We would like to enjoy our outdoor patio space as an extention of our indoor living area. Any suggestions for improvements and how to visually connect the two areas?

It used to be that the ultimate was to have a barbecue outside. Now we are designing outdoor kitchens that allow us to take advantage of our great weather all year round. We are creating outside living areas that are similar to our interior kitchen and dining areas, but without walls.

Cooking areas now can have just about any kind of appliance: gas barbecues, gas cook tops, ovens, wood fire pizza ovens, warming drawers, under counter refrigerators, wine colors and dishwashers. You can use tile or stone for countertops with a sink similar to that used inside.

Lighting in these "rooms without walls" can come from an electrical source as well as from candles. There are wonderful decorative string lights and lanterns with candles that can be hung from an overhead trellis for a bit of magic. For heat and a touch of romance, you can have an outdoor wood burning fireplace. Another option is gas heaters, the type used in restaurants.

After working out the functional aspects, you will want to visually tie the indoor and outdoor space together. This can be done with flooring material that is similar - either with color or the same material. For example, if you have used stone inside, you might want to use the same stone or a stone in a similar color tone on the outside. If you have a wood floor inside, you could tie the two areas together with terra-cotta tiles in a similar color. This connects the two areas and creates a visually larger space.

I would also suggest using patio furniture that relates to the style and color tone of the interior furniture. For example, if you have clean, contemporary, wood furniture inside, you might want to use simple teak furniture outside. A more Mediterranean interior might relate better to iron furniture outside. If you have a well covered overhang, you have more options for the type of furniture you can use.

Colors and patterns also tie the two areas together. The choice of color for the fabric used on the exterior furniture should relate to the color palette inside as well as to the design.

You can also unite the interior and exterior spaces with accessories and plants that have a similar flair: plant containers, table ware, candle holders, lanterns, to name a few. Don't forget lots of potted plants, colorful table cloths and vines growing overhead on trellises and lots of flowers.

What you use outside needs to hold up to the elements, so your choices will be different from inside. However, the common link will be the use of similar materials, styles and colors to create a visual flow.