CategoryOutdoor Kitchen Design

How to Choose the Best Outdoor Kitchen Colours

Outdoor kitchens are much more than just a second home cooking space.

The best outdoor kitchens are an extension of the living space that support a homeowner’s lifestyle and enhance their home’s aesthetic appeal.

Choosing the right outdoor kitchen colours is a crucial step in the design process. Any room’s colour scheme plays a huge role in shaping its identity and look.

Why outdoor kitchen colours matter

Well-chosen colours can elevate an ordinary outdoor kitchen aesthetic into something that looks truly extraordinary.

For an outdoor kitchen, the colours chosen should primarily accomplish these four things:

harmonize with its surroundings
be visually appealing
reflect the owner’s personality and style
enhance the outdoor living experience

We’ll show you how to make the right choices for your outdoor kitchen colours by explaining what factors to take into consideration and what the most popular colour schemes are.

6 outdoor kitchen colour considerations

While there are general theories and guidelines about picking proper design colours, it’s a subjective choice. If a certain design theme and colour palette is aesthetically pleasing to you, that’s all that matters.

Several factors will influence which outdoor kitchen colour choices you should make.

1. Complement the surrounding environment

Most people who add an outdoor kitchen to their backyard choose a design theme that complements their home exterior’s overall aesthetic.

Along with the home’s walls and roof, the colours of features like decking, patio stones, fences, landscaping, an overhead covering, and even outdoor furniture should be taken into account.

The natural colours used for this kitchen’s cabinetry beautifully complement the home’s exterior and furniture finish, as well as the scenic setting.

2. Climate and deck/patio location

The climate you live in and the kitchen’s location on your property also play an important role in your colour choices. Consider how the kitchen colours will interact with the environment throughout the year.

Bright, reflective surfaces might be too harsh in a sunny backyard without a kitchen roof, while dark colours will absorb more sunlight and heat up the area faster.

3. Outdoor kitchen materials

A kitchen’s materials and finishes will impact your colour choices. The most popular outdoor kitchen materials are stainless steel, marine-grade aluminum, PVC, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and masonry.

Each one has its own natural colour tone, texture, and reflectiveness and using the right contrasting colours can enhance the beauty of these materials. Many outdoor kitchen products offer an array of stylish colour and finish options.

4. Durability and maintenance

Outdoor kitchen products are designed to withstand the elements, but their durability is dependent on what materials they’re made with and what the quality of those materials is.

Lighter colours may show less wear from UV exposure compared to darker-coloured cabinets. In terms of maintenance, darker colours hide stains and spills more effectively, but both they and lighter-coloured cabinets tend to need more frequent cleaning to remove marks and smudges.

5. How your kitchen will function

If you want a cooking space where functionality is more important than aesthetics, a simple colour theme is probably what you’re after. On the other hand, outdoor kitchen and living spaces have become a part of the home we use more for entertaining.

If you plan to host a lot of backyard cookouts and summer gatherings, you may want your kitchen to have more of a luxury look that has the kind of “wow factor” that impresses guests.

Also consider that outdoor kitchens that incorporate features like a dining space, bar, and outdoor living room will naturally require more planning to create a cohesive design aesthetic.

This outdoor kitchen features natural colours, but has a thoroughly modern look. It’s a spectacular home showpiece that is guaranteed to wow guests.

6. Whether or not you want an indoor-outdoor living space

Indoor-outdoor spaces are one of the biggest trends in outdoor living right now. This concept creates a seamless transition between a home’s interior and an outdoor living space.

If you’re after that type of design, the décor of the indoor area that transitions to your outdoor kitchen provides a logical design blueprint for your colours.

Popular outdoor kitchen colour themes

Outdoor kitchens are a long-term investment, so it’s important to choose colours that will age well. Classic neutrals and natural tones tend to stand the test of time better than trendy, high-saturation colours.

Now that you have a better understanding of what to consider when choosing your outdoor kitchen colours, let’s explore some popular colour themes that can inspire your design.

1. Biophilic/nature-inspired colours

Many of us are paying more attention to our wellness and self-care these days. The spaces we inhabit play a role in aiding our well-being, which is what the increasingly popular biophilic design concept is all about.

Biophilic design incorporates natural elements like greenery, organic materials, natural light, and natural colours into a living space. Research shows this can be beneficial for our mental and physical well-being because creating a stronger connection to nature helps us feel more relaxed.

Earthy colours like brown, tan, and beige are ideal for a nature-inspired outdoor kitchen colour scheme, as well as kitchens with a rustic design style. Whites are also effective when combined with secondary organic tones and natural decorative features like a living green wall with vining plants or some potted plants and flowers.

Using natural colours may be preferable if you live in an urban location where you’re surrounded by large homes and don’t have much yard foliage. A nature-inspired outdoor kitchen colour scheme also blends in well with the surroundings of a rural home that’s surrounded by an abundance of nature.

Elements like the foliage in this colourful outdoor kitchen make us feel more connected to nature.

2. Monochromatic colours

A monochromatic colour scheme uses varying shades of the same colour to add depth and visual interest to a space. Using a palette rooted in one colour helps designers create a balanced, cohesive look.

Monochromatic colour schemes have plenty of versatility and can be used with any hue, whether they’re neutral or vibrant.

Here are some examples of the colour combinations that could comprise a monochromatic colour palette:

sky blue, blue-gray, navy blue
charcoal, light gray, slate
olive green, teal, forest green
off-white, ivory white, alabaster

3. Neutral and muted colours

Neutral colours are favoured for their design versatility and timeless appeal. If you prefer a sophisticated, understated aesthetic, shades such as white, taupe, black, and gray are excellent choices. Minimalist design themes typically use neutral colours.

If subtle shades appeal to you and you want a few more options, consider using muted colours. These are colours that are desaturated, which gives them a more subdued appearance. Primary colours like reds, greens, and blues can be muted to soften their intensity.

4. Adding pops of bold colour

While using a neutral colour scheme is safe and versatile, there’s still room to inject a touch of personality into your design. Tastefully adding playful splashes of bold colours in spaces with predominantly neutral colours creates a striking contrast.

This design strategy may be appealing to those who entertain regularly and want their outdoor kitchen to be a backyard focal point and a conversation starter. The key is not to overdo it, however. You don’t want the vibrant colours you’re using to overwhelm the kitchen space.

Adding pops of colour to an outdoor kitchen can be achieved by buying products with colourful finishes. Some outdoor kitchen appliance manufacturers are catering to the increasing demand for products with colourful finishes. Here are some examples:

Alfresco’s premium ALXE grills come in a variety of vibrant primary colours
Hestan grills feature stylish bold colours on their front accent panels
some pizza ovens come in colourful finishes

Outdoor cabinet and countertop colour ideas

Although we’ve briefly mentioned outdoor kitchen cabinets, this essential part of an outdoor kitchen’s design warrants a little more attention. After all, cabinets have the biggest impact on an outdoor kitchen’s overall aesthetic.

Outdoor cabinets can be found in a wide range of colours and distinctive finishes. Whether you want the natural look of stone, the earthy warmth of wood (using synthetic materials that perfectly replicate wood’s colour and texture), or the sleek, modern aesthetic of stainless steel and aluminum, there’s a style to suit your taste.

Invest in high-quality outdoor kitchen cabinets to give you more colour customization options and to ensure they retain their beautiful appearance for a long time.

Outdoor kitchen countertops, which typically have a solid or stone look, also factor into your colour choices. The countertop colour can boldly contrast the colour of the cabinetry it’s installed on or have a similar or slightly different hue to the cabinets to subtly support the colour palette.

Remember that the countertops and cabinets don’t just have to complement the predominant surrounding features like the flooring and home exterior. They also have to account for how things like appliances and a sink will work aesthetically within the space. Fortunately, stainless steel appliances tend to pair well with most cabinet and countertop colours, adding visually appealing metallic accents.

This dark countertop contrasts nicely with the white cabinets. The grill, side burners, and fridge add tasteful metallic accents.

Make your outdoor kitchen stand out with style

Outeriors carries everything you need to create a dynamic outdoor kitchen space that will become a centrepiece for your home’s outdoor gatherings.

We specialize in designing bespoke outdoor kitchens that give our clients ample creative freedom to choose the colours and design features that will make their backyard space stand out with style.

Schedule a free design consultation with us to begin planning your custom outdoor kitchen.

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9 Spring Backyard Decor Ideas to Spruce up Your Space

As this season of renewal blooms, our homes call out for attention for a refresh and some sprucing up.

All areas of a home need an occasional revamp and that includes the backyard. This spring, why not think beyond just doing the usual tasks to get your backyard ready for the warmer weather?

In addition to spring backyard maintenance essentials like raking leaves and debris, getting your gardens ready, and working on the lawn, put some effort into changing up your backyard’s decor, too.

Try these spring backyard decor ideas

Spring is an ideal time to improve an outdoor space by reimagining and upgrading its decor to make it more comfortable for your family. Making the right changes also boosts your curb appeal, which isn’t just limited to a home’s front exterior.

Backyards offer a wealth of design possibilities to express your personality and create the perfect aesthetic. From making a minor modification like using mulch more decoratively to installing a backyard-transforming outdoor kitchen, there are many ways to approach a backyard decor refresh.

The first thing you’ll want to do is assess your backyard’s strengths and weaknesses to identify areas for improvement. Do certain areas underwhelm in the looks department? Could the whole space benefit by having a more cohesive design or colour scheme?

Use these spring backyard decor ideas to make some noticeable improvements to your home’s exterior space.

1. Spruce up your patio

Some colourful foliage, nice furniture, and a simple outdoor kitchen setup elevate the look of this patio.

For any space’s decor to stand out, an attractive foundation is essential. If you have a patio, for example, the impact of any decorative elements you add to it will be significantly diminished if the patio surface itself doesn’t look great.

Although patios need less maintenance than decks, they still require a little attention following the harsh Canadian winter. To clean green mould, algae, dirt, and other types of surface debris from a concrete, paver stone, brick, or flagstone patio, a pressure washer is effective.

Using a hose with a gentle cleaner and a stiff bristle brush is also fine, but be mindful of the cleaning solutions you use on your patio. Bleach, vinegar, and other common household liquids are commonly used to clean patios. Some of them, along with harsher cleaners, will likely be harmful to nearby plants, flowers, and garden vegetables, however.

When you have a patio, weeds (literally) come with the territory, so you’ll probably need to deal with them in the spring as well. Once again, reconsider using store-bought weed-killer products. They may be effective, but most of them aren’t enviro-friendly. And the less exposure your kids and pets have to such hazardous chemicals, the better.

The best weed removal solution is to do things the old-fashioned way – get down on your hands and knees with a weeding tool and pull the weeds out at the root. This method is more effective at eliminating weeds on a long-term basis compared to other non-chemical weed removal methods like killing them with boiling water.

Most types of patio surfaces should be resealed every two to five years. Resealing helps repel water, slows down the erosion process, helps maintain surface colour, and can add an attractive high-gloss surface finish. Plenty of enviro-friendly patio sealer products are available to buy.

To update a brick or paver stone patio’s look, inject some artistic flair by incorporating coloured bricks or pavers to create visual interest. You can also try creating your own unique patterns with the building materials to give your patio decor a personalized touch.

2. Refresh your deck

Like installing a patio, a deck addition has long been a reliable way to increase a home’s value. Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report calculates the return on investment (ROI) for home improvement projects. Their latest report estimates that deck additions deliver an impressive 82.9% ROI. To ensure the maximum investment return and to keep them looking nice, decks do need regular maintenance, however.

Decks made with composite materials are more low-maintenance compared to wood decking. Composite decking cleans up quickly with some water, a little soap, and a soft bristle brush. A pressure washer can also be used at a low PSI setting.

Wood decks require a bigger time commitment every one to three years for sanding, sealing, and staining to maximize their longevity and preserve their visual appeal. All of that work will be worth it, though. Once that final coat of fresh paint or stain has dried, a properly restored wood deck can look brand new again!

One way to add to a deck’s decor is to have a railing system installed on it. Deck railing gives a deck a completely new look and there are a wide variety of materials and styles available, including:

wood
iron
aluminum
composite materials
glass

Here’s another backyard design idea you may not have considered: having both a deck and a patio. More homeowners are getting patio and deck combinations to maximize their backyard space. Typically, they’ll already have a patio and will add an elevated deck that utilizes the available vertical space at the back of their home.

3. Have an outdoor kitchen installed

The natural elements of a wood gazebo, stone patio, and surrounding greenery are paired with the modern aesthetic of an outdoor kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances and stylish cabinetry. The pops of red on the grill and side burner control panels add a striking contrast.

Backyard upgrades have become a bigger priority in recent years as we look for ways to extend the living space of our homes. Outdoor kitchen additions are an ideal way to make better use of a backyard and they’ve exploded in popularity.

Not only do they expand the usefulness of a home by providing a second cooking space, but outdoor kitchens also offer an abundance of design options to change a backyard’s decor.

A professionally-designed outdoor kitchen has a major impact on a backyard’s aesthetic by changing its layout and adding fresh elements like:

a built-in grill
storage cabinets
appliances
countertops
new lighting

Premium outdoor kitchen products have high aesthetic standards, whether it’s with professional-grade grills, luxurious countertops, or cabinets that rival the aesthetic quality of high-end indoor kitchen cabinets.

We mentioned adding pops of colour to a backyard and even a grill can be used to do this. Considering how virtually all grills come in two colours (stainless steel and black), you may be asking how that’s possible. Premium grill manufacturer Hestan offers a way to create a unique outdoor cooking space look. Hestan grills feature dynamic colour accent panels that come in a range of custom designer colours to complement your backyard decor.

4. Reconfigure your garden setup

One way to rejuvenate a backyard’s look is to reimagine how your gardens are set up. Instead of having several traditional in-ground gardens, reconfigure where your plants, gardens, and veggies grow by incorporating more planters, hanging baskets, and raised garden boxes.

