An Outdoor Kitchen Dream Come True

When Morgan and Gonzalo (Gonzo) Sanchez were designing their dream home, the one nonnegotiable was an outdoor kitchen — specifically a quincho, a gathering space with a coal- or wood-fired grill. Gonzo is from Paraguay, and he and Morgan lived in Mexico before moving to Austin in 2018, so they wanted to include a Latin American–style entertaining space in their renovation. “Honestly, this kitchen was more important than the indoor one!” Morgan says. Gonzo will spend all day here grilling meat while she and the kids splash around in the pool. To create the “modern hacienda” look they wanted, the couple hired designers Adam Talianchich and Ashley Menger, who suggested the bold tile floors and painted bricks. “We were heavily influenced by our time in Mexico,” Morgan says, “and we wanted to bring that experience back here.”

A Statement Wall

These bricks look like terra-cotta, but they’re concrete painted Certain Peach by Sherwin-Williams. The Sanchezes created the triangle design with Original Mission Tile, and now the company sells the bricks online. “They add color and shade but allow the covered areas to breathe,” Morgan says. She painted the other walls Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore. “I wanted all the black to act like mascara to punctuate the brick.”

Bold Flooring

“You see lots of blue in Mexico City,” says Morgan of the inspiration for the floor tiles (also from Original Mission Tile). She and Gonzo laid them in a random pattern for an informal feel. The custom cypress cabinets are topped with black granite counters that have a leathered finish. “They are inexpensive, look cool and hold up to the elements,” Gonzo says.

Smart Design

Gonzo’s parilla is from Gaucho Grills. He can raise and lower the grill plates using the crank on the side. Three small Emerson Tilo ceiling fans help keep bugs away. Another clever move: The bottom drawers are actually drink fridges!

Snug Seating

The cypress dining table, designed by the couple’s friend, is only 32 inches wide, so it keeps guests close. “This place is about getting people together to enjoy one another’s company,” Gonzo says. The outdoor chairs are from Article, and the black metal pendants are from Luminaire Authentik.

A Place to Lounge

The Sanchezes used Texas Tiny Pools to put in their 10-foot-by-15-foot gunite pool. “The kids love it, but it’s definitely not a kiddie pool,” Morgan says. In the winter, they crank the heater and it becomes an oversize hot tub for adults. The aluminum chaise lounges are from Overstock, and the patio umbrella is from The Home Depot. Landscape architect Alyssa James helped find plants that could survive long, hot Austin summers, like these native nopal cacti.