Outdoor Kitchens
The Ultimate Outdoor Living Experience
Inside the walls of this Mediterranean hacienda is a dreamer’s guide to alfresco design.

Bernardo and Tim Abbott’s backyard is like an exclusive resort, comprising nearly every possible outdoor amenity. It’s no wonder, though, having been inspired by a friend’s Puerto Vallarta estate. While the couple loves traveling to foreign places (especially Bernardo, who is from Brazil), they decided to custom create their own version of paradise at home in Lenexa. The house’s stucco exterior and barrel tile roof necessitated the design be mainly of a Mediterranean style, but the pair spends a lot of time south of the border, prompting their decision to include some Mexican influences.

“However we were going to design it, we knew they wanted it to be an extension of the house,” says Ron Sobanek, owner of HISCO Design/Build. “They entertain quite a bit and wanted to make it seem like they’re inside while they’re really outdoors.” Ron created that for them with several covered and luxuriously appointed areas that are waterproofed and finished off with bead board.

Tim and Bernardo’s wish list started with a courtyard, cabana and kitchen. “We just kept adding more and more stuff as we went,” Bernardo says with a laugh. The final tally of amenities includes the kitchen, dining room, pool and spa (both with water features), a ¾ bath and sitting area downstairs, two staircases, and a full-length upper balcony with a hearth area and new mahogany conservatory.

Each element has its own space but flows easily. For instance, the kitchen and dining area are marked off by hexagonal tiles to make them seem like individual rooms, while the upper balcony’s tile is the same as the inside for continuity. The courtyard unites all areas with Kool Deck, a product that lowers the surface temperature. The design marries the styles of two different cultures. A fresh coat of stucco and a paint job in a darker color provide a distinct contrast for architectural details such as white columns. Bright colors like orange in the kitchen and yellow in the dining room and bathroom reflect the Latino spirit the couple so enjoys.

The space is also a combination of the old world meeting the new. A privacy wall encircling the property appears to have worn away in a few places, revealing a stone foundation for a rustic look. For modern convenience, the outdoors is automated via a touchpad that controls the lighting for the entire area, the pool and spa temperature, mood lights in the grotto and four levels of waterfall. Because the water can be heated to any degree, it can be used year-round. The entire courtyard is also prewired for audio/visual.

Low-maintenance was another design consideration. Native plantings soften the hardscaping and practically take care of themselves with rock mulch to keep out the weeds. Jets at the base of the pool push dirt and debris toward a vent for self-cleaning, while the water itself is sanitized through an iodizer system rather than chlorine treatments. The project took two years to complete because they simultaneously refinished the basement, which includes a full bar, billiards table and built-in salt water aquarium. With doors that open to the courtyard, it’s just one more element adding to the overall effect of a home decked out to the fullest degree.

“We realized there would be no instant gratification with this project,” Tim says. “But we’re really happy with it now.”

Resources:

Designer: Metropolis Design Studio
Builder: HISCO Design/Build
Interior & Kitchen Designer: Sermon-Anderson
Landscaping: Outdoor Transformations
Cabinets: Sturgis Materials
Columns: PMD
Conservatory: Lancaster Conservatory
Countertops: Sturgis Materials
Drainage: Gordon Energy & Drainage
Electrician: HISCO Electric
Excavation: Crawford Brothers Excavation
Fireplace & Foundation: F & J Masonry
Foundation: Certified FoundationS,J G Creten Basement Contractors
Framing: M & D Construction
Glass & Mirrors: Hayes Company
Guttering: Williams Insulation & Guttering
Lighting & Plumbing Fixtures: Ferguson Enterprises
Lumber: McCray Lumber
Paint: Benjamin Moore
Painter: Miguel Painting
Painter: Louie-N-Sons Painting
Painting Specialty: Urso & Barling
Plumbing: Dickson Plumbing
Roofing: Century Roofing
Stucco: Stucco Repair Systems
Swimming Pool: Sun & Swim Pools
Tile Installation Labor: Georgianna BeilmaN,Intileigent
Tile: Tile & Stone Warehouse, Daltile, IMD
Windows: Kansas City Building Supply
Subdivision: Woodland Reserve