Enjoy the Great Outdoors - At Home

As a kid, I loved it when Mom grilled hamburgers for supper. Having our meal prepared outdoors was a change of pace. To this day, I have special memories of those occasions. I remember our whole yard filling up with a savory aroma that just got better the longer those burgers cooked. I remember keeping an eye on our dog, Champ, to make sure he didn't get too friendly with the burgers. And I remember my mom making lots of trips back and forth, inside and out, between our kitchen and the small charcoal grill that sat on our patio.  

Backyard grilling is as popular as ever, but for many families, the back-and-forth, inside-and-out aspect is long gone. With more homes today outfitted with outdoor kitchens, today's cooks no longer need to make repeated trips inside-everything they need to prepare and serve the meal is close at hand.   

Outdoor kitchens are commonly equipped not just with grills, but also with refrigerators and sinks, and some even have granite countertops for a high-end look that rivals that of their indoor counterparts, according to Kim Newnam, owner of ProScapes of NC, an Apex company that specializes in design-built landscape installation. ProScapes installs not only outdoor kitchens, but also patios, walls, irrigation systems, lighting, water features and plants.  

Let's Get Cooking
The most important component of the outdoor kitchen is the grill, and Newnam recommends that homeowners go with high quality that will last for years. Spend a little more now and you'll be able to enjoy it much longer. In other words, forget the inexpensive, small charcoal grill. Instead, consider a multi-burner, stainless steel gas grill, with features such as warming racks and a rotisserie.(Rotisseries, Newnam notes, are especially popular right now.) She gives a thumbs-up to the Fire Magic brand of grills, noting the stainless steel construction protects them from rust. Grills today are available both as built-in pieces of equipment and as portable units.  Newnam has watched outdoor kitchens gain popularity over the past few years. Today she sees a new trend on the horizon: outdoor fireplaces and fire pits. Additionally, more and more of her customers are requesting custom water features, such as ponds and waterfalls. There are so many options now open to homeowners that it can be somewhat confusing.   

"A lot of people have trouble visualizing, so we send them to a landscape designer," Newnam says,  noting that ProScapes maintains a close working  relationship with several local designers. "Then they come back to us with a plan." Homeowners are also encouraged to visit the ProScapes' showroom to see examples of features like mortared stone walkways and patios to help them decide which outdoor features will work for them.
 
Cool Off 
An entirely different dimension is brought to the outdoor room with the addition of a swimming pool or spa (or both!). "With these features, you can vacation in your backyard all year long," says Kathy Linthicum, who, with her husband Ben, owns Capitol Pools and Spa, Inc. in Garner. "It's another way to bring the family closer together."   Years ago, pools and spas were often treated as stand-alone features, but these days, Linthicum points out, they are incorporated into outdoor rooms through landscaping and accessories. The Linthicums sell many such accessories, ranging from hammocks to candles and benches, through their "Backyard Essentials" program.  

Younger families often prefer a pool, Linthicum says, while a spa may be more appealing to older adults. Considerable health benefits can be gained from either. Pools provide the opportunity for exercise and therapy, while spas are highly recommended for arthritis, back problems, stress, fibromyalgia, and sinuses, she says. Of course, there is no rule against having both, and many families opt to do just that. One attractive option is to install the spa so that it spills over into the pool.   

Prior to having a pool installed, one of the biggest concerns for homeowners is to understand the cleaning and maintenance issues.   

"If your pool is built properly, you should not spend more than 15 to 20 minutes a week on [cleaning and maintaining it]," Linthicum says. A proper filtration system is one of the keys to a low-maintenance pool, she says, which is one reason it's so important to have a pool installed by a reputable business.   

"Pick a company that's going to be here," Linthicum advises. "Ask to see some of their pools. Ask for references."  

The choice between an above-ground or in-ground pool usually has a lot to do with finances. The cost for a nice, in-ground pool averages from $18,000 to $22,000, says Linthicum, whereas a top-of-the-line above-ground pool can be installed for around $5,000 to $6,000. While above-ground pools once carried the stigma of having an inexpensive look, this no longer has to be the case, says Linthicum, especially if proper decking and landscaping are used. "They can be beautiful, if done right," she says.  

