Cooking. Outdoor barbecue areas can be plain or elaborate. With a simple barbecue counter, easy access to the kitchen is important. A barbecue area that includes sink, refrigerator, and other conveniences may become almost a kitchen in its own right and can be farther away. The barbecue should be convenient to use, but avoid making it part of the view from the living room. Keeping warm. A growing trend in California, completely in the spirit of outdoor gathering spaces in this climate, is the outdoor wood- or gas-fired fireplace. The gentle heat it provides makes it possible to linger outside for several hours longer than would otherwise be possible, and it is unmatched as a conversational focal point. Georgie Kajer and Scott Uriu are architects in Pasadena, Calif.
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