Posts Tagged ‘outdoor kitchens’

Choosing the Best Patio Materials for Your Home

Picking the right kind of patio materials for your home is as important as choosing a bed for your bedroom (especially if you like sleeping under the stars). In the quest for the perfect house, you should always look for an enjoyable, cozy, and reliable patio that will compliment your surroundings.

With so many great patio materials to choose from, deciding on one or two of them can pose as a big dilemma. If you already have an idea on the specific layout you want, the budget you are willing to spend, and the needs you want to meet the patio of your dreams is just a few steps away.

Large and lavish patio.

Large and lavish patio.

During a sunny day, or when you feel like enjoying the night air while gazing up at the stars after a long day, very few things can beat the comfort of your own outdoor area. And to achieve the coziness, durability, and beauty you are looking for, choosing the right patio materials is, perhaps, the most important step of all. You also need to think about which patio materials will last longer and what kind of maintenance each type will need.

Your choices:
more »

Outdoor Kitchens: The Joy of Eating Outside

Last week’s granite bar post got us thinking: outdoor kitchens are a pretty nice deal if you can swing it. For every homeowner or homebuyer, outdoor entertaining is a must have in their households.And new trends in design are aiming precisely to open-air constructions of rooms that usually have an indoor concept, entering the kitchen. What most designers and homeowners around the world are discovering is that an outdoor kitchen can be both functional and attractive, not to say original.

A sit down and dine outdoor space.

A sit down and dine outdoor space.

“The outdoor kitchen is not an area looked at as a ‘work’ space, but it is a place to express hospitality and creativity – and to enjoy family and friends”, said Barbara B. Berry, sales associate with Downing-Frye Realty.
more »

Granite Countertops…Outdoors!

Day after day the thermometer seems to poke its head annoyingly above 90. With each passing day the commute to work is filled with more air-conditioned car rides, dry air-conditioned offices, fans blasting at a rate usually seen only in wind farms, and yet when we get home we don’t want to wallow indoors. It’s the summertime! And for those of us who live in the northern states this is our chance to soak up our yards, patios, and outdoor areas to their fullest – regardless of the oppressive heat (just whip up some lemonade).
Although our last post was about things you may want to steer clear of when it comes to extravagantly remodeling, this post is all about excess. While some of us might be content with a patio or a deck, others won’t settle for anything less than the maximum. In this case, going the distance means only one thing: an outdoor kitchen. What do kitchens need? Countertops! Here we go!
The ever-luxurious poolside bar. Some people simply don’t need to cook fanciful meals equipped to please attendees sporting only the highest of brows in an outdoor kitchen – indoors will do them just fine. Some people just want a bar to entertain, a poolside bar at that. It’s a fun feature that turns your backyard/pool area into a veritable summertime destination for family and friends.
Getting creative with your outdoor granite countertops can keep the outdoor kitchen in steady use long into the wintertime. This granite-laden outdoor setup comes equipped with a raised brick oven, perfect for dishing out crisp breads and pizza just a short walk from the home and a short walk to the yard. It’s a great way to incorporate a year round tool into a seasonal setup.
These guys went to all the trouble of installing an outdoor kitchen without considering the most important element of all: the countertop material! As you can see they opted to adorn their outdoor cook-space with plastic countertops, which are not only not as durable, but in our opinions not as attractive. Granite countertops give your outdoor areas that “am I even outdoors?” feel. You’ll see.
So next time you have a boatload of cash lying around and you figure that sprucing up your property is a good use of that surplus take a long hard look at a granite countertop containing outdoor kitchen or bar. They are functional, fun, and a great way to keep yourselves lounging in the backyard just a little bit more. Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Day after day the thermometer seems to poke its head annoyingly above 90. With each passing day the commute to work is filled with more air-conditioned car rides, dry air-conditioned offices, fans blasting at a rate usually seen only in wind farms, and yet when we get home we don’t want to wallow indoors. It’s the summertime! And for those of us who live in the northern states this is our chance to soak up our yards, patios, and outdoor areas to their fullest – regardless of the oppressive heat (just whip up some lemonade).

poolside bar

A decadent poolside bar setup.

more »