Chattanooga Living Al Fresco

“Before, we didn’t use our deck that much, but now, if I had to guess, I would say that we use our outdoor spaces 70 percent more. Now we have people over for wine-tasting parties. We love that.” – Raymond Edler

Raymond Edler and his wife, Sondra, once dreamed of surrounding their East Brainerd home with lively, organic outdoor living spaces – serene settings for dining al fresco, sipping wine underneath a million twinkling Tennessee stars, and cozy, open-air entertaining by a crackling fire pit. In 2008, working closely with Craig Design Group, the Edler’s transformed their once-blah backyard into an outdoor retreat reflecting their passion for nature and their penchant for entertaining friends and family.

“We are outdoor people who love to entertain,” explains Edler. “So we extended the comfort and luxury of our home into the great outdoors, and we love it. “Before, we didn’t use our deck that much, but now, if I had to guess, I would say that we use our outdoor spaces 70 percent more,” Edler says. “Now we have people over for wine-tasting parties. We love that.”

Their dreamy backyard design includes all the bells and whistles – a lofty cedar pergola with rustic beams, a network of stone retaining walls, Brazilian Ipe decking, iron accent railings, plenty of pavers, patio heaters, a fire pit, an impressive outdoor kitchen area, meticulous landscaping, well-placed lighting and many other features that have the Edlers and their guests lingering longer outdoors.

“I love to cook, so the outdoor kitchen is perhaps my favorite element of the entire yard,” says Edler, who grew up in the restaurant business in Louisiana. “The outdoor kitchen space is the focal point of our yard. It just pulls everyone to it like a magnet.”

The Edler’s house features an expansive backyard living space, including a well-appointed kitchen (pictured here), fire pit, covered deck and patio.

Chillin’ and Grillin’

Although the popularity of all types of functional outdoor living space is on the rise, landscape designers, architects, and builders around Chattanooga report a sharp surge in requests for outdoor kitchens.