Indoor/outdoor living in a not-so-big backyard

When Karen and Ed Koijane set out to remodel their home, they knew their outdoor space would be key. “We wanted to adapt the backyard to enjoy more of an indoor/outdoor lifestyle,” said Karen. “In our area, most of the older homes are quite small, and people try to utilize the outdoor space since our weather allows for year-round enjoyment.” The pair turned to architects Tony Garcia, AIA, and Jessie Whitesides, NCARB, of Asquared Studios for help creating the right design.

Here’s a look at the details that make indoor/outdoor living so seamless in their remodeled home.

Part of creating a design that would suit the Koijanes’ needs in the shorter term, while their teenage son is still living at home, and into the future, was getting the scale of the remodel exactly right. “People often make assumptions about what’s needed to live,” Garcia said. Instead of taking those assumptions at face value, Garcia and the couple took a hard look at priorities and concluded “the existing perimeter was as much as they needed.” The resulting design brings the home up to today’s living standards with a more open layout, tons of clever storage, and a premium outdoor space.

The right door was key to the remodel. A five-panel Folding Outswing door added to the back of the couple’s family room opens up an entire wall to sunlight, fresh air, and backyard access. Garcia designed a raised deck immediately adjacent to the house, so there’s no change in elevation when you step outside. And the decking material matches the tone of the floors inside, so it’s as seamless visually as it is physically. Best of all, when the doors are open, it expands the family's living space by uniting indoors and outdoors.

The couple’s urban lot might be modest in size, but it feels bigger. The reason? It features distinct spaces, including a lounge area that’s really an extension of the family room when the Folding Outswing door is open. There’s a small-scale “spool” (splashpad/pool) that fits the space just right. And because the couple loves cooking and entertaining, there’s an outdoor kitchen with a grill and an island that’s equipped with a sink, food prep area, and high-top seating. Changes in elevation, variations in flooring materials, and built-in planter boxes all help to define these outdoor “rooms.”

The Spanish eclectic style of the home was one of the characteristics the couple wanted to preserve and enhance throughout the remodel. And Garcia didn’t just do that indoors, he also brought the aesthetic to the outdoors where he added details like patterned tile around the rim of the swimming pool, terracotta-style tiling in the outdoor kitchen, and aquamarine window and door frames. Even the grilles on the patio doors are a reference to the historic roots of this style.

While the Koijanes’ locale in San Diego makes year-round indoor/outdoor living possible, a warm climate is not required to create a strong connection to the outdoors. (Just ask Michelle Adams or Hilton Carter!)