Pools are often tied in with adjacent outdoor rooms by the proper placement and choice of flowers, shrubs and trees. In fact, even if you don't have a pool, plants are important in helping to define and decorate outdoor rooms. Thanks to the individual flower and foliage characteristics of different plants, it's possible for homeowners to create landscapes that are interesting and colorful year-round. 

Plant Ahead Logan Trading Company, in downtown Raleigh, sells flowers, shrubs and trees, in addition to statuaries and fountains. It's the responsibility of Logan Bristow, the store's outdoor operations manager, to know which plants can help homeowners achieve an inviting atmosphere in their outdoor rooms during each season.   For spring, Bristow likes Encore Azaleas, which are also a big hit with homeowners because they bloom not just in spring, but also in fall; he also likes Pieris,  a showy, low-maintenance evergreen whose pendulous flowers are reminiscent of Lily of the Valley.  

For summer, he recommends the Endless Summer Hydrangea, which, he says, has become extremely  popular over the last two years. True to its name, this Hydrangea flowers throughout the entire summer. Bristow says the Chaste Tree is another top homeowner choice, with lavender flowers blooming during July and August.  

Bristow's fall favorites include Winged Euonymus, a vase-shaped shrub known for its brilliant red fall foliage, and the Sasanqua Camellia, which usually boasts flowers in some shade of red or pink. As for winter, he says the Winter Daphne, which flowers in early to mid-February, is always popular; he also recommends the Chinese Quince, a deciduous woody shrub that he says is an old-time favorite. 

Plant in Pots

For versatility when arranging plants in and around an outdoor room, homeowners can't beat container gardening.   

"We've seen a big boom in container gardening in the last two years," says Larry McKinney, manager of Logan Trading Company's greenhouse and gift area. Containers, or planters, can be easily relocated from one area to another (depending, naturally, upon their size and weight). Container gardening is especially appealing for anyone trying to make the most of limited outdoor space.  Planters are made from a variety of materials, says McKinney, adding that glazed pottery is currently trendy, especially in bright colors such as cobalt blue and lime green. Black, of course, has a timeless appeal, so it's always in demand.  

McKinney has also noticed that an increasing number of shoppers are interested in lightweight containers made of Styrofoam or fiberglass, but that mimic the look of heavier clay pottery. These containers are easy to move, and they don't crack during winter weather, as clay pots do. However, says McKinney, the color selection with these pots isn't as great.   Let's Get Cooking Don't waste any time this spring getting outside, and gather the comforts of home while you're at it. Surround yourself with fire-be it grill, fireplace or both-add some water elements and don't forget the landscaping and accessories. All of these features will come together to create a space where families can still enjoy that all-American pastime: backyard grilling.   

Classic Tips  
Just as an indoor living room isn't complete without furniture and accessories, neither is an outdoor living room. Fortunately for today's homeowners, the choices in styles, colors and fabrics have never been greater.      

Summer Classics is a leading designer and manufacturer of outdoor furnishings. Lee Crump, manager of the Summer Classics factory store in Raleigh, offers an inside look at what's currently hot in outdoor style.     

When it comes to dining tables and chairs, wicker and wrought iron are now sharing the spotlight with cast aluminum, says Crump. The latter is gaining lots of fans because of its low maintenance and attractive styles. Also, says Crump, outdoor tabletops, traditionally made of glass, are becoming very popular in stone and faux stone.   

In addition to dining areas, homeowners are concentrating on creating stylish, comfortable living areas. This means items like fully-cushioned, all-weather love seats, rockers, lounge chairs and sofas are "in" (even though they're technically out!). Sunbrella� acrylic fabric, manufactured by Glen Raven, Inc., is a top choice among shoppers, says Crump. Available in many colors and styles, it's easy to clean, mold- and mildew- resistant and resistant to fading. 

And, here's the scoop on outdoor accessories: 
- Outdoor rugs (which can be rinsed off with a garden hose) and lamps (both floor models and tabletop models) are  "two big add-on pieces that complete the outdoor room and  make it feel like an indoor space," Crump says.
- Iron wall hangings are perfect for dressing up brick walls.
- All-weather prints that look like paintings on canvas give a definite boost to outdoor decor.
- Fountains are always popular, says Crump, adding,  "Most people like a water feature."
- And, for a splash of color, he suggests a patio umbrella. "You can use one with a table or freestanding between a coupleof chairs."   

Kathy grant westbrook is a Freelance Writer