Project Feature: ‘The Church Summer Kitchen,’ Where Old-World Charm Meets Modern Outdoor Living
With Pennsylvania bluestone pavers and Herringbone-patterned brick, Penn Stone helped give this outdoor entertaining space a comfortable feel for gathering with family and friends.
We love working alongside homeowners who love the outdoors as much as we do.
For our customers in Millersville, PA, with their expansive property and beautiful views of the Lancaster County countryside, their outdoor space is the family’s favorite place to spend time together.
Yet, despite their love for their backyard, the space was missing some important attributes.
“We had no permanent place to put the pizza oven, and when friends and family came over, we had to set up a table and chairs on our lawn so we could eat outside,” said the homeowner.
Aspiring to create the perfect outdoor space, our customer reached out to architect Kevin Ohlinger to help bring their dream to reality.
An Outdoor Living Dream Come True
Together, the homeowners and architect worked through various patio design concepts and hardscaping placement options. The result was the stunning European-style open-air structure they now refer to as “La Cuisine ete D’eglise” — French for “The Church Summer Kitchen,” in honor of its chapel-like aesthetic.
“It was designed to look like a chapel that has been here for years, and our home was built around it. It really complements our house.”
Built by Simeral Construction, the approximately 500-square-foot building exudes a medieval essence with parapet walls, stone and stucco wall finishes, and floors of Pennsylvania bluestone pavers and brick laid in a herringbone pattern. It was here that the contractor connected with our Penn Stone team to find the best bluestone and brick for the project.
The contractor sourced many of the hardscaping materials from Penn Stone, working with our design advisor, Amy Bitar.
“We wanted finishes that would stand the test of time,” our customer said. “We also wanted all-natural materials and zero maintenance. Our bluestone and brick pavers were the perfect choices.”
With the help of Penn Stone’s outdoor furniture specialist, they selected tables, chairs, lighting fixtures, and decor to complete the space.
“We especially love the table. It’s completely aluminum, so it’s lightweight and durable, but the top looks like marble,” they shared. ”Laura has a very good eye for design and is skilled at identifying products that will work well in a space.”
While the new outdoor living space has old-world charm, its outdoor kitchen and dining area have all the modern conveniences needed for entertaining.
One of the best parts of the project: the customer’s wood-fired pizza oven — previously purchased from Penn Stone — finally has a home.
“We’re able to make much more than just pizza in it. You can use it to cook meats and vegetables, too. We use it in various ways and now enjoy cooking outdoors as much as we can.”
Enjoying Special Moments — Season After Season
Since the completion of ‘The Church Summer Kitchen,’ the family has been enjoying life outdoors nearly every day. And, with gas-fired heaters installed to keep things warm, they can extend their time watching football games on the big screen – even on mild winter days.
“It allows us to fully appreciate outdoor living.”
But, the most gratifying part of the space is inviting friends and family to enjoy it with them.
“We hosted a swimming and pizza party for our granddaughter’s confirmation class, and when our friend’s daughter got married, we had her entire bridal party here before the wedding. Getting to share our favorite space with family and friends is the reason it’s so special.”
To experience the many hardscaping and masonry materials and outdoor living products Penn Stone has to offer, visit our showroom at 190 West Ross Street in Lancaster.
