An outdoor kitchen set into a stone terrace
Hardscapes- Location
- Columbus, Ohio area
- Category
- Hardscapes
- Scope
- Hardscapes, Softscapes
A raised stone terrace off the back of the house carrying a built-in grill, cedar raised beds and new tree planting to screen the neighbouring lots.
Cooking, eating and growing, all on the same level as the back door.
New build lots tend to hand you a back door, a drop to the lawn and very little else. This terrace closes that gap: it brings the usable ground up to the level of the house so the kitchen inside and the kitchen outside are a step apart.
The framework
A cut stone retaining wall lifts and holds the terrace, with matching steps down to the lawn. A built-in stainless grill is set into a stone surround at the near end, next to the dining area, so the cook is not stranded away from everyone else.
Planting and finish
Cedar raised beds sit against the wall for herbs and vegetables. Columnar trees are planted either side of the sliding doors to give height and privacy without taking floor space, with ornamental grasses, shrub roses and a river stone drainage bed finishing the base of the wall.
