Reason for redecorating: Lisa Bryant said she and her husband, Glenn, wanted to have an outdoor living room instead of just ”a grill stuck out on the back deck.” ”We had a very small patio, and we cooked out of lot and spent a lot of time out here with friends,” she said. ”It was a very small space, and it wasn’t very functional.”
Contractor: Outdoor Living Areas Inc. handled the renovation, which took about three weeks to complete. Scot Thompson oversaw the construction of the project and helped design it with Johnathan Messner. Lisa Bryant picked the deck furniture.
Before the renovation: The Bryants had a 10-by-10 foot concrete patio with a brick and stainless steel grill. The patio was surrounded by grass.
Solid ground: The grass and concrete were replaced with two-to-three inch cuts of Alabama brown flagstone. Tuscan mixed mortar was stained to match the mortar on the Bryants’ home. The brown flagstone was chosen to coordinate with the existing rock wall, which is made of Alabama sandstone. Flagstone pavers provide a path from the walkway to the outdoor living area. Built-in drainage keeps the space from flooding.
Fireplace: ”You don’t have to be a Boy Scout every time you’re building a fire,” said Lisa. The gas lighter stays on until the logs are lit, which is a much easier way to start a fire than using a match and crumpled paper, Lisa said.
What’s cooking?: The kitchen area includes a new Fire Magic grill with a rotisserie. There’s a sink so the Bryants have access to water when cooking and a handy space for logs for the fireplace. Lisa grows oregano, parsley and rosemary in a nearby container. Lisa uses the fresh herbs when cooking and grilling.
Lighting: Low-voltage Alliance area lighting is mounted in the flagstone wall and on the arbor in the kitchen area.
Landscaping: Plants such as limelight hydrangeas were chosen because they would stay green year-round. They surround the outdoor living area, and containers of purple fountain grass, sun coleus, sweet potato vine and palms decorate the area.
– Linda Robbins, Birmingham News
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