Using them will change the layout of a backyard, partly because they help create more defined zones. A lot of the value of using these different planting methods is the decorative freedom they provide. Planters, in particular, offer lots of decorative functionality because there are so many styles and colours available at your local home improvement stores and even more from online retailers.

Wooden raised garden boxes/beds give a backyard a warmer, more natural feel compared to metal garden boxes. Avoid building with pressure-treated wood because the chemical additives are bad for anything being grown in the bed. These are the best types of wood to use for a raised garden bed:

redwood
cedar
pine
juniper
Douglas fir
white oak

There are two more benefits of growing things in your backyard off the ground: you’ll have fewer weeds to deal with and tending to your plants, flowers, and vegetables will be easier on your back and knees.

5. Upgrade your outdoor living space

The design of this outdoor kitchen and living space heavily incorporates the natural look of wood, which thoughtfully mirrors the home’s exterior aesthetic.

If you had to pick one room in the house where the decor gets the most attention, it’s probably the living room. So why not add a second living room to your home that gives you even more freedom to express your style and personality?

An outdoor kitchen is a worthwhile investment because there’s nothing like cooking outside and spending time with your friends and family when the weather is nice. To make your time outdoors even more enjoyable, consider pairing an outdoor kitchen with a dining and living area.

Investing in a complete outdoor kitchen and living space is one of the most transformative upgrades you can make to improve your family’s home living quality.

During the design process, you can go in a couple of different directions. One of them is to create an outdoor space that functions as a seamless extension of the indoor living space, right down to the decor that is chosen for the exterior area. Another option is to give an outdoor living area its own stylistic identity that complements the design elements around it.

When you’re setting up an outdoor living room, you can put your decorative stamp on the space in many ways. There are a bounty of options with just the patio furniture alone, considering the range of materials available (including aluminum, composite, wood, wicker, plastic, and wrought iron).

A couple more decorative features to consider for an outdoor space are ceiling fans and a fire pit. Stylish ceiling fans add an elegant touch and useful functionality to keep the space cooler, provide lighting, and help remove cooking smoke. An outdoor fire pit or table makes a backyard feel cozier and brings some welcome warmth on those chilly evenings.

6. Add a water feature

There are some compelling reasons to consider adding a water feature to an outdoor space. Let’s start with the aesthetic upgrade they bring by adding visual interest and beauty to a backyard.

Whether it’s an elaborate pond with aquatic plants and fish, a wall or statue fountain, or a simple bird bath, the right water feature(s) can become the focal point of your backyard and enhance its overall appeal.

Water features bring a sense of serenity and relaxation to your backyard. The sound of running water has a calming effect, which can reduce stress, foster a more peaceful atmosphere, and help transform the backyard into the oasis you’ve always wanted.

One of the less-considered benefits of water features is their ability to mask the type of ambient noise you’d rather not hear while you’re spending time outside. Instead of hearing unwanted background sounds like vehicles and loud neighbours, you’ll get to enjoy your backyard with the gentle trickle of a fountain or the calming burble of a waterfall as your soundtrack.

7. Add more backyard colour

Contrast the neutral colours of a backyard landscape by adding more vibrant colours with flowers.

Most of the foundational elements found in backyards such as decks, patios, fences, walkways, and a home’s exterior have neutral colours like black, brown, beige, and grey. Many of the items we use in our backyards tend to have neutral colours as well, including patio furniture and grills.

Lots of backyards could use a primary colour infusion to change their outdoor decor from drab to fab and there are several ways to do this.

One of the best backyard decor ideas is to change up the textiles you use on your deck or patio. It’s also a very quick and inexpensive way to refresh your outside decor.

Adding more colourful patio furniture cushions, throw pillows, and outdoor rugs will change an outdoor living space’s aesthetic and make it feel more inviting. If you have an outdoor dining set, try using a tablecloth, placemats, and even dishware that adds more colour to your space. And with the many types of patio accessory colours and styles available to buy, you can let your creativity run wild!

Planting more flowers, plants, and other types of greenery is a natural way to revamp the aesthetic of your backyard spaces with more colour, texture, and a living touch.

It doesn’t take many flowers or plants to make a big difference, either. A modest amount of strategically planted additions from the garden centre that add some pops of colour can be quite effective. Choose resilient, low-maintenance plants and flowers that can thrive in the shade, don’t require a lot of watering, and won’t attract too many pests.

8. Improve your backyard lighting

The impact of lighting on any living area is often underestimated. Proper lighting is a crucial element of interior design…and “outerior” design as well.

Here are a few reasons to make good backyard lighting a priority:

you can showcase any backyard decor upgrades you’ve made, along with architectural and landscaping features
warm lighting boosts ambiance and creates a more welcoming environment
you extend the usability of your outdoor space well into the evening
strategic lighting affects our depth perception and can make a backyard feel more spacious
task lighting helps with outdoor meal preparation and cooking
good lighting enhances safety by illuminating pathways, stairs, and potential hazards

Incorporating different types of lighting adds versatility and flexibility to a backyard’s design. Once again, you have an endless number of choices for outdoor lighting, including outdoor lamps, spotlights, railing lights, step lights, spotlights, string lights, wall lights, and lanterns.

9. Mulch it up

One of the easier spring backyard decor ideas you can use is to put down more mulch around trees and shrubs, as well as in your gardens.

Mulch adds an attractive finishing touch to a backyard and comes in various colours to enhance the area’s overall aesthetic, especially if you use certain mulch colours to contrast effectively with their surroundings. Mulch usage is also another way to add texture to a backyard landscape.

The benefits of mulch extend well beyond its decorative functionality, too. Here’s what we mean:

Weed prevention: because mulch blocks most of the sunlight hitting the soil, it’s harder for weeds to grow.
Pest control: certain types of wood mulches have natural chemicals that repel bugs.
Soil enrichment: some organic mulches improve soil quality with nutrients as they break down over time.
Water retention: less watering is needed because mulch slows down the evaporation process.
Temperature regulation: the soil underneath mulch stays at a more consistent temperature, which helps protect plant roots.

Upgrade your backyard decor this spring

Those are nine spring backyard decor ideas that will help make your home’s outdoor space more enjoyable to use during the spring, summer, and fall.

If you’re planning on adding an outdoor kitchen, why not work with Outeriors to ensure the project gets done right?

We offer a full-service approach and will handle all aspects of your outdoor kitchen project. Our seasoned design consultants provide personalized service and can guarantee your outdoor kitchen and living space is customized to meet your exact needs.

To get your customized outdoor kitchen project started, schedule a free design consultation with us.

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Polyethylene Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets: 7 Benefits You’re Missing

Consider how important an indoor kitchen’s cabinets are. Without them, kitchens couldn’t function nearly as efficiently, and the room would have a much different aesthetic.

Outdoor kitchens are no different. Outdoor kitchen cabinets provide essential storage functionality and help define what outdoor cooking spaces look like. That has a big impact on our enjoyment of using outdoor kitchens.

When designing an outdoor kitchen, one crucial element that demands careful consideration is the choice of cabinetry material. High-density polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets have emerged as an excellent option.

Cabinets made with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) offer many benefits that can enhance the functionality, aesthetics, and longevity of an outdoor kitchen.

We’ll explore the top benefits of high-density polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets and why they’re the ideal choice for your backyard cooking space.

What is high-density polyethylene (HDPE)?

Most people have never heard of high-density polyethylene, so let’s briefly explain what it is. HDPE is a type of petroleum-based polymer that was invented in the 1930s. The material is used to make many of the things we use every day like:

water bottles
cereal box liners and other food packaging
outdoor furniture
shampoo bottles
toys
playground equipment

High-density polyethylene is known for its durability and application versatility, especially for outdoor use. Outdoor-use HDPE products are typically made with marine-grade HDPE. As the name implies, the material was created specifically for marine applications, such as making decking, boats, and boat parts.

Marine-grade HDPE is specially formulated to provide higher resistance against damage caused by prolonged exposure to the elements. It’s also stronger than standard high-density polyethylene and won’t rot, or rust like metal can.

For all of these reasons, you can see why it’s so well-suited for making outdoor kitchen cabinets. Outeriors carries two lines of Station Grill outdoor kitchen cabinets that are made with marine-grade HDPE.

Until recent years, most plastic outdoor kitchen cabinets and other plastic outdoor living products like furniture had a reputation for being low-quality. That’s no longer the case, however.

Technological advancements have significantly improved the quality, durability, and stylishness of outdoor living products made with HDPE, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and other synthetic materials.

7 benefits of polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets

Anyone who is having an outdoor kitchen designed will have four main priorities. They want their outdoor kitchen to:

• look amazing
• provide all the functionality they need
• last a long time
• be low-maintenance

Marine-grade HDPE outdoor kitchen cabinets check all of these boxes. That’s why synthetic outdoor kitchen cabinets made with high-quality materials like HDPE are increasingly becoming a smart option for anyone looking for alternatives to traditional cabinet materials like stainless steel and aluminum.

HDPE has similar attributes to these cabinet materials and a few that set them apart as well. Here are seven benefits you’ll enjoy if you invest in high-quality polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets.

1. Polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets are weatherproof

Outdoor kitchens face non-stop exposure to the elements. The backyards of Ontario homes experience just about every type of weather there is, ranging from scorching heat and intense UV rays to heavy rain to snow and freezing temperatures. That’s why outdoor kitchen cabinet materials have to be so resilient.

Moisture exposure takes the biggest toll on outdoor kitchen cabinets. Marine-grade HDPE outdoor kitchen cabinets like Station Grill’s Pur and Classic models are weatherproof and water-resistant. They’re designed to withstand exposure to water and humidity, which prevents moisture-related issues like corrosion, mould, mildew, swelling, and warping.

Sunlight is also harsh on outdoor living products. The best high-density polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets are specifically engineered to prevent the discolouring and deterioration that can occur from ultraviolet light damage.

Because HDPE is a high-strength, weather-resistant material, it can also handle the extreme hot and cold temperatures of Ontario’s climate.

2. HDPE outdoor cabinets are extremely durable

The superior weathering resistance of synthetic outdoor kitchen cabinets made with HDPE ensures longer durability. Exceptional cabinet durability isn’t just important for weather-related reasons, it’s also important for outdoor kitchens that get used a lot. If you choose a high-quality cabinet brand like Station Grill, your investment will remain in pristine condition for years to come.

HDPE’s high-strength properties allow products made with the polymer to be lightweight, yet extremely sturdy and resilient. Here are five examples of the durability that marine-grade HDPE outdoor kitchen cabinets offer:

HDPE is resistant to dents, scratches, and impacts
cabinets are resistant to stains, odours, and most chemicals because HDPE is non-porous
the flexibility of HDPE prevents cracking, warping, and other types of structural damage
higher-quality cabinets made with UV inhibitors prevent the product’s colours from fading
HDPE is coloured during the manufacturing process, so there’s no paint finish to peel or flake off

Stainless steel and aluminum are two of the most popular types of outdoor kitchen cabinet materials for many good reasons. However, even the highest-quality cabinets made with these materials can’t provide all of these benefits.

Be aware that not all HDPE outdoor kitchen cabinets are of the same quality. You’ll find lots of cheaper HDPE cabinets for sale that aren’t marine-grade, for example, which will shorten the product’s life.

3. Design flexibility and a high-end look

An outdoor kitchen’s main function is to provide homeowners with an additional cooking space, but it should look nice and boost a backyard’s curb appeal, too. An attractive outdoor kitchen makes a home feel more comfortable and becomes a dynamic part of your living space you can’t wait to show off to guests.

The cabinets may stand out more than any other feature in an outdoor kitchen, so it’s important to make the right design choices for them. That’s why you’ll want more than one or two colour choices to effectively coordinate with the rest of the kitchen’s design, as well as your deck, patio, or other exterior home features if desired.

Many HDPE outdoor kitchen cabinet brands are available in an array of styles and finishes, allowing you to customize your outdoor kitchen to suit your unique taste and design preferences. To create a high-end outdoor kitchen look, invest in a high-quality HDPE outdoor kitchen cabinet brand like Station Grill.

Station Grill’s Pur collection of cabinets is available in six colours with a stylish lightly-textured finish and v-shaped edges. Their Classic cabinet line also comes in six colours with lightly-textured finishes and doors and drawers that have a shaker-style look with distinctive “V” grooves.

4. Polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets are cost-effective

Building an outdoor kitchen is a significant investment, so more budget-conscious homeowners may want to find an area or two where they can keep project costs down without sacrificing the quality of the products they’re buying.

High-density polyethylene is one of the most affordable types of outdoor kitchen cabinets. Because of their resilience, reliability, and ability to give outdoor kitchens a luxurious look, HDPE cabinets offer great long-term value for your money.

Even if you spend a little more to get higher-end HDPE cabinets, it’s still a practical, cost-effective investment. Marine-grade HDPE’s excellent durability will require less time and expense to keep the cabinets maintained and you won’t have to worry about replacing them for many years.

5. HDPE cabinets are low-maintenance

One of the most compelling advantages of HDPE outdoor cabinets is that they require virtually no maintenance. That means you can spend more time using and enjoying your outdoor kitchen and less time trying to keep it clean.

Marine-grade HDPE won’t smudge and show fingerprints easily like metals can, nor does it require annual applications of a protective sealant. Outdoor cooking can naturally get a little messy, but the non-porous surface of HDPE cabinets prevents grease and food stains from setting in.

The cleanup process with polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets is a breeze. Spills and splatters can be easily wiped up and some mild soap, warm water, and a soft cloth or soft-bristled brush will keep the cabinets looking like new. Because marine-grade HDPE is waterproof, a hose can even be used to give them a quick cleaning if needed.

You can cut down on your outdoor kitchen cleaning time even more by keeping the space covered. Although outdoor kitchen cabinets, appliances, and countertops are weather-resistant, having a cover will extend the life of everything in the kitchen and allow you to grill and stay dry when it’s raining.

6. Outdoor kitchen storage and more

When anyone thinks about backyard grilling, it’s the cooking process that comes to mind first. Someone who doesn’t know much about outdoor kitchens may be wondering if it’s really that essential to include much storage space, or why they might need more than just two or three storage cabinets.

