is dedicated to the work area."

Indulge in counter depth and enough of an overhang to accommodate stools, if at all possible, and be generous with dimensions. "We do a minimum of 4 to 5 ft. of space so two cooks can be in the kitchen without stumbling over each other," said Glassman. And inside this generous area are all of the elements needed to entertain outdoors: a barbecue, double burner, sink, refrigerator, warming drawer and lots of storage behind stainless doors. While there is no dishwasher in this kitchen, Glassman recommends installing one if you have access to the sewer system so as to reduce cleanup trips to the indoor kitchen.

But, you see, it's not just about creating an outdoor kitchen. It's about creating an outdoor environment. And that's where the rest of the space, and its connection to the kitchen, comes in. Before we reveal that solution, though, let's take a few steps backward to the backyard Glassman first encountered at the onset of this project. A long yard with little depth, it was, as the designer described it, "old and tired." Said Glassman, "There was an existing overhead structure that was falling down, a little bit of brick, some aggregate concrete and a lot of weeds and dead grass." No color. No focus. No focal point. "The true definition of bleak," he said. "And definitely no real entertainment space." The owners told Glassman in their initial consultation that they would love to do extensive entertaining but needed a place in which to do it. Glassman said he gave their old yard a much-needed facelift; but really, it was more like reconstructive surgery. He even went so far as to repaint the back of the house in a warmer, richer tone to complement the new design yet still work with the existing brick front.

Now, an expanded, "sumptuous and spacious" patio, as Glassman calls it, is floored with desert gold quartzite. Combined with contemporary-style, square columns faced in honey gold ledge stone, the 40-ft. x 25-ft. space creates not only an inviting outdoor atmosphere but almost an extension of the house. But no outdoor environment is complete without shade. "This is especially true in Sacramento where it can get very hot," said Glassman. The designer wanted something "big and beefy" in terms of size and shape but did not want it to be solid. Three tiers—6x8 beams supporting 4x6 rafters 2 ft. on center, supporting 4x4 slats—give it a terraced effect, allowing it to breathe and creating natural ventilation. Beech wood, stained to complement the house, though the pergola is not attached to it, provides the beauty. "Another benefit of the overhead structure is that it gives you the ability to do directional, low-voltage lighting," said Glassman. Tucked into the rafters, the fixtures not only provide ambiance, but sufficient light for tasks.

But for the real mood lighting, the custom-designed gas fireplace does the trick. The focal point of the space, it summons guests to gather 'round and enjoy, "which is just what they do," said Glassman. "A well-designed outdoor space really becomes an exterior environment." Now that's living.


SOURCES
Designer: Michael Glassman—Michael Glassman & Associates, Sacramento, CA; www.michaelglassman.com
Contractor: Empire Construction, Winters, CA
Manufacturers: Stone: East West Stone (ledge stone); Appliances: Alfresco; Sink: Elkay; Faucet: Moen; Furniture: Summer Classics
Photography: © Amy Gallo; Stylist: Robin Wilson, Atmosphere Design