Designer and outdoor expert Kerrie Kelly offers key things to consider when tackling exterior projects.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
As the nation prepares for the unofficial start of summer — Memorial Day weekend — designer Kerrie Kelly, FASID, CAPS, creative director and principal of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab in Sacramento, Calif., took some time to discuss key elements that make a great outdoor living space.
NKBA: What’s the first thing clients need to know when they come to you inquiring about an outdoor kitchen project?
Kerrie Kelly: Before designing an outdoor kitchen, clients will want to decide where they would like to build it. Some place their outdoor kitchen close to the house on an existing patio or along the home’s exterior walls, while others prefer a set-up further from the home for a more intimate experience. We ask clients to take note of the existing utility lines and understand which they may need so those installation costs can be included in the budget estimate. If they would like their outdoor kitchen to have running water, they’ll need to ensure that the proper plumbing lines are installed. The same is true for gas or electric-powered appliances.
The use of color in textiles, surfaces and even appliances personalizes an outdoor space, as in these settings from RTA (above) and Hestan (below), with which Kerrie Kelly recently signed as a Design Partner.
NKBA: Stainless steel is an obvious choice for outdoor cabinetry because of its durability, but what are some other choices in materials that will hold up as well, but might have a warmer aesthetic?
KK: Stainless steel cabinets are no longer limited to reflecting that commercial brushed chrome aesthetic. Companies like RTA, Hestan Commercial Corp. and Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens have introduced color and texture in both the kitchen island body and drawer fronts. Clients can experience the tried-and-true durability of stainless steel while personalizing their outdoor kitchen with simulated concrete, stacked stone or wood finishes and powder coated color details that not only withstand the outdoor elements, but are beautiful and inviting.
NKBA: What are top considerations when adding color in the outdoor environment?
KK: Color isn’t just limited to throw pillows, rugs and umbrellas. Brands like Cosentino offer a wide range of Dekton colors and finishes for UV-ray, weather-proof countertops, while Hestan offers its outdoor appliances in 12-show-stopping colors to create an outdoor environment that is just your style.
NKBA: What smart-home technology has found its way to the backyard?
KK: Whether an intimate dinner for two or a neighborhood get-together, entertaining has never been more popular for our outdoor spaces. For some clients, this means creating an attractive backyard oasis with user-friendly pool and spa automation while enjoying environmental controls to set the perfect mood with audio and lighting. When it comes to entertainment, clients also consider motorized screens and a projector that bring the home theater experience outdoors. In smaller areas, clients breathe life into patios, balconies and gardens with layers of accent lighting and weather-resistant, high-performance audio for a striking, multi-media landscape. In my own home, we recently installed a motorized awning so we can spend more time on our side patio while controlling the sun and shade.
My current favorite smart-home accessory that’s easily integrated outdoors is the Plum Wine dispenser. Plum uses technology to perfectly store two bottles of wine for up to 90 days. The unit serves as a virtual sommelier that provides details about the wine on a digital screen, based on the label information. It keeps track of different wine varietals and identifies the perfect temperature to preserve and serve the wine. The touchscreen provides all the details of the wine and allows you to identify how much you’d like to pour: 1 oz. for a taste or 5 oz. for a pour. It’s a great way to allow guests to dispense the wines themselves. Additionally, we are seeing a rise in voice-activated faucets and larger indoor and outdoor appliances that incorporate smart technology, with lots of requests for precision temperature cooking.
NKBA: What is a “no-no” in outdoor design today, or something that used to be popular that just doesn’t work anymore?
KK: With so many manufacturer innovations and an overall focus on health and wellness, to ignore your outdoor space these days is simply a waste. While our outdoor spaces may have been an area of the home we will get to designing “someday,” this additional square footage is now celebrated as an extension of our homes where we can rest, relax and entertain al fresco while taking in fresh air and Vitamin D.
About Kerrie Kelly:
In addition to creative director and principal of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, Kelly is an NKBA Global Connect Advisor, a Houzz Advisory Board member, a Fellow and Chair for the National Board of the American Society of Interior Designers. She’s a multimedia consultant and among her many regular contributions, she writes a monthly design column for Style Media Group and serves on the Editorial Board of Furniture, Lighting & Décor, and is a speaker and on-air personality for Outdoor Living and Livable Design. She is the author of Home Decor: A Sunset Design Guide and Pearson Education’s MyInteriorDesignKit.
She also has collaborations and licenses with a number of top industry brands, including Robern, Kohler, Crossville Tile, Milgard Windows, Sherwin-Williams, Coyote Outdoor Living, Tile Bar, Feizy Rugs, Mendota Hearth, the #BlondeFox accessory collection with GO Home Ltd. She also just signed on as a Design Partner with Hestan.
Kelly is also a national trendspotter for Cosentino, highlighting its new products and collaborating to create the surfacing giant’s Albedo countertop.