We’ve already mentioned how they can be used for decorative effect and cabinets also obviously have valuable functionality for storage. Here are four more important functions outdoor kitchen cabinets provide, most of which are directly related to the storage space they provide:

Organization: lots of things get used in outdoor kitchens, especially if you’re a skilled cook and have an outdoor dining space. Cabinets keep your cookware, utensils, dishes, glasses, and other items well-organized and hidden away.
Design functionality: built-in outdoor kitchen appliances save space and create a seamless, integrated kitchen look. Custom cabinets accommodate built-in appliances like a grill, warming drawers, and side burners, as well as a sink.
Convenience: the more storage space an outdoor kitchen has, the fewer trips you’ll need to make indoors to get things for cooking or taking care of your guests. That makes your outdoor kitchen more convenient to use.
Efficiency: an organized kitchen that has all the amenities you need to cook and host get-togethers elevates the functionality of the cooking space, which means you’ll enjoy using it more.

7. HDPE cabinets are more eco-friendly

Plastic may not be the most environmentally friendly material, but eco-conscious consumers who are looking for the best plastic outdoor kitchen cabinets will find HDPE cabinets appealing for a few reasons.

HDPE is considered one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle. HDPE is a category 2 recyclable material (indicated by the number two recycling symbol) and most products made with the material are 100% recyclable. This contributes to less plastic waste ending up in landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose.

Recycled materials are used to make most HDPE outdoor kitchen cabinets, which reduces the environmental impact during the manufacturing process. Recycled high-density polyethylene is also used to make things like:

outdoor furniture
composite lumber
recycling bins
storage containers

Additionally, the longevity of HDPE outdoor cabinets means they won’t need to be replaced for a long time, which minimizes waste and conserves resources.

Enjoy the benefits of owning HDPE outdoor kitchen cabinets

If you’re planning to build an outdoor kitchen, HDPE cabinets offer a host of benefits that can elevate your outdoor cooking space.

Make a great investment in your home and choose high-quality Station Grill outdoor kitchen cabinets, which are made right here in Canada.

Let’s dive into designing your dream outdoor kitchen. To get started, schedule a free design consultation with Outeriors today.

An Outdoor Kitchen Is Worth It, and Here’s Why

One of the first questions anyone interested in getting an outdoor kitchen will have is simple: is an outdoor kitchen worth it?

Outdoor kitchens are very popular right now and not just due to the pandemic. Increased interest in outdoor living spaces predates our recently turbulent times.

Once viewed as a lavish feature that was typically found in luxury homes, outdoor kitchens now have much more mainstream appeal. More homes are being renovated to add outdoor cooking and living spaces. Architects and interior designers are making them a higher priority for their new building projects as well.

Get all the facts about why an outdoor kitchen is worth investing in.

6 reasons an outdoor kitchen is worth it

Outdoor kitchen additions are one of the most popular home renovations right now for many reasons. Here’s a brief overview of the reasons why an outdoor kitchen is worth it:

Outdoor kitchens expand a home’s living space. An outdoor kitchen is its own entire room. This adds to a home’s livable square footage and improves its functionality.
Homes with upgraded backyards are more family-friendly. In non-pandemic times, it can be difficult getting everyone together at home for some quality family time. Having a nice outdoor living space the whole family enjoys using makes it easier to gather with everyone more frequently.
Better home comfort helps with self-care. The importance of making our homes as comfortable as possible to nurture our mental well-being is front of mind these days. A multi-purpose backyard living area improves a family’s living quality by providing an ideal space to relax and recharge.
Outdoor kitchens are tailor-made for entertaining. If you enjoy regularly hosting get-togethers, adding or upgrading an outdoor living space is one of the smartest lifestyle investments a homeowner can make. What could be better than having a beautiful backyard space that is specifically designed for maximum fun and enjoyment with your friends and family?
An outdoor kitchen boosts curb appeal. Curb appeal isn’t limited to merely the front and side of a home’s exterior – it includes the backyard, too. A well-designed outdoor kitchen adds decorative appeal and complements the exterior features of a house.
Outdoor kitchens add value to homes. For all of the reasons listed above, an outdoor kitchen adds undeniable value to a home. Outdoor kitchen additions have a solid return on investment that you’ll benefit from whenever you decide to move.

Let’s dig a little deeper into why outdoor kitchens are so popular right now, how they improve a living space, why they appeal to homebuyers, and how much you can expect to pay for one.

Why are outdoor kitchens so popular?

Consumer interest in outdoor living improvements exploded during the pandemic as homeowners looked for ways to optimize their living spaces.

HomeStars’ 2021 Reno Report found that 94% of the Canadian homeowners they surveyed had completed at least one indoor renovation during the pandemic. 66% of the respondents invested in outdoor home renovations. Resort-style backyards with deluxe outdoor kitchens were the most desired “fantasy feature” for Canadian homeowners in both the 2021 and 2022 Reno Reports.

These additional statistics show the popularity of outdoor living spaces and how much the pandemic influenced home renovation trends:

67% of men and 54% of women said a backyard retreat was their most desirable home feature. (2022 Zolo Homebuyers Survey of 3,300 Canadian new homeowners and potential first-time buyers)
Outdoor improvements were the fourth-most popular project homeowners would undertake if given $10,000. (2021 Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence Quarterly Tracking Study)
Only 32% of surveyed homeowners who renovated during the pandemic were motivated to tackle their projects because of their extra time spent at home. (HomeStars 2021 Reno Report)
68% of the homeowners who did a pandemic renovation were primarily motivated by the desire to refresh the aesthetic and atmosphere of their living spaces. (HomeStars 2021 Reno Report)
56% of the home design experts surveyed by Fixr.com believed homeowners put a high priority on making their outdoor living spaces look and feel more like their interior spaces. (Fixr.com 2022 Outdoor Living Trends Report)

Backyard retreats are one of the most-wanted home features (infographic from 2022 Zolo Homebuyers Survey)

A trend with staying power

Backyard upgrade projects may be trendy right now, but they’re a trend with staying power.

It took a pandemic for a lot of homeowners to notice the amazing design potential sitting right in their own backyards.

The fundamental shift in how we view and utilize our homes has left very clear writing on the wall: there will always be value and practicality in expanding the functionality and comfort level of our homes. And creating multifunctional outdoor living spaces that are bigger and better is the perfect way to make that happen.

Low-interest rates were another factor that contributed to the home reno boom of the past few years. Rising interest rates and higher material costs have slowed things down a little, but the home renovation market is expected to remain strong for the foreseeable future.

How outdoor kitchens create a more complete living space

Another reason an outdoor kitchen is worth investing in is the simple fact that outdoor kitchens double a home’s cooking space.

Traditional kitchens are considered the heart of most homes and one of their hardest working rooms. Supplementing this vital part of the house with even more room to cook is extremely practical and makes a home a more useful and complete living space.

From a strictly cooking point of view, outdoor kitchens allow you to:

take a break from using your indoor kitchen
eat healthier because grilling is better for you than frying and broiling your food
enjoy the unique, delicious taste of home-cooked flame-grilled food more often
expand your summer menu options by trying new grilling recipes

Outdoor kitchens come in all shapes and sizes

A basic outdoor kitchen can consist of a built-in grill, a small counter area, and a few cabinets for storage. On the higher end, an outdoor kitchen can be designed for maximum functionality by including:

a large premium grill
ample counter space
a sink
lots of cabinets for cutlery, dishes, glassware, and cooking tools
enough appliances to handle anyone’s cooking needs

Add a dining area, stylish outdoor furniture, a bar, and an outdoor living room with a fire pit and a home’s footprint expands even wider. Covering an outdoor kitchen and living area with a pergola, gazebo, awning, or roof extension maximizes the amount of time you can use the backyard.

It stands to reason that a house that’s been designed to be a more complete living space makes a house more marketable when it’s being sold.

A well-designed outdoor kitchen impresses guests, neighbours, and future homebuyers.

What is an outdoor kitchen’s return on investment?

You might think homeowners would put a higher priority on the short-term and medium-term impact a renovation has on the quality of their family’s daily life, rather than how it can financially benefit them years from now.

In fact, most homeowners take the future into account when they’re planning a remodel. RE/MAX’s 2021 Renovation Investment Report found that 59% of Canadians consider how a renovation’s return on investment will impact the market value of their home.

Return on investment (ROI) measures how effectively a renovation adds to a home’s value, relative to the renovation’s cost. For example, a kitchen remodel that costs $10,000 and adds an estimated $8,000 of value to a home when it’s sold would have an 80% ROI.

Finding reliable outdoor kitchen ROI figures online can be confusing because the estimates vary quite widely. At the lowest end, you’ll find estimates of 55-60%, which is considered a modest ROI. A lot of real estate professionals attach a 70-100% ROI for an outdoor kitchen addition. You’ll even find some estimates that go as high as a 175% ROI.

The truth is somewhere in between these wide-ranging estimates, which means outdoor kitchens undoubtedly boost your home’s resale value and make it more attractive to potential buyers.

Determining a renovation’s ROI is clearly an inexact science, but the estimates of contractors and real estate pros do provide some useful guidance about which projects deliver a better bang for your buck.

Remember that the value an outdoor kitchen retains will be impacted by the quality of its materials, how well the space is maintained, whether or not the kitchen is covered, and other factors.

Most homes don’t have an outdoor kitchen and dining space that looks this nice. That’s something future homebuyers will definitely notice.

Homebuyers notice outdoor living upgrades

Most backyards don’t have a professionally designed and installed outdoor kitchen. The homes that do have nicer outdoor living spaces immediately stand out to potential buyers.

In addition to improving a home’s overall livability, a backyard with a stylish, high-end look shows you care about your property and impresses guests, neighbours, and future homebuyers.

Certain renovations like adding a home theatre or pool cater to a very specific homebuyer. Most Canadian homeowners enjoy grilling outdoors, which broadens the appeal of an outdoor kitchen.

Real estate marketplace Zillow analyzed the sales of 4.6 million U.S. homes a few years ago and found that houses with upgraded outdoor features sold for 24.5% more than listings without exterior home upgrades.

How much is an outdoor kitchen?

Hopefully, we’ve made a good case for why an outdoor kitchen is worth it, which brings us to one of the final questions you probably have: how much do outdoor kitchens cost?

Small outdoor kitchens with a basic level of functionality can start at around $5,000. Large, fully-loaded outdoor kitchens with high-end appliances and premium materials can cost $30,000 and higher.

Many factors will determine the cost of an outdoor kitchen, including:

the size of the kitchen
the complexity and scale of the kitchen’s design
the quality of products and materials used
costs for having the kitchen professionally designed and installed
permit costs
utility costs to hook up natural gas, water, and electricity
whether or not it’s being covered with a roof

Whatever your budget is for an outdoor kitchen building project, prioritize buying high-quality, durable products with weather-resistant materials that will last and work reliably for many years. Shown below are the most popular outdoor kitchen features.

Infographic from Fixr.com

Discover why an outdoor kitchen is so worth it!

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not an outdoor kitchen addition is worth it, try viewing it as an investment, not an expense. You’re investing in creating years of great memories with your family and friends and improving your quality of life.

An outdoor kitchen will become an essential part of your home that elevates your outdoor living experience and prove to be a valuable asset whenever you sell your house.

Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your backyard? If so, schedule a free design consultation with Outeriors to get started on your dream kitchen design.

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Cottage Outdoor Kitchen Ideas That Will Inspire You

Your cottage’s interior has been upgraded and remodelled to provide most of the modern conveniences of your GTA-area home.

There’s a state-of-the-art kitchen, contemporary bathrooms, central air conditioning and heating, major appliances, and maybe even a wine cellar.

Outside your cottage is a finished deck or patio, a newly rebuilt dock and boathouse, and a beachfront and property that is beautifully manicured. So what improvements remain to be done so your dream cottage will finally be complete?

Adding an outdoor kitchen and living space is the perfect way to complete your home away from home.

An outdoor kitchen and cottage life go hand in hand

Year after year, RE/MAX’s annual Cabin and Cottage Trends Across Canada survey shows that the biggest reason anyone owns a cottage is to have a place where they can relax and spend time with family and friends.

We can’t think of many better ways to enhance the experience of escaping the city for some R & R and hosting weekend get-togethers than by adding a cottage outdoor kitchen and living space.

An increasing number of suburban homeowners have recognized the benefits of adding an outdoor living space to their backyards or upgrading their existing deck or patio area. These additions enhance the functionality of a home and increase its amount of livable square footage.

Cottage country’s “design renaissance”

Cottage owners are following suit. More cottagers are upgrading the exterior of their second home with a nicer cooking space and adding other features that boost their comfort level.

As the National Post writes, “Cottage country is undergoing a design renaissance. Cottage owners want meaningful amenities along with the great outdoors. They want to indulge in the simple pleasures they are too busy to enjoy in the city.”

Most Ontarians would agree that our summers are way too short. That’s why building a cottage that allows you to get as much enjoyment as possible from it during the warmest months of the year should be a high priority for any cottager.

Having a well-rounded cottage outdoor space for cooking, dining, and relaxing will make it even more of a valued summer getaway place you can’t wait to get to and will hate to leave.

Why a cottage outdoor kitchen is a great investment

10% of Canadians own a cottage. Owning recreational properties in popular Ontario cottage country areas like Muskoka, the Kawarthas, and Haliburton has never been more desirable.

Even before the pandemic, there had been big demand and little supply for cottages in the province, especially for waterfront properties. The pandemic only made cottages more of a hot commodity, resulting in the current record-low levels of cottage inventory.

The cottage market will eventually stabilize, but a well-located, remodelled Ontario cottage property will be in-demand for years to come. A big reason is that although Ontario may be a large province geographically, there are only a finite amount of easily accessible waterfront properties that are viable to build on.

Any major upgrades that can be done, such as adding a cottage outdoor kitchen, adds to the home’s value and makes it that much more of an attractive property.

