Backyard Pizza Kitchen
Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Outdoor Rooms for Cooking & Entertaining
Backyard Pizza Kitchen
This outdoor space with a Mediterranean feel is ready for rain, shine, hot days, and cool nights.
A big backyard is always a wonderful thing, especially in Seattle, but these homeowners weren’t quite sure how to best take advantage of their spacious property. So, they turned to us to maximize the potential of their space.
Their goal was to create a series of outdoor rooms that provided space for covered entertaining, outdoor cooking, lounging, gardening, and playing. Inspired by the open courtyards of the Mediterranean, their ultimate vision was an oasis of warm earthy tones, colorful touches, and lush plantings synthesized with light materials, and finished with the airiness of coastal getaways.
The backyard already had a deck and arbor adjacent to the house, but since the arbor was open to the elements, it wasn’t usable when the weather got rainy. The homeowners wanted the flexibility and weather-protection of a completely covered roof over a new deck. We worked together to design a new covered porch where the homeowners and their guests could retire when the weather soured, or if they wanted some cover from the sun.
An Abundance of Blooms
Once you move past the light-filled kitchen and fire pit lounge space, a pollinator perennial garden promises colorful blooms. Beyond, a lush lawn beckons little ones with its potential for free play. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
An Abundance of Blooms
Once you move past the light-filled kitchen and fire pit lounge space, a pollinator perennial garden promises colorful blooms. Beyond, a lush lawn beckons little ones with its potential for free play. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Stone and Stucco
The sand-set stone patio’s light tones complement the brightness of the stucco finish of the feature wall and kitchen counter. These light finishes allow the color from the wood and tile accents to really pop. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Stone and Stucco
The sand-set stone patio’s light tones complement the brightness of the stucco finish of the feature wall and kitchen counter. These light finishes allow the color from the wood and tile accents to really pop. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
A Variety of Seating Options
With the creation of several outdoor rooms, we could incorporate many different types of seating. The bright colors of the fire pit seating and hanging egg chair pair well with the more muted dining set and lounge seats. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
A Variety of Seating Options
With the creation of several outdoor rooms, we could incorporate many different types of seating. The bright colors of the fire pit seating and hanging egg chair pair well with the more muted dining set and lounge seats. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
The new roof is full of features enhancing the all-season use of the space — ceiling-mounted heaters to drive away a chill in the air, skylights to let light in, and a fan to circulate air in the warm summer months. Extending from the porch roof, is a metal arbor with lighting and shade sail incorporated into the structure.
A project highlight is the outdoor kitchen complete with pizza oven, built-in BBQ grill, and feature wall decorated with Mexican tiles. For the feature wall, the homeowners didn’t want a standardized pattern, so we developed a tile layout that was less rigid yet still following a semblance of order.
Distributed irregularly across the accent wall in clusters of four, the Mexican tiles add a cheerful, free-flowing structure to the design. The pizza oven is also adorned with similarly colorful mosaic tiles to link back to the Mediterranean theme.
Custom Arbor
The shade sail incorporated into the arbor provides relief from the sun when desired. When evening comes, the integrated light system illuminates the dining area with a festive atmosphere. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Custom Arbor
The shade sail incorporated into the arbor provides relief from the sun when desired. When evening comes, the integrated light system illuminates the dining area with a festive atmosphere. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Backyard Pizza Kitchen
Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
An eclectic selection of pots brings succulents and other plants into the kitchen and dining area, adding to the Mediterranean atmosphere.
Making a Statement
The colorful mosaic tiles embedded into the pizza oven, and the Mexican tiles in the wall beyond, make a bold statement against the stucco finish. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Making a Statement
The colorful mosaic tiles embedded into the pizza oven, and the Mexican tiles in the wall beyond, make a bold statement against the stucco finish. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Shade Available When Needed
Though the outdoor kitchen is uncovered, it’s easy to step under the porch or shade sail if you need a break from the sun. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Shade Available When Needed
Though the outdoor kitchen is uncovered, it’s easy to step under the porch or shade sail if you need a break from the sun. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Feature-Rich Outdoor Living
A built-in bench adds more seating to the covered entertaining space. The outdoor space is enhanced with temperature control measures and skylights that let light back into the covered space. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
Feature-Rich Outdoor Living
A built-in bench adds more seating to the covered entertaining space. The outdoor space is enhanced with temperature control measures and skylights that let light back into the covered space. Backyard Pizza Kitchen | Photo by Allie Merrill.
To suit the homeowners’ budget and timeline needs, we divided the scope into two phases: Phase 1 focused on the area adjacent to the house, while Phase 2 included the rest of the garden, lawn, and fire pit area. By strategically splitting the phasing, the covered entertaining space and kitchen area could be enjoyed while the rest of the site work was still underway. Once both phases were complete, the homeowners finally had their own thoughtfully-designed Mediterranean refuge to enjoy year-round.
Notes & Credits
This project was built by Proform Construction.
Photography by Allie Merrill.
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Our design services encompass architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture, with teams specializing in projects across the spectrum, from single-family homes to multifamily and mixed-use buildings, and from boutique commercial spaces to civic spaces, like parks. We love designing the integrated fabric of structures, spaces, and places that create vibrant neighborhoods.
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