The larger deck at
grade is suitable for a bistro table and chairs or as just
a sunbathing lounge. There is an additional lounge area adjacent to the
whirlpool which is situated beneath the sweeping canopy of a mature
weeping willow. Two sets of narrow steps provide seamless circulation
from the door to the natural turf "carpet" below.
The
basic layout
of this project includes all
of the elements of an ideal outdoor living space: a kitchen, a bath, a
dining area,
a bed (of sorts) and seating areas. There is a raised
seating deck surrounding the new cooking pit, a
scored concrete slab, and the grill enclosure is made of brick with
wooden preparation and staging
surfaces. Behind the grill enclosure is a long, narrow platform under
an existing crepe myrtle tree, a veritable chaise longue with the
addition of cushions. The foot of the "bed" is terminated by an
integrated bench for observing playtime on the adjacent
rope swing or planning the perfect vegetable garden.
What
do you do with $1,000, an existing gas grill and an inherited hot
tub? Why not build a new back yard? Prior to my
intervention,
the rear of this small ranch in Charlotte had a porch which was in
severe disrepair. The grill was heavily weathered and the
enclosure of the whirlpool was falling apart. The existing porch
was entirely dismantled and construction began anew, the primary goal
being to elevate the back yard to something more luxurious and
transcendental. The result is practical, flexible and
enjoyable for all.
Charlotte,
North Carolina
Outdoor
Living On Rama Road