More often than not, luxury cottages that are newly built or that have been upgraded from a smaller cottage structure lack an outdoor cooking area befitting of the rest of their home. A well-appointed outdoor kitchen with space for dining and lounging is the perfect way to complete a high-end cottage building project.

Keep it in the family

Of course, a lot of cottage owners have no intention of ever selling their property and maintain the family tradition of passing it on from one generation to the next.

A long-term cottage ownership commitment makes investing in impactful upgrades that may cost a little more very practical. A new cottage outdoor kitchen and living space will be enjoyed right now, in your retirement years, and maybe even by your kids and grandkids years from now.

Ontario cottages are more in-demand than ever before. Investing in upgrades like an outdoor kitchen boosts a cottage’s value.

Additional outdoor kitchen benefits

A kitchen is called the heart of the home and cottage kitchens are no different. Doubling up on the amount of high-activity space your summer home has can only be a positive thing.

If you’re still not convinced about why you should get a cottage outdoor kitchen, here are a few more outdoor kitchen benefits to consider:

an outdoor kitchen gives you more cottage cooking options
you can enjoy the natural beauty surrounding your cottage more
spending more time outside is good for your physical and mental health
cooking outdoors makes it easier to socialize with guests
grilling is one of the best ways to cook healthier meals

8 outdoor kitchen design principles

Any outdoor kitchen being built in Ontario should follow these design principles to create a cooking space with both form and function:

Design the kitchen to suit your lifestyle and how the space will be used. For example, if you plan to entertain a lot, a design that allows you to easily socialize with guests while preparing meals is ideal.
Choose durable, weather-resistant outdoor kitchen materials that won’t rust or warp quickly, will retain their colours for a long time, and are low-maintenance.
Anchor the cottage outdoor kitchen with a built-in premium grill that cooks more reliably than a cheaper grill. Customize the size of the grill’s cooking surface to accommodate how you will entertain.
Outfit the kitchen with enough cabinetry to take care of all your storage needs and cut down on the number of trips that need to be made into the cottage.
Add slightly more countertop space than you think you’ll need so there’s always enough room on the work surface for preparing meals, setting down cooked foods, etc.
Incorporate cooling appliances for easily accessible food and beverage storage. Extra appliances like side burners and warming drawers are also helpful amenities to have.
Consider adding a sink for added convenience if it’s feasible with your cottage’s plumbing infrastructure.
Take advantage of the wealth of styles, finishes, and colours available with your outdoor kitchen products to complement the exterior features of your cottage.

Unique design considerations for cottage outdoor kitchens

In addition to following these outdoor kitchen design principles, a cottage outdoor kitchen design gives you a few more things to consider.

The location and size of your cottage’s deck or patio will largely determine how the kitchen design will come together. If you’re lucky enough to own a cottage with a lakefront view, try to have your designer situate the outdoor living area where you can take full advantage of your scenic surroundings. Also factor in the position of the sun and the amount of wind that will affect the cooking and lounging areas.

Raised decks tend to be more common on cottage properties than residential ones, so deck support upgrades may be needed to handle the added weight of a kitchen.

Outdoor kitchens in traditional homes typically use a connection to a residential natural gas line to power their grills and fire pits or outdoor fireplaces. That option won’t be available in most rural locations. Relying on several regular-sized propane tanks for your outdoor cooking needs isn’t very practical, either.

The best solution is to get a large refillable natural gas or propane tank to fuel your outdoor kitchen and the inside of your cottage if needed.

Why cook inside on a beautiful day at the cottage when you can make your meals while enjoying your natural surroundings?

Go big or go small

Outdoor kitchens come in all sizes and levels of design complexity. Cooking enthusiasts who love trying new recipes and having all the amenities of an interior kitchen can have a larger, fully-outfitted kitchen created so they can cook to their heart’s content.

On the other hand, perhaps a small, simple outdoor kitchen design is more practical because you and your family are only casual grillers or your cottage’s exterior has space limitations. A cottage outdoor kitchen design with a built-in grill, a little counter space, and a few storage cabinets beats a standalone grill and a rickety side table any day.

Expanding a smaller outdoor kitchen design, later on, is another option. Ask your designer to come up with a design that makes it easier to add on in the future if the need arises. It’s always nice to have options, right?

Cottage outdoor living space ideas

The only thing nicer than having an outdoor kitchen at the cottage is having a kitchen that is accompanied by a bar, dining area, and outdoor living room.

A complete outdoor living space takes care of all of your cottage hosting needs as an evening on the lake unfolds. Your gathering of friends and family can move from pre-dinner mingling to dining al fresco with freshly grilled food, then ease effortlessly into the relaxation and entertainment portion of the evening in a comfy outdoor living room.

An outdoor bar or beverage station is tailor-made for entertaining at the cottage and keeping your guests happy with a cold beverage. Add some high-quality outdoor furniture to your cottage deck or patio to create a dining area where your grilled meals can be enjoyed in the great outdoors.

Enjoy the comforts of the indoors outside

Cottage outdoor lounging areas have evolved well beyond setting up a few fold-up chairs and some chaise lounges. Modern outdoor living rooms bring all the comfort of an interior living room out to your cottage deck or patio with furniture like couches, love seats, and recliners that are made for outdoor use. An ottoman and side and coffee tables can be added to round out your furniture arrangement and make the space feel like more of a living room.

Some Adirondack or Muskoka chairs (a cottage staple) and lounging furniture like a porch swing, rocking chair, or hanging chair will fit right in on a cottage deck or patio.

Another way to make any outdoor living space feel cozier while making a decorative statement is to add outdoor rugs and throw cushions for the furniture. Switch up the look of the area by occasionally changing the cushions and rugs (double-sided outdoor rugs are perfect for this).

An outdoor kitchen and dining space is tailor-made for the cottage lifestyle.

Set up a cottage outdoor entertainment space

Some people like to escape to cottage country to reconnect with nature and disconnect a little from the things that contribute to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, such as modern tech. Others like to spend some of their time at the cottage enjoying the same entertainment options they’re used to having at their primary home.

Enjoying things like movies, televised sports events, video games, and music nowadays makes it impossible to fully disentangle ourselves from the tech that powers our lives.

Setting up an outdoor entertainment space at the cottage is fairly simple. All you need is an outdoor television that is built with specialized components and parts that allows it to operate in damp and humid conditions. Outdoor TVs can also function in a wider range of temperatures than normal TVs, which makes them ideal for cottage use.

Boost the TV’s sound quality with a wireless surround sound system or a high-quality sound bar. Now you’re ready to enjoy the ball game or one of the latest Hollywood blockbusters in 4K with excellent audio quality.

Let the music play!

And we can’t forget about music! Enjoying great summer tunes while lounging outdoors at the cottage is as much a part of the Ontario cottage experience as waterskiing or catching some rays on the dock. WiFi or Bluetooth wireless portable speakers let you bring your music anywhere around the cottage area.

Another option is to get a wireless audio system installed at your cottage. Weatherproof, low-profile wireless speakers with great sound can be strategically positioned to provide complete sound coverage on your cottage property.

How to stay connected while you’re at the cottage

A good WiFi signal will be required to use most of the aforementioned tech, which can be an issue for remotely located cottages. Some luxury grills have smart tech that requires a WiFi signal. Having internet access at the cottage is also useful so you can spend more time at your family retreat by working remotely.

If your cottage is unable to get a “traditional” internet connection via land-based cable, phone, and fibre optic network systems, here are a few solutions to get online while you’re at the cottage:

Set up a WiFi hotspot via a smartphone’s cellular data connection. Using a tablet or laptop with a SIM card will work, too. If your cellular signal is weak, a cell signal booster will help.
Use a wireless internet service that is tailor-made for rural areas. This method works by using a small antenna installed outside a cottage which connects to a wireless network.
Get a satellite internet system like SpaceX’s Starlink, which uses a satellite dish to receive a signal from space that provides you with high-speed internet access.

Keep in mind that the first two cottage internet solutions (especially the WiFi hotspot method) won’t give you the kind of ultra-fast internet speeds you’re used to in the city and suburbs. They can still provide enough functionality to serve most of your online needs at the cottage.

Keep things cool, dry, and (almost) bug-free

Cottagers like to be outdoors as much as possible, but a rainy day can spoil the fun. An overhead covering for a cottage outdoor kitchen and living area comes in very handy when you want to stay dry or stay cool on a hot, sunny day.

Nothing says “I’m at the cottage” more than the strong smell of bug repellant and having to constantly swat away mosquitoes, horseflies, and other pests.

A screened-in deck or patio is an effective and less intrusive way to reduce the number of insects around a cottage deck or patio. You won’t have to hear the constant sound of bugs being fried by a bug zapper or take in the aroma of burning citronella candles or coils. Get a screen enclosure system that can be rolled up or retracted during the day.

A fire pit extends your cottage season

An outdoor living room at the cottage provides a comfortable place to relax and wind down after a sun-filled day of water activities. A natural gas or propane fire pit adds to your outdoor living enjoyment and is perfect for the laid-back, cottage lifestyle.

Fire pits boost the ambiance in any outdoor setting. Natural gas and propane fire pits are easier and safer to use than wood-burning fire pits (which may not even be allowed in some cottage areas).

Another benefit of having a fire pit is that it can help extend your cottage season. They provide a steady, controllable level of heat that can take the chill off a deck or patio in the early spring and late fall.

“Today, more than ever before, cottage buyers are using their properties year-round, making them even more valuable,” said John O’Rourke, a Royal LePage Lakes of Muskoka broker.

A fire pit adds warmth and comfort as you relax on your cottage deck or patio.

Savour life outdoors at your cottage

Outeriors doesn’t just create amazing outdoor kitchens in Toronto and its surrounding area – we also design cottage outdoor kitchen and living spaces.

Work with us to create a personalized cottage outdoor kitchen and living space that will make your home away from home an in-demand summer destination for friends and family.

We take care of everything. Our full-service approach is designed to make your project stress-free.

Schedule a free design consultation with us to get your outdoor kitchen and living space project started.

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Pandemic DIY Projects: The Risk and Reward Of Going It Alone

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels

The home improvement industry is booming as many homeowners turned to pandemic DIY projects to improve their living spaces during 2020 and 2021.

Both home improvement retailers and home contractors have been doing robust business. This has happened during an unprecedented time of struggle in most sectors of the economy.

It makes a lot of sense. Locked-down homeowners had more time than ever before to really take a look around the houses and condos they were confined to. Clearly, a lot of us saw room for improvement in our homes and chose to take action.

The most popular pandemic DIY projects

Pandemic DIY projects ranging from the small (like staining a deck) to the large (such as a flooring renovation) were started. Considering the unpredictable nature of DIYs, we’d hazard a guess that not all of them were finished.

It wasn’t only home building and repair projects we took on to improve our living spaces. Some of us kept the power tools on the shelf and took the time to finally clean up those clutter hotspots in the home, such as the garage, basement, or our closets. Every little bit helps, right?

The reno projects that are routinely popular with homeowners (like interior painting and kitchen and bathroom remodels) continued to get a lot of attention. A number of the other projects that rank high on our home improvement to-do lists reflect the unique times we’re living in:

home offices
home gyms
outdoor living spaces
home entertainment rooms
mudrooms
landscaping

using tape measure while doing DIY project

Lots of free time, boredom and restlessness, extra savings, and the opportunity to learn a new skill translated into a home improvement boom. (Photo by Los Muertos Crew from Pexels)

Why pandemic DIY projects are so popular

The reasons behind the surge in DIY projects are both obvious and a little less apparent. Here are nine reasons we have invested so much time in refreshing our homes during the pandemic:

1. We finally have time to tend to our homes: it took a global pandemic for many of us to find the free time to dust off that home to-do list and finally get around to completing some of the tasks on it.

2. We need to nurture our mental well-being: being stuck at home 24/7 and cut off from our social lives (aside from socializing virtually) took a toll on our mental health. The opportunity to be productive by tackling a building project or pursuing creative outlets like crafting or learning an instrument helped us tend to our mental well-being.

3. Canadians saved more money: Statistics Canada reports that Canadians saved an average of $5,574 in 2020, compared to just $479 in 2019. It stands to reason, then, that if the average Canadian had over $5,000 more in their bank account than usual, the average number of home renos done would be significantly higher, too.

4. Sheer boredom and restlessness: everyone who experienced cabin fever during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 can relate to people looking for anything to do to keep themselves busy. Doing the “Netflix and chill” thing day after day only goes so far before it starts to feel old. As boredom and restlessness set in, working on one of those long-delayed DIY project ideas might have become the highlight of your day!

5. We got a new perspective on things: having so much at-home time made us view our living spaces with a completely different perspective and make some changes to better suit our lifestyle. Our eyes were opened to upgrade opportunities we perhaps wouldn’t have considered because of the busy nature of our lives during “normal times”.

reasons for starting pandemic diy projects

44% of the 1,500 Canadians surveyed have invested in home renovations or plan to do so during the pandemic. These are the top reasons given for improving their homes. (Infographic from Abacus Data)

6. Cost-effectiveness: not everybody’s bank account was flush with extra cash, so naturally anyone wanting to save a few bucks on a home upgrade or two was willing to use their free time to handle their own projects.

7. The chance to learn a new skill or hobby: home improvement enriches our lives and so does self-improvement. One of the silver linings of having all this “you time” is that we’ve been able to take on new hobbies and develop new skills that might have otherwise remained unfulfilled aspirations.

8. Add value to our homes: one of the main incentives for starting a DIY project anytime is to increase the value of your home. The pricey GTA real estate market right now, which is being driven by low inventory, record-high demand, and low interest rates, makes upgrading your current home more attractive than moving.

9. Home renovation tax credits: some provinces offered tax credits that anyone who had done work on their home might be eligible for. Saskatchewan, for example, allowed homeowners to claim up to $11,000 for renovation work done during 2020 and 2021. Here in Ontario, the Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit allowed seniors or anyone with senior relatives living with them to claim 25% of up to $10,000 for work done to make a home more accessible and safe for seniors.

