Located in a historic suburban neighborhood outside of Boston, this timeless outdoor space was designed with entertaining in mind. The homeowners desired to extend their living area into the outdoors by maximizing space and functionality for hosting friends and family. In collaboration with Urban Bonfire’s design specialists, Bell Design Studios brought the vision to life while maintaining the charming character found in the neighborhood’s colonial-style homes.

Emily Bell, Founder and Principal of Bell Design Studios explains, “The homeowners wanted an outdoor living room for guests to spread out and entertain while accommodating large and small gatherings through multiple seasons.”

The L-shaped kitchen design, anchored by a large Blaze grill, maximizes flexibility in this long, narrow space by allowing separate cooking and entertaining areas. The entertainment area includes double freezers and refrigeration for dedicated food and beverage storage for larger parties to keep foot traffic out of the house.

Complementing the thoughtfully designed kitchen elements, the deck is covered by a roof and partial pergola with overhead heating for improved comfort during various seasons. “A gas fireplace was integrated at the far end of the deck to encourage full use of the space and allow for multiple seating areas with different intended uses, such as chaise lounges for sunning, Adirondacks for enjoying the fire on a chilly evening, and a table and chairs for covered dining,” added Emily Bell.

Given the historic nature of the area and the coastal environment, Bell Design Studios worked to create a minimalistic aesthetic with materials that deliver exceptional durability.

To make the homeowner’s dream a reality, Bell Design Studios partnered with several local professionals, including Cebulla Construction, Boston Building Consultants, Lenahan’s Landscaping, and dealer partner Yale Appliance.