At first glance, it was hard to tell if the remodeled patio was truly outdoors. With a ceiling and three enclosed sides, it appeared to be a living room—until a closer look revealed a built-in BBQ and the fourth side completely open to the elements. Interior designer PJ Hurst and the homeowners had pulled off a kind of design alchemy, transforming a once stark, chaotic covered patio into what Hurst described as an “outdoor sculptural entertaining retreat.”
“We loved the house when we bought it, but we never liked the patio—it was unusable,” said Jenny Lanker, who, along with her husband Greg, purchased the home in West Bend in 2019. The home’s covered patio “had no charm, felt cold, had stainless steel counters and a metal fireplace that was already rusting,” she added.
The upcoming wedding of their son sparked a year-long burst of activity to make over the existing patio into a pre-wedding party space, as well as a place for family and friends to gather around the fireplace or watch football on TV. As owners of Area Rug Connection, the Lankers had helped many clients beautify their homes. However, they sought an expert for this project to collaborate on the design and functionality.
Connecting Two Outdoor Entertainment Areas
“We reimagined the outdoor entertaining patio to blend sculptural artistry, modern luxury, function and natural beauty seamlessly,” Hurst said. Both outdoor spaces, one covered and the other open air, are connected with a thoughtfully designed kitchen-style peninsula island between them. With bar stools all around, the island creates a central hub where guests can interact from multiple vantage points—whether facing inward to converse with someone tending the built-in grill or outward toward the exterior dining table.
Making a Dull Space Sparkle
The design team preserved the covered patio’s original walls and ceilings, but little remains of the former design. Anchoring the space is a hand-fluted fireplace—a concrete wonder, designed by Hurst and created by Francois Schneyder of Coalesce Concrete in Bend. “It’s sculptural artistry and a focal point,” Hurst said. “Two windows flank it with beautiful, serene views to the outside.”
Schneyder cast the fireplace, including the front and two sides, as a monolithic piece. “Such intricate pieces require a massive investment in time,” he said, noting that he lost sleep for weeks leading up to its transport from his shop to the Lankers’ home. “So much time and love go into producing something like that, and you put it on the line when you move it into place. But it went off flawlessly.”
He also crafted concrete benches that curve along the walls, with fluting that echoes the fireplace design. That same vertical fluting carried over to the chair slats and the island’s support and lower “kick,” tying together key elements throughout the remodel.
“Projects like this are fun because you create something unique and irreplaceable,” Schneyder said.
To extend the seasons in the covered outdoor zone, Hurst and the homeowners chose materials designed to withstand the elements. They installed a rough, hammered quartzite for the rounded peninsula island countertop and cabinetry explicitly rated for exterior use.
“It looked like a crazy, complicated remodel at first, but when you break it down step by step and have the right team in place, it really wasn’t that challenging,” said general contractor Ryan Frank of Upright Build Co. The project was completed in time for the a family wedding and has become what Frank referred to as “a perfect blend of outdoor living for Oregon that can be enjoyed year-round.”
Interior designer: PJ Hurst, PJ Hurst DESIGN LLC | Builder: Ryan Frank, Upright Build Co. | Concrete artistry: Francois Schneyder, Coalesce Concrete | Rugs, pillows and furniture accessories: Area Rug Connection