Pandemic DIY projects give us a sense of purpose

That second point above about nurturing our mental well-being warrants some further examination, considering how rough 2020 and 2021 has been on our mental health.

When anyone who experienced the pandemic is asked in the future about the feelings they experienced during this period of time, words like “stressed”, “fearful”, “disoriented”, and “helpless” will be used. Pandemic DIY projects have helped function as somewhat of a coping mechanism for many of us. They give us a sense of purpose and some structure in a daily routine that has been completely upended.

So many things during the pandemic were out of our control. Home building projects let us focus our energy into something positive we could control – building new things, making repairs around the house, and getting organized.

That let us feel more in control and productive, as we worked our way through those home to-do lists and satisfyingly checked things off them.

Medical experts believe there are psychological benefits to learning new skills and staying productive during trying times. Keeping busy with a creative and physical activity like a pandemic DIY project can help reduce feelings of depressions and anxiety.

Keeping busy during difficult times by learning a new skill or having a creative outlet is good for our mental health.

It’s no surprise backyard upgrades are popular

Backyards have gotten a lot of DIY love during the pandemic. That makes a lot of sense, considering we couldn’t travel anywhere internationally, nationally, or even locally most of the time, for that matter.

Outside of taking socially distanced excursions to a local park or going out for a walk or jog, a staycation in the backyard was just about the only option we had to enjoy ourselves outdoors while the weather was nice.

Extending the home’s living space to the backyard to get some fresh air and sunshine took on a variety of forms. The most popular backyard renovation projects include adding or updating:

pools
outdoor kitchens
outdoor living rooms
decks
patios
landscaping

A HomeAdvisor survey found that 27% of homeowners shifted their spending to upgrade their outdoor living areas and some of them left their backyard projects to the pros.

Basil Larkin, the vice president of sales for premium grill maker Hestan, told Forbes at the end of 2020, “Our summer orders have increased by 80% compared to what they have been historically. Moreover, we have maintained this throughout the remainder of the year to date, even after the traditional grilling season has concluded in many parts of the nation.”

As the article says, “New outdoor kitchens add a new and enticing dimension to the home.”

Shifting needs led to homeowners investing more in projects that upgraded kitchens, home offices, home entertainment areas, and outdoor living spaces. (Infographic from HomeAdvisor)

4 drawbacks of DIYing home projects

Although there are lots of benefits to taking care of your own home building projects, it’s an activity that does come with some pitfalls. Here are some ways DIYing can be challenging and not worth the headaches:

1. Inexperience: the most obvious reason for thinking twice about starting a home reno project is if you don’t have any experience in the renovation area you’re looking to tackle. Most people can handle an interior painting job. Someone who can tell the difference between a screwdriver and a hammer might be able to handle a deck build with some help. Something far more complicated like building an outdoor kitchen is a whole different ball of wax, however. Building inexperience also raises the risk of injury.

A recent survey of 870 American homeowners by Bid-On-Equipment found that 77% of DIYers thought their project took too long to complete without a pro’s help.

2. The finished project is disappointing: It’s one thing to start and finish a DIY project, but what does the final result look like? There’s nothing more deflating than struggling through a time-consuming, challenging DIY project and feeling disappointed when the completed project falls well short of having the kind of professional look that comes from the hands of a skilled contractor.

In that Bid-On-Equipment survey, a third of the homeowners who did a pandemic DIY project said they were disappointed with how the project turned out.

3. Getting building materials has been a challenge: access to the vast majority of brick and mortar stores has been severely restricted in Ontario during the pandemic. That made picking up tools and building materials you needed for a job difficult. Curbside pickup services were available, but high demand could sometimes mean waiting days for an available pickup time and delays to your project.

4. Supply chain shortages: as much as actually getting your hands on everything you needed to work on your home project has been challenging, sometimes the tools and building materials we needed weren’t even available to get. Since the pandemic began, supply chain shortages in many types of manufacturing industries has been an ongoing issue.

DIYers are basically at the mercy of whenever their local home improvement store gets in a new shipment of those deck boards they needed for their deck-building project, for example. Most contractors have existing relationships with suppliers they use often. This gives them a slight advantage to get the supplies they need for their projects quicker than a DIYer can.

Have a pro make your backyard staycation-worthy

Anyone can spruce up their backyard with a simple DIY project. Fixing a deck or patio and setting up a small outdoor cooking station with a basic barbecue allows your family to enjoy your backyard more.

Not all home improvement projects are for the average DIYer, however. As a Toronto plumber told CTV News, “My advice for starting any DIY during COVID-19 is keep it within your abilities. The last thing you want is to be staring at a half-finished project in your home and adding to your stress levels.”

Building an outdoor living space so nice that it could be featured in a magazine spread requires years of expertise.

Outeriors specializes in taking backyard home improvement projects to the next level. We create beautiful outdoor living spaces with fully outfitted luxury kitchens and comfortable lounging spaces that will transform your backyard into a part of the home that provides more fun and function.

If you’d like an experienced pro to handle everything with your outdoor kitchen and living space project, schedule a free design consultation with us.

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7 Reasons To Hire an Outdoor Kitchen Company and Not DIY

Investing in a home improvement project that expands your living space is a big commitment. Building an outdoor kitchen is no exception.

Taking on this project is no easy task, which is why hiring an outdoor kitchen company is smarter than trying to DIY it.

A survey from Porch.com found that 55% of homeowners DIYed a recent home improvement project. Only 31% of them admitted that the project was a success.

Sure, DIYing an outdoor kitchen has its benefits. Saving some money and getting that satisfying feeling knowing you’ve improved your home with your own two hands is nothing to sneeze at.

There are a lot more benefits of letting a professional handle the job, however. Here are seven reasons to hire an outdoor kitchen company for your backyard building project.

1. An outdoor kitchen company has experience

A ship needs a good captain to guide the vessel safely and efficiently along its journey. Any ship embarking out to sea is always under the guidance of someone with lots of on-the-job experience.

An outdoor kitchen company designer is very much the captain of any building project they’re involved with, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

There is no substitute for experience

Call it experience, expertise, know-how, or whichever word for “knowing what you’re doing” you prefer – they all definitely matter with an outdoor kitchen building project.

Building an outdoor kitchen and entertaining space from scratch by yourself is beyond the skill level of most homeowners. Some weekend DIYers could put together a serviceable space for cooking outside. Why settle for just serviceable, though? It also may not be the safest to use, nor will it have the professional, high-end look that an experienced outdoor kitchen company can create.

“Figuring it out as you go along” may work for doing a small plumbing repair using a helpful YouTube video to guide you. An outdoor kitchen build is on a whole other skill level, though.

There are a lot of moving pieces involved when designing and building an outdoor kitchen. Finishes and colours need to complement one another and be tailored to the homeowners’ taste. The backyard space where the kitchen is being installed needs to be utilized efficiently. And complicated tasks like hooking up gas, water, and electrical lines need to be handled.

And that’s just scratching the surface of what’s involved.

Measuring twice, building once

A reliable outdoor kitchen company will have a tried-and-true work process in place that makes the project run efficiently. That’s starting from the initial design consultation right through to the point where the company’s truck is leaving your driveway after the installation is completed.

An honest contractor knows that time is money – both yours and theirs. They are more likely to adhere to the “measure twice, build once” philosophy that ensures the job is done right the first time.

DIYers often need to go back and fix up things they didn’t install or build properly, which wastes their time and isn’t cost-effective. In many cases, these homeowners end up having to hire a pro to fix the work they’ve done, which only makes the project’s cost balloon even further.

Another area where experience from your contractor is important is problem-solving. An experienced contractor can come up with a quick solution to an unexpected problem because they’ve probably seen it before. There’s no hitting a building roadblock as you try to work out a conundrum like why that darn upper-right cabinet isn’t aligning with the bottom-right cabinet.

A reliable outdoor kitchen company will have an efficient work process that starts from the initial design consultation right through to the final installation work.

2. Convenience

The convenience of having a good contractor handle your home improvement project is something virtually everyone can appreciate (other than perhaps the most skilled DIYers).

Ontario summers are all too short. Hiring an outdoor kitchen company will allow you to use your free time to spend on other summer activities that don’t include a time-consuming construction project. A professional with experience building outdoor kitchens will get the job done faster, too. That lets you start using your backyard kitchen space that much sooner!

Everything is designed at the same time to create a unified, attractive look with every component functioning in perfect harmony. There’s no need to inconveniently add accessories or make design changes later on that don’t aesthetically fit and stand out as a design afterthought.

For the ultimate in convenience, hire a full-service outdoor kitchen company like Outeriors that can design and install a complete outdoor living space.

Most DIYers couldn’t build an outdoor living space this nice. Enjoy your summer doing something more fun than tackling a complex backyard building project!

3. Customize your outdoor kitchen design

If you’re building an outdoor cooking space by yourself, you’re obviously customizing it to look the way you want.

That’s not quite the same as working with a professional designer on a customized outdoor kitchen design, however.

The best outdoor kitchen companies will have designers who can take your core ideas and design goals and elevate your vision into something truly special.

The ability to create customized contemporary outdoor kitchen designs with a limitless number of design options is one of several difference-makers between DIYing the kitchen and working with an expert.

They can create an outdoor living space that is tailored to fit your lifestyle, cooking habits, design preferences, and backyard space.

Dealing with customization challenges

Of course, customizing means there’s a higher chance you’ll encounter some design challenges.

Where a custom outdoor kitchen design concept begins is rarely how it eventually turns out. Tweaks, improvements, and modifications are usually involved, especially when clients get a better visual idea of what their finished kitchen will look like with 3D CAD renderings.

You’ll find that a creative, flexible designer who can solve problems quickly and adapt to any challenges is worth their weight in gold.

4. Work with the best outdoor kitchen products

Your outdoor kitchen company should have high standards for the products they will use when building your kitchen. If you’re DIYing a kitchen and unfamiliar with the various brands of outdoor kitchen products available, you might not know any better that a certain brand you didn’t buy was a better choice.

Doing some research online will help educate you. Once again, there’s no substitute for the experience that comes with working in the industry. A good designer will stay up-to-date on all the latest products and the pros and cons of certain models of outdoor kitchen appliances, for example.

Outeriors works with only the best outdoor kitchen equipment brands in the industry. We know that manufacturers like NatureKast, Lynx, Coyote, and Dekton offer the highest quality outdoor kitchen products that look stunning, perform exceptionally, and last for years.

You get what you pay for

Remember that the quality of the outdoor kitchen products you buy will have a big impact on the project’s final cost.

It’s in an area like this where going with the contractor who gives you the cheapest quote can come back to haunt you. One reason you might be getting an attractive low quote is because the contractor uses cheap outdoor kitchen products that won’t last.

Visiting a showroom always helps

Another way to tell if an outdoor kitchen company you’re considering hiring is a fly-by-night type of operation is whether or not they have a showroom.

If they don’t, it certainly doesn’t mean they can’t be trusted. They may just be a small one or two-person operation.

If they do have a showroom where you can get a better sense of their product offerings and standards, however, that’s a strong indicator that they’re more established and going to be around for a while.

Does the outdoor kitchen company you’re hiring have a showroom? There’s no substitute for getting a better idea about the quality of the products you’re buying than an in-person “test drive” of them.

5. Attention to details matter

When we say “attention to details” with an outdoor kitchen, what exactly are we referring to?

Here’s an example. Outeriors president Daniel Albo was interviewed by the Toronto Sun and explains why the finishes and colours used in an outdoor kitchen aren’t just about aesthetics. He tells the Sun that finishes with darker colours are harder to maintain and keep clean in an outdoor setting.

Albo goes on to say, “Darker surfaces also absorb more heat from the sun and can be hot to the touch if open to above. Earth-tone colours are typically easier to keep looking great.”

Important considerations like this indicate that you’re working with a professional that has your best interests in mind. A reputable outdoor kitchen company wants you to love your kitchen 10 years from now, not just until the warranties run out and they’re off the hook for fixing any issues.

A shady contractor often only cares about meeting the bare minimum of the project requirement so they can get just paid and quickly move on to their next project. Remember that with unscrupulous contractors, corner-cutting is a feature, not a defect or bug.

Attention to detail when designing and building an outdoor kitchen also matters in other areas you may not have considered.

Building safely and pricing responsibly

Safety is one example. A kitchen that uses natural gas, electricity, and running water outdoors and has an open grill flame and hot cooking surfaces needs to be designed with safety in mind. This is even more essential if kids and pets will be around the kitchen.

Attention to detail also matters when you’re discussing pricing with the outdoor kitchen company you’ve hired. Get a detailed summary upfront of the costs for each product and the services that will be performed so there are no surprises with hidden fees later on. That’s a move right out of the shady contractor’s handbook!

6. Peace of mind

Hiring any contractor requires some homework on your part to differentiate between which companies have a reliable track record and which ones don’t instil confidence in you to handle your building project.

Home renovations rarely come without some degree of stress. Getting things off on the right foot by doing your research and finding a reliable outdoor kitchen company that does great work will provide you with a comforting peace of mind.

Always check online reviews, references, and ask a potential contractor for a portfolio of their past work. Make sure you can verify that any photos they’re showing you are, in fact, from projects they’ve worked on and not just impressive outdoor kitchen photos they found online.

Positive word-of-mouth or a glowing reference from someone you know is perhaps the best way to find out how an outdoor kitchen company works.

Make sure your contractor isn’t just qualified to do the work, but that they’re properly insured, will work safely, and will build everything to code.

Most people find home renovations to be stressful. Do your homework before hiring a contractor for your own peace of mind.

7. Accountability for your building project

A reputable outdoor kitchen builder who cares about the work they do and strives to keep their clients satisfied will stay accountable throughout the design and building process.

Poor communication between a contractor and client results in inconvenient scheduling, disputes over a project’s cost, frustration on both sides, and a customer who ultimately isn’t happy with their experience.

Outeriors is a division of Garage Living, a trusted leader in the field of garage remodels. Garage Living has been around since 2005 and transformed thousands of garages across North America into stylish, more functional extensions of their clients’ living spaces.

