When the sun goes down, an outdoor kitchen can be a relaxing and inviting nighttime oasis, especially for outdoor enthusiasts with an affinity for congregating, drinking and eating in their own backyard. But without proper lighting, how can one enjoy the lush nighttime landscape, the color of margaritas or the twinkle in the eyes of one's guests?

Sufficient and appropriate exterior lighting impacts not only the usability of an outdoor kitchen but also its entertainment value. "I just finished a project, and at night, it is magical," said Michael Glassman, of Sacramento, CA-based Michael Glassman & Associates, who specializes in designing outdoor kitchens. "When you turn on the lights, it creates a different environment. A lot of people are hesitant to spend a lot of money on outdoor lighting, but it's the most important thing. If you plan on entertaining outdoors, there's nothing better."

With the popularity of outdoor kitchens on the rise, this space has become a significant addition to the home. Because of the current economic crisis, many homeowners are avoiding the costs associated with moving to a larger home with more entertainment spaces or building an additional interior space to their existing home, according to Randall Whitehead, IALD, a San Francisco-based lighting designer. "Fifteen years ago, people wanted to create the idea of al fresco dining outside," he said. "Over a period of time, they enjoyed being outside to cook meals while entertaining, rather than cooking indoors and bringing the food outdoors."


FANTASTIC FOUR

When it comes to illuminating outdoor kitchens, the considerations are similar to those techniques applied to lighting interior spaces. Use a layered approach that incorporates the four types of lighting: task, decorative, ambient and accent lighting. And keep in mind the following:

• The most important type of lighting for an outdoor kitchen is task lighting, which is needed to ensure sufficient brightness on the work surfaces, noted Whitehead. Most outdoor kitchens include a barbecue grill with a hood, which can cast a shadow over the grill, making it difficult to see the color of cooked food. Flexible armed fixtures mounted on the work surface with a gooseneck can be adjusted to provide direct lighting, "so you can see when the steaks are done," he said.

• The popular trend of taking indoor comforts outside has sparked an emergence of decorative fixtures, such as chandeliers and pendants, for outdoor kitchens. These fixtures are rated for outdoor use and are typically hung above the dining area. "Adding a chandelier to an outdoor kitchen completely turns it into a room," Glassman said. For an intimate setting, chandeliers and lanterns with gas-burning or electric candles offer "romantic flickering effects," he added.

• Many outdoor kitchens have pergolas or overhead structures with downlights that bathe the space in a warm glow. But for those that do not, provide ambient light by using uplights. One common solution is to attach an uplight fixture to the pole of an umbrella above a table so that it illuminates the umbrella's underside. "A beautiful ambient light softens the shadows on people's faces and makes them look younger," said Whitehead.

• An outdoor experience would not be complete without being able to see the surrounding landscape, which encompasses everything from exotic plants to water fountains. Install accent lighting to highlight objects in the backyard scenery, to allow "your eyes to move beyond the outdoor kitchen area and visually include the greenery outside as part of the dining experience," said Whitehead.

























_{Lighting for an outdoor kitchen should be done in layers, plenty of task light for work surfaces, accent lighting for plants and water features, and decorative fixtures for added illumination and to create a room-like feel. The designs of Sandy Koepke (left) and Michael Glassman (right)  exemplify this technique.}



ILLUMINATE SPARINGLY

With so many choices available, however, exercise restraint, as some outdoor living spaces can become overloaded with lighting and fixtures. "The trick is making it look natural and not making it look like Dodger Stadium or a runway strip," said Glassman. He cautions against lighting along pathways; instead focus on outdoor features. In addition, hiding fixtures in the environment ensures that the space has more natural appeal, as does selecting finishes that match the plumbing fixtures or appliances—a popular trend used in indoor kitchens. "You look for lighting that keeps with the continuity of the design itself," Glassman noted.

When planning the lighting of an outdoor kitchen, the key is to set up fixtures in different layers to prevent the light from flooding the space, noted Sandy Koepke, of Sandy Koepke Interior Design in Beverly Hills, CA. Koepke's outdoor kitchen, for example, features a balance consisting of a task lighting fixture mounted on a pole near the grill, a salvaged desk lamp set over the backsplash, an antique lantern on top of the work surface and an old-fashioned string of low-voltage lights hung above the space. "My philosophy for lighting outdoor kitchens is to provide enough layers of light," she said. "You want to find the right balance so you're preserving the enchantment. I think people tend to overdo it. They don't need to crank it up. Have enough, but not too much."

For a list of fab and functional outdoor lighting products, visit kbbonline.com later this month.