Outdoor Entertaining All Year Long
When this client first contacted the contractor, they knew their existing outdoor living area was not serving the needs of their family or guests when trying to entertain during Baltimore Ravens football games. Several needs were outlined from the start of the project; room for outdoor dining and cooking, cover from rain and most importantly, a space to enjoy watching the Ravens while still being outdoors. The layout of the house helped to dictate traffic flow into and out of the new outdoor space. Stairs were constructed off the existing deck down to the new patio, while the main access into the space was from two entry doors on the rear of the home. The gazebo and patio area were designed to complement the architecture of the house, giving the house and outdoor area a cohesive style and feel. The support columns on the gazebo were custom fabricated to match the home. The fireplace and sitting wall brick were color matched to blend seamlessly with the home. Brick and bluestone bench walls flank either side of the fireplace and the upper patio, creating an intimate gathering place for guests. Low voltage lighting in the bench walls and steps provide safety and visual interest and is controlled automatically through a photocell. Electric and digital HD television and sound comes from the house and can be controlled in the gazebo.
The architect who designed the home was brought in as a consultant during the design of the project to help ensure that the feel of the space, especually the gazebo, would blend with the home itself.
The outdoor kitchen provides room for grilling, utensil storage and a refrigerator so that food and drinks can be prepared without missing one minute of the game being shown on the 55” television, recessed into the wall of the gazebo. The wood burning fireplace allows the homeowners and their guests to enjoy the space well into playoff season, even when the snow is falling, as they did this past fall. The fireplace mantle was created using a salvaged floor joist from a 200 year old building in the area. Each aspect of this outdoor living and entertaining space was designed and built to provide functional room for the client to entertain while maintaining the highest level of quality and detail. From the boulder super stepper which forms the landing out of the house, to the coffered bead board ceiling in the gazebo to the herringbone brick fire box in the fireplace, the contractor worked to provide the highest quality finished product.