We’re an outdoor kitchen company that brings that same philosophy and high level of standards to the backyard with every outdoor living space project we work on.

Our design professionals stay connected with our clients as their project progresses, receiving their input and providing clear timelines on the work being done.

Our goals are one and the same – we want your outdoor kitchen space to look stunning!

A customer’s Google review about working with Outeriors.

Hire an outdoor kitchen company you can trust

Don’t get in over your head trying to build your own outdoor kitchen. Hire a reliable outdoor kitchen company that can transform your backyard into a one-of-a-kind outdoor living space.

As one home improvement professional told CTV News in the early days of the pandemic, “My advice for starting any DIY during COVID-19 is keep it within your abilities. The last thing you want is to be staring at a half-finished project in your home (that’s) adding to your stress levels.”

If you’re looking for a qualified outdoor kitchen company in Toronto that can handle your building project, look no further than Outeriors. We specialize in designing outdoor kitchen and living spaces of all sizes.

Get a free quote for your planned outdoor kitchen by scheduling a free design consultation with us.

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12 Outdoor Kitchen Benefits To Inspire Your Own Project

Interest in outdoor home improvement projects was at a high level before the pandemic.

Now that we’re seeing the end of this difficult time coming clearer into focus, the demand for outdoor living upgrades has gone to the next level.

The importance of improving our living spaces for more comfort and function has never been so front-of-mind.

Outdoor kitchen additions are one of the projects leading the outdoor living upgrade charge. Why? Because there are so many life-improving outdoor kitchen benefits that it only makes sense to invest in one for your backyard.

As Outeriors president Daniel Albo told the Toronto Sun, “An outdoor kitchen has become the final frontier of any renovation project.”

12 outdoor kitchen benefits worth knowing

Dining out once in a while is nice, but it’s equally enjoyable to create your own grilled meals in the backyard and feed the people you enjoy spending time with the most.

The outdoor cooking area has evolved from a few square feet in the backyard occupied by a standalone grill into spacious, luxury outdoor cooking spaces with all the functionality of a traditional kitchen.

There are many good reasons why outdoor kitchens have become so attractive to homeowners – at least a dozen of them, in fact.

If adding an outdoor kitchen has been on your home improvement wish list, get inspired to start your project with these 12 outdoor kitchen benefits.

1. Increase your home’s livable space

A rarely used backyard is wasted space and wasted potential, not unlike a spare room.

Having a little more livable space is appealing to almost everyone and that’s exactly what an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area provide.

Indoor kitchen remodels are consistently one of the most popular home renovation projects. If you’re considering such a project, it makes a lot of sense to rethink that plan and devote your remodeling budget towards adding a second kitchen space outside.

An enhanced outdoor living area with a kitchen, dining, and entertaining area transforms your backyard into a space that is optimized for comfort and added home functionality.

It can be custom-designed to fit your lifestyle. For example, more livable outdoor space creates extra room for hosting large get-togethers. Guests can socialize inside or outside.

2. Expand your summer menu options

Eating the same dishes month after month gets a little boring. When the spring arrives and you can fire up the grill on a daily basis if desired, it’s fun to shake up your menu options for the next several months with some new recipes.

Barbecues offer an endless choice of grilling recipes to try out. If you Google “grilling recipes”, almost a billion results come up!

Maybe you’ve heard someone you know boast, “My indoor kitchen has everything!”. Really? Does it have a grill? Probably not.

Even an indoor kitchen with “everything” is likely missing the one thing that makes some of our favourite dishes.

Lots of Canadians use their grills year-round, too. You know a grill isn’t just any ’ol appliance when people are willing to bundle up, brave the frigid weather, and shovel snow off the patio just to grill up some burgers and steaks.

A fully-outfitted outdoor kitchen can inspire you to get adventurous with your summer grilling dishes.

3. Take a break from your indoor kitchen

On a gorgeous early summer evening, why stand over a hot stove indoors preparing dinner if you can do your cooking out in the backyard?

You can have an outdoor kitchen designed to include all the amenities of an indoor kitchen, including:

refrigeration
an ice machine
cabinet storage for grilling tools, dining utensils, serving plates, glasses, etc.
a wide variety of outdoor cooking and food warming appliances
lots of countertop space
a dishwasher
various types of cooking surfaces

And let’s not forget the beloved grill, which is something that your indoor kitchen can’t provide you with!

Although we’re so conditioned to cooking inside our homes most of the time, cooking outside regularly shouldn’t feel unnatural. After all, our earliest ancestors were doing it ages ago.

4. Go all-out with your kitchen design

If you have a large backyard (along with the budget and desire for it), you have more space and freedom to go even bigger and more elaborate with your outdoor kitchen design than your indoor kitchen.

Get the cooking space set up with gas, electrical, and water lines. Add a built-in grill with a cooking area large enough to feed a small army. Pamper yourself with spacious countertops for dining and meal prepping. Load up your cooking space with appliances and all the outdoor cabinet storage you could possibly need.

We can’t even say you can have everything but the kitchen sink…because a sink can be included in an outdoor kitchen, too!

Without the constraints of an already-constructed and defined space to work within, you can go hog wild with your outdoor kitchen design.

Or not.

Outdoor cooking areas can also be smaller and/or less elaborate. A modestly-sized patio section that is outfitted with just the essentials like a good grill, a few cabinets, a small countertop, and an appliance or two can still let you get a lot done.

Creating an outdoor kitchen gives you more freedom to go big with its design more than most indoor kitchen designs can.

5. Grilled food just tastes better

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” We can add to that, “And grilled food always tastes better.”

Cooking over a hot flame brings out delicious flavours that simply aren’t achievable in an oven or with other indoor cooking appliances. And not just in meats, either.

Cooking seafood, vegetables, and even fruit on the grill can produce surprising results that add some welcome variety to your summer menu.

6. More time spent outdoors is good for your health

Spending more time in the great outdoors is good for your health. Don’t just take our word for it – science shows that spending more time outside has many health benefits.

Here are a few examples of how more outside living can benefit you:

Sunlight provides vitamin D and can lessen the effects of pain on the body.
Some people pay for aromatherapy sessions to relieve stress. Experiencing the smells of nature like freshly cut grass, pine trees, and flowers does the exact same thing.
Being outside more boosts your immune system.
The outdoors helps calm your mind and restore your focus, which makes you more creative.

The pandemic eliminated the ability for us to socialize much – if at all – with our friends for far too long. FaceTime and Zoom calls simply aren’t the same as spending quality face-to-face time with those we’re closest to. A lack of social interaction took a toll on the mental health of many of us.

As normalcy returns, socializing more with friends and family in places like backyards, on pub patios, or at a ball game (if the Blue Jays ever make it back home) will be good for the well-being of everybody.

Spending more time outside during the summer is good for your health. (Photo by Allan Mas from Pexels)

7. A beautiful outdoor kitchen impresses everyone

A high-end outdoor cooking and entertaining area will become a go-to summer destination for your friends, neighbours, and family.

A fully outfitted backyard kitchen that can satisfy everyone’s appetites is only part of the appeal. With an outdoor entertainment area that includes an outdoor bar, TV, fire pit, and comfy furniture, your guests will never want to leave.

Not only will everyone want to soak up the cozy, inviting atmosphere and good food, they know they’ll be well taken care of by their hosts.

8. Maximize the enjoyment of your spring and summer

We’d bet that no other country in the world enjoys their summers more than Canadians. Summers here are all-too-short, but the amount of time we spend outside enjoying the warm weather shouldn’t be.

Make it your favourite part of the house from early spring through to late fall (and even beyond that if you’re particularly resilient!) with the right design and supplying the space with heating.

All sorts of practical backyard heating solutions are available to help extend your enjoyment of the outdoors. This includes:

outdoor fireplaces
gas and propane fire pits and fire tables
wood-burning fire pits
patio heaters

What better place is there to share good times with your friends and family than a nicely designed backyard? (Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels)

9. Grilling is healthier for you

Grilling your food on a barbecue instead of frying or broiling it is considered more healthy for you.

Fried foods absorb lots of fat. If too much of it is consumed, the higher cholesterol levels they contain can raise your blood pressure and increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

If you grill your food more often, a lot of the fat on the meat drips off. That lowers your calorie intake and results in a healthier diet and potentially fewer health issues.

Another health-related benefit of grilling that most people aren’t aware of is a piece of food that is grilled has more nutritional value than if you fried the same type of food. Grilled meats and veggies cook faster, which lets them retain more of their nutrients.

10. Outdoor kitchen building projects are less disruptive

If you’ve ever undergone a major renovation on an interior space like the kitchen or bathroom, you know how inconvenient and disruptive it can be.

Because all of the work with an outdoor kitchen project occurs, well, outdoors, there is less disruption to your family’s daily routine.

To ensure the project is done right and in a timely manner, hire an outdoor kitchen design company like Outeriors. Did you know that 8 in 10 homeowners used professional installers for their outdoor kitchen additions?

Here are some interesting statistics about home improvement trends in Canada, courtesy of the RE/MAX 2021 Renovation Investment Report:

Infographic from RE/MAX

11. Outdoor summer cooking saves energy

Next on our list of outdoor kitchen benefits is the energy conservation it contributes to.

Being outside more to cook during the summer keeps your home a little cooler because the indoor oven will be used less. Your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to cool your living space if the largest source of indoor heat during the summer (that isn’t weather-related) is on vacation.

The dishwasher, which also generates a lot of heat, can take a break, too. Consider air-drying your dishes to save energy or you could add an outdoor dishwasher to your exterior living space for even more convenience.

Another way an outdoor kitchen saves energy is that with everything you need in your food prep area, trips in and out of the home are all but eliminated. That prevents the escape of cold air from your house’s interior and keeps the warm air outside where it belongs.

Your outdoor kitchen appliances will still be using electricity, naturally, but the heat from things like a pizza oven and side burners will dissipate quicker outside.

12. Add value to your home

If you’re adding an outdoor cooking space to your home, you’re obviously not planning to move anytime soon. One day, however, you might find yourself being a seller.

The 12 outdoor kitchen benefits we have listed here certainly make your house more attractive to potential buyers. The added functionality an outdoor kitchen and living space offers adds value to your home and is a great selling point. And until that happens, you’ll get years of enjoyment from your investment.

Buying products made with premium materials and finishes that last longer will make your outdoor kitchen retain its long-term value even more.

Outdoor kitchens have a high return on investment

If you do an online search for the estimated return on investment (ROI) of an outdoor kitchen addition, the numbers vary quite widely.

Some real estate professionals believe an outdoor kitchen project has a 70% ROI, which is considered very good. Others believe it’s much higher and in the 90-100% range. Some even believe adding an outdoor kitchen recoups well over 100% of your building costs in the long run.

Whichever ROI estimate you trust, even at the lowest end, outdoor kitchens are a smart investment that provides a return on investment that exceeds the 68.6% average for the most popular home remodel projects.

Reap the benefits of an outdoor kitchen

Have these outdoor kitchen benefits convinced you that it’s time to add a second kitchen to your home?

Prioritize outdoor living and reimagine your backyard space. Our design pros will work with you to choose the best products, materials, colours, and styles to make your outdoor living space concept above and beyond what you dreamed it could be.

Kick-start your outdoor kitchen and living space project by booking a free design consultation with an Outeriors design consultant.

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7 Hot Outdoor Kitchen Trends and Ideas for 2021

Remember the days when backyard cooking areas were simple and rather boring?

They included little more than a basic grill and a wobbly side table overloaded with meats, condiments, and grilling tools.

This may even describe your current outdoor cooking setup.

Times have changed, however. Current outdoor kitchen trends have seen the outdoor living experience go upscale.

Modern outdoor kitchen designs can provide homeowners with attractive, high-functioning spaces. That extends to entertaining outdoors, too. After all, grilling and outdoor entertaining go hand in hand!

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to make some home upgrades? Adding an outdoor cooking and entertaining space in 2021 is a great way to get more enjoyment from your home.

Outdoor kitchens are the most popular kitchen upgrade project

Forbes recently wrote that “outdoor kitchens and living areas are trending strongly and richly, with more enhancements than ever before”.

An American Institute of Architects’ Home Design Trends Survey also shows the popularity of outdoor kitchen additions.

500 design professionals were asked about their predictions for home design trends. 45% of the architects believed outdoor kitchens would be the most popular kitchen product and feature in the coming years.

This is a big deal because that’s among any kitchen project, including indoor kitchens.

Outdoor kitchen trends to make your space great

We all spent more time at home in 2020 than ever before. Getting outdoors whenever the weather was nice provided a welcome escape from the confines of our indoor spaces.

Unfortunately, it was difficult to enjoy many warm weather activities. Opportunities to travel, go to the beach, attend outdoor concerts, or go to an amusement park were few and far between.

That made our backyards incredibly vital. Did your backyard allow you to fully enjoy the time that was spent outdoors in the spring, summer, and early fall?

Life will soon return to normal. Eventually, social activities like having our friends, families, and neighbours over for a backyard cookout will be something that’s appreciated more than ever.

people watching man grilling in outdoor kitchen

When life returns to normal, we’ll appreciate social activities like an outdoor cookout more than ever.

An outdoor kitchen doesn’t require a lot of room. They typically range from 100 to 400 square feet. A smaller, relatively simple kitchen setup in the corner of a deck or patio can do quite a lot.

Or you can go bigger and more elaborate with your outdoor kitchen design. The more sophisticated designs of modern interior kitchens are being used in outdoor spaces. Adding a dining and lounging area to an outdoor kitchen space gives you the full outdoor living experience.

In 2021, make plans to extend your home’s living space to the backyard with an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area.

We took a look at what real estate and home design professionals are projecting to be the hot outdoor kitchen trends. Use their expertise about what essential features your outdoor living space should include to make it exceptional.

1. Use a premium grill

The grill is an outdoor kitchen’s centrepiece. Any upscale exterior kitchen needs a high-quality cooking appliance worthy of a professional chef.

Consider premium grill brands like Alfresco, Coyote, Lynx, and DCS. They make fine-tuned products that are far superior to even the highest-end grill models you’ll find in your local big-box store.

