Alfresco living

Lounging by the pool takes on a whole new meaning when you have everything you need right at hand be it a cold drink, hot coffee or snack.

This second kitchen, in a waterfront vacation home in Florida, is aptly called the outdoor kitchen by the owners. The kitchen is part of a family living and dining area that opens up to the pool terrace large glass sliding doors are hidden in pockets when open.

Kitchen designer Heather Hungeling of Clive Christian says the kitchen was designed in order to cater to informal entertaining around the pool.

"It's a very casual space with a barbecue grill and a high-powered wok burner rather than an oven," she says. "It's a place to prepare hamburgers and hotdogs or to grab a soda."

The kitchen features Clive Christian Edwardian cabinetry in Contemporary White with flat, recessed door panels, and Verde Laguna granite countertops. These match the surfaces in the more formal main kitchen.

The perimeter cabinets are paired with a furniture-style walnut island with an iroko teak butcher's block.

"The legs on the island stop it looking too heavy, so the space is light and airy," says the designer.

For visual consistency, the kitchen features stonework that is similar to the detailing in other rooms. A limestone hearth-style cooking center with a decorative tile backsplash also complements the Mediterranean architecture of the house.

Rather than having a large refrigerator, the designer chose refrigerator drawers, which are integrated into the cabinets. A bank of overhead cabinets with internal power outlets accommodates countertop appliances, including a coffee maker.

There is open shelving for glassware beside these cabinets, and a small sink in the countertop, which serves as an informal butler's pantry.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: John Umberger