Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet News and Press

Kitchen and Bath Business
August, 2008

Garden Variety — An outdoor space that blurs the lines between out and in, new and old

Garden Variety

An outdoor space that blurs the lines between out and in, new and old

By Sallie Moffat

The owners of this Manhattan Beach, CA, Mediterranean-style home had but one request for their new outdoor space—that it be conducive to entertaining. A laid-back couple completely in tune with the relaxed atmosphere of their beach community, the clients were open to the ideas of designer Sandy Koepke, of Sandy Koepke Interior Design, who transformed their "sad, damp plot of sod" into a multipurpose space fit for year-round entertaining.

Taking inspiration from the couple's travels to resorts in Mexico, Tahiti and Costa Rica, Koepke created a town square atmosphere that could accommodate a variety of functions. "They like that bare-foot-on-the-beach kind of feel, which was a good clue as far as making the space colorful and relaxed," she explained. And it was an idea that informed the rest of the design, leading to the incorporation of natural materials such as ochre-pigmented plaster and a wide selection of salvaged items, which Koepke used to bring in some unexpected flavor, create a one-of-a-kind space and evoke a sense of history.

In order to maximize the footprint of the small lot and take advantage of a neglected elevated area, Koepke designed to all three lot lines and reconfigured the entire space. She also took off the back of the house, replacing a set of French doors and a picture window with a wall of folding, lanai-type doors, which open both the family room and indoor kitchen up to the outdoor room. "It's truly seamless," Koepke noted. "The outdoor space just feels like part of the house."

Indeed, with its many destinations and their welcoming environments, the garden becomes a natural extension of the home's living area. Containing a kitchen, a living room and a dining room, the outdoor space unfolds to reveal a selection of thoughtfully designed places for guests to congregate. In the living room, which contains bench seating and chairs covered in colorful pillows, the wood-burning fireplace—a main focal point of the space and one of the husband's must-haves—is made from stucco and features a repurposed rusty grain bin as a chimney. "It's kind of a magnet," said Koepke. "Everybody wants the spot around the fireplace. And even if the clients are inside, they often build a fire just because it looks so cozy and it extends the house out at night."

Opposite the living room is the kitchen. Arranged in an L-shaped configuration—pushed back along the wall to leave as much interior space for the courtyard as possible—its 16-ft. run of basalt countertop provides ample room for food prep and clean up, while a 5-ft. peninsula acts as a beverage center on one side and a breakfast nook on the other. A bevy of stainless-steel appliances are integrated into stainless cabinetry and include an undercounter refrigerator, an ice maker and a keg tapper, which comprise the beverage center, as well as a cooktop and a hybrid (natural gas, charcoal and wood-burning) grill. Lending variation, a copper sink and bronze faucet add visual interest and complement the assortment of finishes throughout the space.

Additional finishing touches add another level of detail to the design. The kitchen's marble-topped bar, for example, was a candy-maker's counter, now set atop a vintage iron base; a salvaged antique iron- and wood-carved "window" above the sink breaks up an expanse of stucco wall and creates a focal point within the kitchen; and the poured concrete flooring has been mixed with color, stained and aged to give the illusion of rust spots. "We didn't want it to look like a newly poured driveway so we didn't just pour it and move on," said Koepke. "We worked with it."

This attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the outdoor room. Upstairs, in the previously neglected elevation, Koepke removed pre-cast concrete pillars with iron railings that were "just too formal," replacing them with salvaged turquoise scrolled railings. Now used as the dining room, the elevation is shaded by an 18-ft. iron pergola adorned with party lights, a chandelier filled with candles and hanging flower baskets. "We made it a destination that people want to go to, so now the whole yard is being used," noted Koepke.

Filled with found objects, the new space has undeniable character and a weathered charm. The fountain, the husband's second must-have, is comprised of an old stone horse trough, lavabo and French spigots, a refreshing alternative to patio supply store offerings. But this is what Koepke's style is all about. As a result, the one-of-a-kind space is relaxed, interesting and, most importantly, "it just feels happy."


SOURCES

Designer: Sandy Koepke—Sandy Koepke Interior Design, Beverly Hills, CA; http://www.sandykoepkeinteriordesign.com/
Manufacturers: Cabinetry: Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet; Grill, cooktop, refrigerator, beverage center, keg tapper and ice maker: Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet; Sink: Native Trails; Faucet: Graff; Lighting: Coe Studios; Doors: Nana Wall; Plant materials: California Cactus Center