It starts with the construction. Any grill needs to be able to last and work properly in the ever-changing Canadian weather, even if it’s covered up during the winter.

Premium propane and natural gas grills use high-quality stainless steel and construction materials. This ensures long-lasting durability and reliable performance.

Grills with expansive cooking surfaces are a must-have for anyone who likes to entertain. Handy extras like a smoking box and rotisserie are also essential for those who take their grilling seriously.

Today’s luxury grills also come with some very swanky modern features. Here are a few examples:

backlit control knobs, interior lighting, and halogen surface lights
advanced tech to automatically maintain a preset temperature
smart controls that respond to voice commands and smart devices
hood assist systems that make opening the grill hood almost effortless

Standalone grills used to be the standard for an outdoor cooking space. One of the growing outdoor kitchen trends includes incorporating a built-in grill into the kitchen’s design. This saves space, looks professional and elegant, and creates a more efficient workspace.

2. Plenty of kitchen storage space

You can’t call a space a kitchen without cabinetry. Naturally, an outdoor kitchen requires a special type of cabinetry.

Outdoor kitchen cabinets must be durable enough to handle being outdoors and look appealing. They need to maximize your kitchen’s storage space as well.

outdoor kitchen with grill and grey cabinets

This modestly-sized outdoor kitchen’s cabinetry provides ample storage space.

Stainless steel cabinets have a sleek look that can be customized to match your style preferences. They also complement nicely with the look of your grill and other outdoor kitchen features.

Another weatherproof cabinet option is a hi-density resin cabinet system. NatureKast offers this type of cabinet, which replicates the texture and natural colour of real wood remarkably well.

Marine-grade aluminum kitchen cabinets are also engineered to withstand harsh weather and climates. Quebec’s Urban Bonfire is one of the leading manufacturers of this type of outdoor cabinet.

3. A sturdy and attractive outdoor kitchen countertop

An outdoor kitchen countertop has three main functions. It has to:

have a resilient surface that can handle the requirements for a food prep area
be engineered for long-lasting structural and aesthetic integrity outdoors
visually complement the kitchen’s other stylish features

Some of the more common types of countertop materials include marble, granite, porcelain, soapstone, and concrete.

One of the outdoor kitchen trends we’re seeing more with countertops is to use surfaces made with sintering technology. This high-tech manufacturing process produces extremely durable surfaces that are highly customizable.

Any higher-quality outdoor kitchen countertop will be non-porous. It should also provide strong resistance to abrasions, stains, chemicals, and ultraviolet light (which prevents the surface colour from fading over time).

4. A full-service food prep area

A well-designed outdoor kitchen should include a full-service food prep area. A practical layout for everything allows you to work more efficiently.

The need for good lighting and an ample amount of counter space is a given.

Having every amenity you’ll need to handle all of your food prep is helpful, too. Cooking for a group of people is a lot of work. There’s no time to waste shuttling in and out of the house to use cooking appliances or retrieve a needed item!

Convenient kitchen amenities like a built-in warming drawer make outdoor cooking easier.

There are a full complement of interior kitchen amenities that can be added to an outdoor kitchen. Here are a few examples, including some essential outdoor kitchen appliances:

faucet and sink
built-in countertop side burners
flat-top grill
outdoor pizza oven
countertop steam table
warming drawer
refrigeration and ice-making appliances

5. Plenty of refrigeration

Let’s look a little closer at refrigeration in an outdoor kitchen. Having enough ice and keeping things cool are both a big part of the outdoor cooking and entertaining experience.

Have your outdoor kitchen designed so it’s fully equipped to take care of both the host’s and guest’s refrigeration needs.

An outdoor cooking area with proper refrigeration saves you from making trips to your indoor fridge or freezer to restock on meats.

It saves guests from needing to make trips inside to get a fresh, cold drink. You also won’t have to keep coolers or tubs of ice filled with bottled beverages scattered around your outdoor entertaining area.

There’s no shortage of outdoor kitchen refrigeration options available. Top outdoor appliance brands like Alfresco and Lynx offer under-grill refrigerators, wine fridges, built-in under-counter fridges, and professional fridge/freezer combos.

How about adding an outdoor ice machine? Lynx has an energy-efficient appliance that can produce almost 40 pounds of ice. It even provides audible alerts and programmed cleaning reminders.

6. Tasteful décor

The attention you pay to the design and décor of an indoor living space should extend to your outdoor living space as well.

The modern concept of “style continuity” in the home (where there’s a natural decorative flow from room to room) drives another of the outdoor kitchen trends designers love.

More and more, the décor of outdoor kitchens complements the style of an interior kitchen or the closest room to the outdoor kitchen.

Decorative flair can also be used to accentuate the already-impressive looks of a premium grill, cabinet system, and countertop. Extra touches like including cabinet backsplashes and decorative moulding elements add to the kitchen’s visual appeal.

7. Add-on outdoor kitchen features

We’ve covered a lot with these outdoor kitchen trends and ideas, but there’s still more you can do to elevate your outdoor living experience.

Here are some more features and design elements to consider adding to your outdoor living space:

an outdoor fireplace or fire pit
high-end outdoor furniture
an outdoor TV
landscape lighting to boost the ambiance in your outdoor lounge area
an integrated sound system with hidden speakers and wiring
a herb garden close to the food prep area
overhead covering for added comfort

Elevate your outdoor living experience with things like high-quality patio furniture, a fireplace, and a TV.

Adopt these outdoor kitchen trends for your cooking space

All of these outdoor kitchen trends and essential features will contribute immensely to your enjoyment of your backyard.

When you can enjoy the full outdoor living experience, you just might find that your backyard even replaces the living room as your home’s go-to social hub!

If you’re planning to upgrade or add an outdoor kitchen in your home this year, request a design consultation with Outeriors.

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Outdoor Kitchen Design: 9 Common Questions and Answers

Home improvement projects to add or upgrade outdoor living spaces have been on an upward trend in the last few years.

In a recent Home Design Trends Survey, 45% of the architects polled predicted that outdoor kitchen additions would become the most popular type of remodelling project in the kitchen category.

When so many in-the-know professionals believe outdoor cooking space additions will be more popular than traditional indoor kitchen makeovers, that’s saying something.

With the pandemic dramatically shifting how we live and function, maximizing the comfort level in our homes has become even more of a priority for a lot of homeowners.

The desire to enhance our lifestyle by creating more livable outdoor space in the backyard or at the cottage has made exterior kitchens very in-demand right now.

There are a number of questions you probably have about what goes into an outdoor kitchen design, so let’s provide some answers.

1. Who should I trust with my outdoor kitchen design?

Anyone can buy a new grill and patio dining set and call it an outdoor living space, but there’s so much more the outdoor living experience can offer. Think bigger.

Hiring a skilled designer to create an outdoor kitchen and living space will result in a finished project that serves your family’s needs better and has a high-end, professional look.

As a division of the storage and organization experts at Garage Living, Outeriors has the same high standards for our outdoor kitchen designs as we do for our garage designs. This includes working with only the finest gourmet grills, cabinetry, and appliances.

Our skilled designers are dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind outdoor kitchens that are customized to our clients’ style preferences and functional needs.

One thing that sets Outeriors apart is the full-service approach we bring to our kitchen projects. From design to installation, we take care of everything with your outdoor kitchen. This includes handling all aspects related to an outdoor living space’s:

cabinetry
grills
appliances
countertops

2. What’s the best location for an outdoor kitchen?

One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is where the outdoor kitchen will be located in your backyard.

If you have an existing deck or patio where you want the outdoor kitchen to go then it’s an easier decision, but it’s good to take a few of the following factors into consideration.

Most homeowners prefer to have their outdoor cooking area located close to the house. This makes an outdoor kitchen and dining area feel more like an extension of the living space. The house also acts as a shelter from the wind and, depending on the design of the house, can provide shade.

This type of setup may be more desirable just for the sake of convenience when you’re cooking outdoors and want quick access to anything inside. Having an outdoor kitchen within close proximity of the house makes installing plumbing, electrical, and natural gas connections a bit easier, too.

Locating an exterior kitchen and entertaining area further from the house if you have a larger backyard has its benefits as well.

A poolside area outfitted with a cooking and lounging space can make your backyard experience feel like you’re staying at a nice resort and give you more room to get creative with your outdoor kitchen design.

Nothing beats the taste of grilled foods and even during the frigid Canadian winter, a lot of us still like to fire up the grill. If you fall into this category, keep that in mind when choosing your outdoor kitchen’s location. After all, you probably don’t want to trudge through a couple of feet of snow to get to that poolside grill in mid-February!

3. Is a patio or deck better for my cooking space?

The deck versus patio argument has been around for ages and if you’re looking to add either one for an outdoor kitchen, there are some basic facts you should know. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of each.

Patio

Compared to wood decks, patios are a little more cost-effective because they’re less expensive to install and tend to last a bit longer. Well-maintained wood decks should last about 10-15 years and a patio that has been properly maintained will last approximately 15-20 years.

Patios provide a wealth of options in terms of shapes, designs, and colours of paver and patio stones. This can help you create a patio design that beautifully complements your home’s exterior.

While you don’t have to worry about weight restrictions with a patio like you do with decks, you are limited to having it on the ground floor.

Deck

Decks typically cost more to build than patios but do provide a slightly higher return on investment (around 75% compared to approximately 70% for a patio).

One advantage decks have over patios is they give you more flexibility in terms of where they can be installed. A raised deck may be preferable to you depending on the layout of your home and an elevated deck also offers a nicer view if you live in a picturesque location. That last fact can also mean less privacy if you have neighbours living right beside you, however.

One issue you need to concern yourself with when it comes to raised decks is they need to be sturdy enough to handle the weight of an outdoor living space and its occupants. Elevated decks will also require some type of railing.

Wood decks will require occasional maintenance, naturally. There shouldn’t be much of a concern with wood decks posing a fire hazard if you take the following precautions:

locate your grill in a safe area (not too close to wood railings or any combustible materials)
work with a professional who will know how to design a cooking space that’s safe
apply a flame-retardant treatment to the deck wood

To eliminate the need for deck maintenance, you could choose a more premium type of deck material like aluminum or composite (the latter has a lifespan that ranges anywhere from 25-50 years).

4. What type of outdoor kitchen layout do I need?

How you plan to use your outdoor kitchen should be the primary factor that determines how the layout is designed.

Do you need a large or small food prep area? How much space do you need for storage or to add appliances or a sink? Do you want to incorporate a dining area into the cooking space? Where should the grill go?

There are many things to take into consideration in order to choose a kitchen configuration that will maximize your enjoyment of the space.

If you have a lot of room to work with and desire a fully-functioning outdoor kitchen, a U-shaped or L-shaped configuration is ideal.

These types of layouts will provide you with an ample amount of counter and storage space in your food prep area, as well as more room to add a sink, some appliances, and a larger grill.

Part of the countertop can even be used as a bar area with seating for guests. Another option is to incorporate an island into the kitchen’s layout, which can be used as an extra work surface (where you could put the sink), a bar area, or additional storage.

What if you’re working with a smaller budget, have a limited amount of space, or just aren’t looking to create a large outdoor kitchen? No worries – you can still create a beautiful outdoor cooking space with a nice grill, a modest amount of countertop space, and a few cabinets and drawers.

5. Is a premium grill worth it?

If you’re used to paying a few hundred dollars for a grill that is perfectly fine and functional, there are several reasons why you should spend a little more for a premium grill.

Premium grills are built to last. Inexpensive barbecues cost what they do because a lot of manufacturers use cheap metals and parts that rust and break quickly. Spend a little more for a grill that has higher-grade construction materials like 304 stainless steel.

A high-quality grill just looks and feels nicer. One of the first things anyone looking at an outdoor kitchen will notice is the grill. Premium grills project a professional, upscale look and that superior quality is evident when you get hands-on with one, too.

A premium grill is more reliable and safe to use. If you get more than a couple of years of use out of the starter switch on a cheap grill before it’s toast, you’re probably happy. Luxury grills will work more reliably, from starting up every time to retaining their heat effectively to distributing heat more efficiently than budget grills (which reduces the occurrence of dangerous flare-ups).

Luxury grills work better for a custom outdoor kitchen design. If you’re putting the time and expense into getting a professionally designed outdoor living space, a premium grill is a must-have. You’ll have a number of style and size options to choose from to ensure the grill effectively complements the rest of the kitchen’s stylish features.

Premium grills come with convenient high-tech features. How would you like to fire up your grill or adjust the temperature with a voice command or by tapping a smartphone screen? Wouldn’t it be nice to use a grill with sensors that were so precise they could keep cooking temperatures at the perfect level? These are just some of the available features on modern smart grills.

6. What should I know about outdoor kitchen cabinetry?

Outdoor kitchen cabinetry works hard.

It needs to look great, provide you with efficient storage space, and be durable enough to withstand the diverse weather of Canada’s four seasons.

Oh, and it would be helpful if it was low-maintenance, too.

That’s a lot to ask of one product, but premium outdoor kitchen cabinet brands like Home Refinements, Urban Bonfire, and NatureKast are up to the task.

They offer high-quality outdoor cabinet solutions with a range of materials, colours, finishes, and styles to make customizing your outdoor kitchen design easier.

Like grills, outdoor kitchen cabinetry needs to be made from high-quality materials that won’t rust or wear down rapidly. Here are three resilient cabinet materials worth considering:

commercial-grade stainless steel with a powder coating finish
PVC (which replicates the look of real wood and is very low-maintenance)
marine-grade aluminum

7. What type of countertop should I buy?

Another hard-working part of any outdoor kitchen are the countertops, which need to have a high resistance to scratches, stains, and high temperatures, in addition to being outdoor-proof and visually appealing.

High-end outdoor kitchen countertops from manufacturers like Dekton and Neolith are made with the latest in countertop design technology.

A highly advanced manufacturing process that involves using sintering particle technology can create work and dining surfaces that are exceptionally strong and durable.

