He loves cooking, she loves to entertain; together, this couple created an outdoor space perfect for both of them!
When it comes to get-togethers, the Flynn residence has always been the place to be. Jeannie and Kirk love it when their home is bustling with guests and when they bought their new house in Springs in 2016, they were especially excited about the potential of the large yard for entertaining – so much so that they got stuck into a makeover the day after moving in.
“We live in such a great climate and love to entertain outdoors so when we moved in, we knew we had to make our yard a priority,” says Jeannie. The couple wanted to create a large area where guests can relax around a fire. For Kirk, a chef, it was vital that there was a space in which to prepare food, without always having to pop into the indoor kitchen. He also wanted to be part of the action while cooking up a storm!
Hard at work
The yard was a blank canvas with a large patch of grass in the middle surrounded by greenery; a syringa tree provides plenty of shade. With help from Kirk’s dad Mike, the family’s DIY guy, the Flynn family spent every Saturday for a full year transforming the space.
They had their work cut out for them: jobs included making and erecting the steel outdoor kitchen; making and decorating the large, horseshoe-shaped seating area and fire pit; as well as landscaping. A lot of the materials were upcycled from Mike’s previous projects.
“Unfortunately, Mike had a shoulder operation soon after the renovation began, so Kirk really took charge in a big way,” says Jeannie. “Our two-year-old son Liam loved ‘helping’ us outside every weekend. We actually all miss those Saturdays now…”
The vision
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