Heather Lenkin's Victorian-Inspired Outdoor Kitchen
Heather Lenkin took an old driveway behind one of the earliest farmhouses in the Los Angeles area and transformed it into a Victorian-inspired outdoor living area. Click here to read the full story.
By Heather Lenkin
Photo by: Mark Lohman
Kitchen, dining and living room: trellises provide much needed shade, and soft greys integrate the areas. A single-counter kitchen provides area for cooking, serving and storage.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
Placing the kitchen along one side of an outdoor living area organizes the space without making the appliances the focal point. Countertops at differing heights add interest and functionality.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
Drawers and cabinets hold all that's needed for outdoor cooking. The easy care stainless steel finish blends well with painted wood doors.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
Stained into the concrete is the homeowner's monogram – the letter B. The concrete backsplash tile also incorporates the Victorian character of the home.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
Stovetop with task lighting: Night lighting is important for tasks and for mood.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
Detail: task lighting is important over a cooking area. Here the lighting was tucked in between beams that hide them.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
Different counter heights provide spaces for different functions. To the left, a bar height next to the barbeque allows friends to sit and enjoy time with the chef. Far right height allows for placement of cappuccinos and desert.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
Dining adjacent to the kitchen allows easy serving between the two. An easy care zinc tabletop paired with antique iron chairs relates to the decorative Victorian character of the house.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
The living room, just steps above the kitchen and dining area, offers a warm invitation to relax after dinner. Low stone walls are capped with stone wide enough for seating.
Photo by: Justin Brandstater
Careful night lighting sets a romantic tone for diners. Candle light, hidden down lights and up lights in the landscape all create a warm glow.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
New double french doors connect the interior to the exterior dining room. The exterior living room and fireplace create an inviting and picturesque viewpoint from the dining room.
Photo by: Jennifer Cheung & Steven Nilsson
The new and old dining rooms are adjacent to one another. Muted greys in the materials add continuity between the spaces. A sliding awning attached to the trellis above easily allows for shade when needed.
Photo by: Mark Lohman
Stargazing from a jacuzzi partially tucked into the hillside is a favorite pastime of the family. Large boulders transition the hillside to the espaliered Anna apple trees on the fence.
Photo by: Justin Brandstater
The homeowners’ five-year-old twins love their private playhouse with its own entrance. Blue stone stairs are nestled into romantic pink planting, as sweet peas climb up the trellis.