They are also highly customizable, giving you an endless array of options for materials, colours, patterns, and textures.

8. How can I complement my outdoor cooking space?

An outdoor kitchen adds stylish functionality to your backyard, but what are some ways you can complement it to create a complete outdoor living space?

There’s no shortage of ideas to add to your outdoor kitchen design and make your backyard a more comfortable and attractive extension of your living space.

An outdoor living and entertaining space and relaxation go hand in hand, so some comfy seating like a sofa, loveseat, or recliners are a must. Get a high-quality dining set built for the outdoors to make dining al fresco more enjoyable.

Proper lighting for an outdoor living area and the surrounding landscaping also makes a big difference. Strategically placed lighting accentuates the living space, adds ambiance, and allows it to be more functional and safe.

Here are some additional things that can be included in an outdoor living space:

an outdoor fireplace, fire pit, or patio heater
ceiling fans
an outdoor TV
an outdoor bar/beverage centre
a hot tub
outdoor rugs
a pergola, awning, or pavilion
an in-ground garden or a vertical garden with fresh herbs and vegetables

9. What are the best outdoor kitchen appliances?

An exterior kitchen’s main appliance – the grill – can do a lot of the “heavy lifting” when it comes to preparing outdoor meals, but what if you want to expand your cooking repertoire?

That’s where outdoor kitchen appliances come in. An outdoor kitchen design can incorporate a number of specialty appliances that give you more cooking options, which allows you to get more creative in the kitchen.

Appliances like a smoker, pizza oven, flattop/cooktop grill, outdoor oven, side burners, and warming drawers can, in many cases, be installed as built-in units that make efficient use of the kitchen space.

Some non-cooking outdoor appliances that also bring the amenities of an indoor kitchen to your outdoor living space include refrigerators, freezers, and ice machines.

Bring us your outdoor kitchen design ideas

Let’s talk about your outdoor kitchen and living space design ideas. We’ll work together to create an incredible and unique outdoor cooking and entertaining space for your home or cottage.

Request a free design consultation with us to start planning your outdoor kitchen project.

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7 Smart Outdoor Home Improvement Projects That Up Your Curb Appeal

Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value report measures which home improvement projects retain the best value over time.

The 2020 Cost vs. Value report determined that nine of the top ten renovation projects that delivered the highest value returns were outdoor home improvement projects.

Homeowners want their houses and property to be something they can show off and be proud of. Investing in the right outdoor home improvement projects can turn an average-looking house and property into something special that can make your home really stand out in the neighbourhood.

Boosting curb appeal doesn’t just have aesthetic benefits, however. Investing in your home’s exterior appearance also enhances your comfort level and adds value to your home that can be recouped to varying degrees whenever you move.

7 smart outdoor home improvement projects

Curb appeal isn’t restricted to only your home’s street-facing features, either. Sprucing up the backyard is also important and we’re seeing more interest in this area of home improvement.

It pays to do your homework about which outdoor home improvement projects pay off and which ones don’t.

Adding a pool, for example, might provide you and your family with many hours of enjoyment for as long as you own your house. Unfortunately, pools have a notoriously lousy return on investment (typically in the 40-50% range). The vast majority of anyone buying a home views pools as the least appealing outdoor feature for a house.

Which outdoor home improvement projects are considered the smartest picks if you want to invest in your curb appeal and retain a higher amount of your remodeling investment?

Here are seven worthwhile projects that will refresh the exterior appearance of your house and add value to your home.

1. A new roof

As you can see from the Remodeling Impact Report infographic below from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a new roof provides an outstanding return on investment.

A roof upgrade has a huge impact on curb appeal and provides a great return on investment. (Source: The National Association of Realtors)

Not only is redoing a roof a wise investment and great for curb appeal, but it also ranks very high when it comes to the satisfaction of consumers with their outdoor home improvement projects.

The NAR’s “Joy Score” measures the happiness of homeowners with their renovations on a scale of 1-10 and a new roof gets a score of 9.2.

Giving your roof a facelift isn’t cheap, so it tends to be one of those outdoor home improvement projects that get put off for as long as possible. The lifespan of asphalt roofing shingles in Canada ranges anywhere from 15-30 years, depending on the quality of the shingles.

However, waiting to replace your shingles isn’t the kind of thing you want to procrastinate on for too long, as anyone who has dealt with a leaky roof can attest. Even if a roof isn’t leaking, missing and faded shingles, along with other types of roof damage, can present your house in a poor light.

Performing annual roof inspections yourself can mitigate unexpected roofing issues in the future. Look for wind damage that may have caused some shingles to get ripped off or loosened, curled shingles, an excess of missing granules on the surface of shingles, and damage from hail. Ensure your downspouts and gutters are regularly cleaned, as clogs can potentially cause roof damage.

If you can afford it, a roof upgrade project also presents a good opportunity to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency and value. A study by Zillow (a leading real estate and rental digital company) found that homes with solar panels sold for more than homes without solar energy systems.

Some people don’t care for the aesthetics of roof solar panels, which Tesla has addressed with its Solar Roof system. It replaces the large, shiny, and futuristic look of traditional roof solar panels with much smaller high-efficiency solar panels that replicate the look of a traditional shingled roof.

2. Front door replacement

One of the more cost-effective outdoor home improvement projects worth doing is replacing your front entry door. A stylish and modern front door creates a strong first impression to anyone entering your home.

A professionally installed new front door typically falls in the $1,000-$5,000 range. Larger doors that have high-end hardware and include more intricate glass designs will naturally increase the price of the project.

New front doors provide a solid return on investment of around 70-75%. On the most recent Remodeling Impact Report, homeowners who had gotten recent fibreglass and steel front door replacements rated their project a 9.7 on the Joy Score scale.

Steel and fibreglass exterior entry doors are popular with homeowners nowadays because they cost less than most wood doors. Unlike wood doors, steel and fibreglass also requires little to no maintenance.

In addition to aesthetics, one of the reasons given by homeowners for a steel or fibreglass exterior door replacement was energy efficiency considerations. Homeowners also cited security concerns as a reason for getting a modern door that was sturdier than their old door.

If your budget doesn’t allow for getting a new front door, even sprucing up your existing door is beneficial to your home’s appearance.

A fresh coat of paint or stain for your door and upgrading hardware features like the lock, knob, handle, and knocker can make an old front door look brand new. You can also update the door by adding a smart lock system.

3. Adding an outdoor kitchen

Kitchen remodels are consistently one of the most popular home improvement projects. The American Institute of Architects’ recent Home Design Trends Survey is taking this concept to a whole new level.

45% of the 500 members of residential architecture firms surveyed predict that outdoor kitchen additions will become the most popular type of home improvement project in the kitchen category in the coming years.

Adding an outdoor kitchen gives Canadians who are looking to maximize their time outdoors when the weather is nice with another option when it comes to cooking at home. And when we say “option”, we’re not just talking about using a single grill with a side burner.

Outdoor kitchens are capable of truly bringing the indoors outside, implementing many of the amenities and features of a traditional kitchen into an outdoor cooking space.

A professional outdoor kitchen design company like Outeriors can create a cooking space that is fit for a gourmet cook.

From design to installation, we take care of everything for your outdoor cooking space. Our outdoor kitchens have a sophisticated, high-end look and are designed to incorporate all of the features your cooking needs require. This includes:

premium grills
custom outdoor cabinetry
outdoor kitchen countertops
cooking and refrigeration appliances

A creative and thoughtful touch like adding a nearby garden (or a vertical garden that’s actually right in the kitchen) with fresh herbs and veggies for your meals is also an option for an outdoor kitchen.

4. Adding an outdoor living space

To complement an exterior cooking area, adding an outdoor living space can really help you get the most out of your backyard and connect more with the great outdoors.

An outdoor living room with plenty of comfortable seating and an area for dining al fresco extends your home’s living space.

Backyard living spaces also create an ideal space for entertaining during the warmer months of the year. These attractive benefits are why many buyers of new luxury homes consider an outdoor living room a must-have feature.

Outdoor living spaces can be designed to accommodate all types of budgets and sizes of backyards. A simple design for a small patio or a larger, more lavish outdoor living space design will improve your comfort level while at home.

A talented designer will ensure your outdoor living space and outdoor kitchen blend seamlessly with your existing home’s style and décor.

A few extra amenities worth considering for an outdoor living space are:

an outdoor fire pit or fireplace
a pergola or retractable awning for sun and rain protection, as well as for privacy
an outdoor audio system
lighting upgrades for more ambiance and functionality
a weatherproof/outdoor TV

5. Home siding or stone veneer upgrade

Appearance-conscious homeowners should consider a siding replacement if their home’s siding has seen better days.

This home improvement project can greatly impact your curb appeal. Compared to siding products from 20-30 years ago, modern siding is a lot more durable, is easier to maintain, and gives you a lot more design options with a variety of profiles and colours.

While the return on investment for vinyl and fibre cement siding is in the 65-75% range, a siding replacement left homeowners who undertook the project very satisfied with a 9.3 Joy Score.

For a different look that stands out from the long horizontal panels used for siding on most homes, you could choose textured shake siding made from engineered wood.

Another visually impressive alternative is to add a stone veneer to your home’s exterior for a distinct, natural look. While it’s not cheap, adding a manufactured stone veneer to your home had one of the highest returns on investment in the latest Cost vs. Value report at 96%.

6. New garage doors

One of the home’s major focal points is the garage doors, which can account for as much as a third of a house’s front exterior. It’s a simple fact that attractive garage doors and strong curb appeal go hand in hand.

While the approximate returns on investment for various renovation projects can vary from year to year depending on trends, new garage doors are as rock-solid an investment as it gets in home improvement for the amount recouped. Year after year, they stay in the 85-95% range for return on investment.

Like front doors, garage doors offer a wealth of styles and customization options nowadays to effectively complement a house’s exterior, in addition to improving the energy efficiency of homes.

An aluminum capping upgrade is a rather underappreciated way to add to a home’s exterior visual appeal, too. Most people aren’t familiar with what aluminum capping is. It involves wrapping a garage doorframe in aluminum sheeting that is colour-matched to the garage doors and home exterior, which gives a house a clean, more finished look.

7. Upgrading or adding a deck or patio

Decks ranked number one among the features wanted most by homebuyers, according to the Homeowners’ Most Wanted survey from Porch, an online home improvement resource.

Their return on investment is in the 70-75% range, with wood decks recouping slightly more than decks made from composite materials.

It’s no surprise that a deck or patio upgrade or addition is usually one of the most popular outdoor home improvement projects in Canada during the spring and summer.

These areas are the foundation of a backyard cooking and living space. Whether you’re working on a tan, cooking for your family or guests, or just relaxing with friends, there’s a real value in having a spacious, comfortable area at the ready in your backyard.

If you already have a wood deck, giving it a little TLC every few years by spending a weekend restaining it can give this part of your home a beneficial refresh. Deck stain applications will last for about five years.

Get started on your outdoor home improvement projects!

Which outdoor home improvement projects are on your to-do list this spring and summer?

If an outdoor cooking and living space is something you’ve always wanted, make this the year your dream becomes a reality.

Request a consultation with Outeriors to start planning your outdoor project now so you’ll be able to maximize the use of your outdoor kitchen and living space this summer.

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CategoryOutdoor Kitchen Design

Why outdoor kitchen colours matter

6 outdoor kitchen colour considerations

1. Complement the surrounding environment

2. Climate and deck/patio location

3. Outdoor kitchen materials

4. Durability and maintenance

5. How your kitchen will function

6. Whether or not you want an indoor-outdoor living space

Popular outdoor kitchen colour themes

1. Biophilic/nature-inspired colours

2. Monochromatic colours

3. Neutral and muted colours

4. Adding pops of bold colour

Outdoor cabinet and countertop colour ideas

Make your outdoor kitchen stand out with style

See also:

Try these spring backyard decor ideas

1. Spruce up your patio

2. Refresh your deck

3. Have an outdoor kitchen installed

4. Reconfigure your garden setup

5. Upgrade your outdoor living space

6. Add a water feature

7. Add more backyard colour

8. Improve your backyard lighting

9. Mulch it up

Upgrade your backyard decor this spring

See also:

What is high-density polyethylene (HDPE)?

7 benefits of polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets

1. Polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets are weatherproof

2. HDPE outdoor cabinets are extremely durable

3. Design flexibility and a high-end look

4. Polyethylene outdoor kitchen cabinets are cost-effective

5. HDPE cabinets are low-maintenance

6. Outdoor kitchen storage and more

7. HDPE cabinets are more eco-friendly

Enjoy the benefits of owning HDPE outdoor kitchen cabinets

6 reasons an outdoor kitchen is worth it

Why are outdoor kitchens so popular?

A trend with staying power

How outdoor kitchens create a more complete living space

Outdoor kitchens come in all shapes and sizes

What is an outdoor kitchen’s return on investment?

Homebuyers notice outdoor living upgrades

How much is an outdoor kitchen?

Discover why an outdoor kitchen is so worth it!

See also:

An outdoor kitchen and cottage life go hand in hand

Cottage country’s “design renaissance”

Why a cottage outdoor kitchen is a great investment

Keep it in the family

Additional outdoor kitchen benefits

8 outdoor kitchen design principles

Unique design considerations for cottage outdoor kitchens

Go big or go small

Cottage outdoor living space ideas

Enjoy the comforts of the indoors outside

Set up a cottage outdoor entertainment space

Let the music play!

How to stay connected while you’re at the cottage

Keep things cool, dry, and (almost) bug-free

A fire pit extends your cottage season

Savour life outdoors at your cottage

See also:

The most popular pandemic DIY projects

Why pandemic DIY projects are so popular

Pandemic DIY projects give us a sense of purpose

It’s no surprise backyard upgrades are popular

4 drawbacks of DIYing home projects

Have a pro make your backyard staycation-worthy

See also:

1. An outdoor kitchen company has experience

There is no substitute for experience

Measuring twice, building once

2. Convenience

3. Customize your outdoor kitchen design

Dealing with customization challenges

4. Work with the best outdoor kitchen products