Knock, Knock. May We Come In?
Time to add more loveliness to my series featuring real people and design. Nothing contrived, nothing staged. Just lovely people, unique styles and lots of personality.
A few years ago my husband was part of a panel debate at a hightech conference in LA. The moderator of the panel was a well respected market analyst — Monica.
Last year my husband contacted her again for something business related and would you know she lives with her husband down the road from us in Seattle. Literally 3 minutes away!
Monica and Dan graciously invited us over for dinner.
Here were the instructions:
Pass the garage and the main house.
Take the side door into the garden and bring a flash light!
Follow the pathway to the very back of the garden.
In the very back you will see a green house. That is where we will be having dinner.
Do you know what they built in their backyard? A …
Not a barbeque. Not a fire pit. Nope, a Pizza Kitchen! With pull up garage doors, concrete floors and an imported Italain pizza oven. Monica is from Italy so it all makes sense.
We had great time and ate the best pizzas in town with toppings galore! It was a social and fun evening! (You will have to imagine this place at night around the pizza oven with candles on the table and the doors open to a lovely lit backyard).
William and I trotted down the other day to take some daytime pictures.
Most of the ingredients on the house pizzas come from their own garden. What a lovely way of living!
They also use their pizza oven to make lovely home made bread and wonderful desserts.
I really enjoyed putting together this post. I love anything that is unique, authentic and personal. A private Pizza Kitchen – how fun!
Warm hugs to you all.
All images via Splendid Willow/Monica & Dan
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What a unique idea! It looks like great fun and what a cool way for them to entertain guests…those garage doors are very hip, too…fun post!
Barbara@HausDesign recently posted..The Romance Of Lanterns: Part I
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What a fantastic idea and how fun for parties! I just discovered your lovely blog – I am from seattle but now living in Singapore.
xo Allison
Spicer + Bank
Allison Egan recently posted..Inspired IKEA: Eclectic Living Room
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Monika,
Building a pizza house in your garden instead of a barbecue house is a very unique idea!! I defintely must ask Jan to think about a second outbuilding in our garden! Yes a pizza area!!! How fun!!
The pizzas looked delicious!! And William is adorable!
xx
Greet
Greet recently posted..Sharing a latest Lefèvre Interiors project
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You bring joy to my mornings by sharing fabulous and unique design ideas! Today is most special to see a recent picture of handsome William! He is adorable! Kisses to all ! Great garden! Something I don’t see in Florida and do miss!
Sonia
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Wow, what a great idea!!
Dearest Mon, thanks for sharing inspiration and beauty. And prince William – I just wanna hug him and the rest of the family and never let go. Miss U so much!! Hugs from all of us to all of you xxx
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Get out of town! This is crazy amazing! I want one!!!!!!! How incredible is this? I would be back there all day and night whipping up every type of pizza known to mankind:) My family would wonder what happened to me….lol. This is truly incredible!
The enchanted home recently posted..Things I am loving Thursday and house updates!
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Wow!!! Thank you for sharing this awesome post!!! I would LOVE to have wine and pizza there!
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Crazy!
And its a GORGEOUS pizza kitchen at that!!!
Shannon(8foot6) recently posted..Dinner time!
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That is a first for me! What a fantastic idea though, and so pretty. Lucky you to have a pizza kitchen so close by!
barbara@hodge:podge recently posted..Featured on Apartment Therapy
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holy cow, I am so incredibly jealous! What a great job they did on the design of the PK and the garden. Perfect!
brianne @ the ravenna girls recently posted..Thursday already?
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What a wonderful way of entertaining! Jealous.
William is so handsome!
JC
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What a wonderful idea!! Yummy!
Gina
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Wow, you weren’t wrong, this place is AWESOME! I love it! This is soooo me
Next time please bring us along 
Delishhh recently posted..Shortbread Cookies
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I love this. I need to meet them…this is so in the LIVE LIKE YOU spirit! Great post. Kram!
LiveLikeYou recently posted..Design consultation & visit to NY
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what a dream come true that would be…like a little italian trattoria/pizzaria in your backyard. and romantic!
how fun and inspiring, mon. and beautiful photography–i’m starved!
lovelovelove
michele
michele@hellolovelyinc recently posted..chicago DREAM home {Michael Abrams}
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Such a great idea and what a wonderful way to dine!
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Wow Monika,
This is the coolest! Now, I need a pizza kitchen…someday. I would never leave home if I had this in my life.
Your William is delicious. Hope you are having a great Fall.
xo
Kari
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That is awesome….ok so I’m somewhat of a neighbor..as in Gig Harbor, can I come next time??
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Mon, this is such a wonderful post! I am glad I visit your blog today! I love how you keep us all in suspense with the pictures and intro and then BAM!, there is the fabulous pizza kitchen! What a great idea! I would love to have a meal there, you are so lucky, girl! That pizza looks so good! And William is such a handsome boy!
P/S: Come by and enter my giveaway for a chance to win a stylish book: ‘Shoestring Chic’ by Kerrie Hess!
http://www.mixandchic.com/2011/09/giveaway-shoestring-chic.html
Jessie
http://www.mixandchic.com
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Brilliant and quirky idea! Love the whole concept of a private ‘pizza hut’ in the back yard. I’ve seen stone ovens by the pool but not this!
Marshall and Oscar would never leave.. they are pizza lovers galore!
KRAM
C
Charlotta recently posted..Restraint..
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Ok, this would make my husband officially inspired! He already wants to build a pre-fab shed somewhere as a vacation home… a pizza kitchen isn’t too far off!
Lovely xo
Kristina
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What a treat…love the idea of a pizza kitchen and such a beautiful stroll through the garden to get there!!
designchic recently posted..Unreachable
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Hi Monika!
This might be the coolest thing I have EVER seen. YUM. I love pizza enough that this makes sense.
Your little man is adorable.
Hope your weekend is great!
Amy
Amy Vermillion @ Martineau Vermillion Interior Design recently posted..I Must Find A Good Book And A Reading Nook
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William’s sweet smile says it all – wonderful! xoo
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Um, can I tell you how much I would love to have a pizza kitchen in my house?!!
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Hello Monika!!
I’ve missed you so much! In between all of this wedding craziness (had no clue Spanish weddings can be so intense) I have been thinking of you often and I hope that we can chat very soon. Today I will be at the *new* little shop (only stopping in to help once a month though if needed) but will be home tonight—may I give you a call?
As for this place—oh my! What a beautiful property and a great concept. When I read that Monica is Italian, the entire place, cooking and style made perfect sense! It is perfection. (as is the pizza—delicious) I really like the modern look of it, yet it feels so cozy, light and open… and William is a darling—what a sweet face!
Talk soon & wishing you and your family a wonderful Saturday.
Much love, Sarah
Sarah Klassen recently posted..Shop: PRIVÉ
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This is such a fantastic and unique idea, I’ve never seen anything like it! And of course now I am hungry, those pizzas look amazing
Nancy xo
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Little William is so cute and that pizza looks delicious!
Hope you’ve had a great weekend.
xo E + J
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That is simply too wonderful! Janell
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This place looks amazing! Love the idea of a pizza kitchen in the back yard. Yum!
Marianne {Style For Living} recently posted..Pumpkin Spice Muffins
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Incredible! Thanks for sharing.
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How fabulous is this??? I was a goner at the garage doors. The garden, the tomatoes and then, a pizza house? It’s really too much for words. Great post.
Edwina@FASHION+ART recently posted..Keep Moving FORWARD!
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oh my, what a dream!!!
paula recently posted..Black & White {plus a StyleMint tee}
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