While developing this outdoor kitchen design, Gina D’Amore Bauerle of Denver-based D’Amore Interiors had to accommodate two clients: the homeowners and the weather. The former were looking to replace a 20-year-old, bare-bones grilling station with a fully featured, covered space that would support both cooking and gathering in comfort year-round.
The latter posed non-negotiable conditions – extreme temperature fluctuations ranging from sub-freezing to near 90ºF, as well as a dry climate – that would influence several aspects of the designer’s vision for the project.
Layout Drivers
Microclimate trends guided some of the key planning principles of the space. To minimize the possibility of smoke blowing in the direction of the house, the grill was positioned on the east elevation, which is the furthest distance from the entrance to the building. The L-shape configuration of the kitchen provides the long, continuous worktops requested by the clients and gives definition to both prep and dining areas.
Bauerle placed the refrigerator drawers and the ice maker on the south-facing side of the patio at the outer end of the counter. Not only does this keep the cooling appliances away from the heat-producing ones, it’s also more convenient for people to use. With this location being closer to the couches, TV and fireplace of the living space, it keeps people from walking through the cooking area to replenish their drinks.
Features & Finishes
To ensure the patio kitchen and living area would stand up to the elements, the D’Amore team had to use materials and finishes that were durable and easy to clean. Stainless-steel cabinets from Danver (a new vendor for the designer) sport a bronze powder coat that complements the colors in the Dekton countertops. Tile from MSI clads the tall columns supporting the roof over the space as well as the floor.
“The Laurent countertop is my favorite part of this outdoor kitchen because it gives it an updated modern aesthetic; one that is still warm and transitional but also has fresh visual interest with its rust-colored veining,” said Bauerle.
Sources
Design: Gina D’Amore Bauerle, D’Amore Interiors Photography: Eric Lucero Cabinets, Cabinet Hardware & Cabinet Inserts: Danver Countertops: Dekton by Cosentino Faucet: The Galley Fireplace: Heat & Glo Furniture: Castelle & Four Hands Grill: Lynx Ice Maker, Refrigerators: True Residential Lighting: Hudson Valley Lighting Sink: Kallista Tile: MSI Stone
