Photos Spacecrafting
Soon after settling into their new Edina home, the Coplean family turned their attention to their backyard. Although the lot was lush with mature trees and offered plenty of space for their young children to play, its slanted topography proved an unexpected challenge. “Anytime it rained, our backyard would become a muddy, soggy mess,” the homeowners explain. “We knew we needed a whole yard makeover to make it functional.”
With the help of Becca Bastyr, senior landscape designer at Mom’s Design Build, the Copleans arrived at a solution: a three-tiered layout with a comfortable lounge area perfect for conversation, a seating area for outdoor dining, and a space dedicated to food prep—complete with a grill and fridge.
A transparent fireplace sits between the living and dining spaces, carefully positioned to serve both tiers. On one side, a built-in annual planter holds gorgeous blooms, and on the other, a short series of steps leads down to the dining area. Beneath the dining table, a triple diamond inlay pattern in the patio tile subtly echoes the angled arch of the fireplace, as well as the linear design of the Hinkley chandelier hanging overhead.
Taking inspiration from the couple’s honeymoon destination, Santorini, Greece, Bastyr painted the fireplace and kitchen brick white for a clean, crisp finish and incorporated a Grecian design motif into the decorative panels beneath the deck. “The patio is bluestone mixed with Greydon sandstone for those cool blues and grays,” she explains. “Paired with the warm wood of the pergola, it helps create that Mediterranean vibe.”
On the next landing down is the kitchen area, outfitted with solid bluestone countertops, Lynx appliances, and two pull-out bins for trash and recycling. Twinkling cafe lights, heaters to extend the life of the family’s patio season, and an attractive path from the front yard to the back are what make the space especially inviting.
“We truly weren’t expecting the elite design Becca brought to us, but we were hooked from the moment she showed it to us,” the Copleans say. “We feel so lucky we found Mom’s—they gave us our favorite part of our house!”
[Related: The Singing Garden: A Backyard Sanctuary for Birds & Blooms]
3 Pro Tips for Planning an Outdoor Kitchen
When planning your dream outdoor kitchen, this expert guidance can bring you toward patio perfection:
- Be transported: “I ask clients if there are any places they’ve been to that they really like, or what kind of areas they’ve seen out in the world that they’re attracted to,” Bastyr says. “Is it Paris? Madrid? New York? That can be the catalyst for figuring out your color and material palette.”
- To sink or not to sink: “People often ask for a sink in their outdoor kitchen,” Bastyr says. “With the water line and winterizing, they can be expensive and high-maintenance, so I suggest a drop-in ice bin with a drain instead for storing and keeping drinks chilled.”
- Practical makes perfect: Make sure you keep basic necessities in mind such as storage and trash. “In my first project I ever did, I forgot about trash,” Bastyr admits. “When I visited them later, they had a plastic bin sitting out on their patio. After that, I’ve never forgot!”
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