"It's an interesting phenomenon," said Michael Glassman, of Sacramento-based Michael Glassman & Associates, who has designed many outdoor spaces, including this one, which is also in Sacramento. "Designers always think about function when designing a kitchen inside the home, but when they step outside to create one, it's that thought that goes right out the door." More than just a pet peeve to Glassman, who has built his award-winning reputation on visualizing a home's exterior as another large room, it's a mistake. "You need to think about how the clients are going to use the space," he said. "Otherwise, you miss the opportunity to capitalize on its potential."