Research analysts at J. Shapiro & Associates reported that more consumers are making major purchases of outdoor goods and services. Barbeque grill purchases are up by 28% and patio furniture sales are up by 25%. Where is all this leading? To the great outdoors beyond the walls of your home!
Americans are spending a median of eight hours a week on their decks, lawns, or patios during warm seasons. Now…do you think they sit there empty handed? If they were listening to Elaine's show on Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend, they may have taken her advice on preparing the delectable hamburger…and could be clutching that all-American food now!
Outdoor meals seem to taste better. The casual setting helps us relax among family and friends. Do you have everything you need at your fingertips? Rather than having runners trip into the kitchen for utensils and cookout essentials, consider setting up an outdoor kitchen.
Listeners of HOME INNOVATIONS have heard Elaine describe her sure-fire test for checking the stability of the kitchen floor. She stands in the middle of the room, jumps up and down, and feels whether there's give to the flooring structure!! Well, our flooring professional checks the strength of the joists that will support all the weight of the kitchen, especially when ceramic tile is selected by a customer. In the same way, the supports of your deck need to be checked to make certain the added weight of an outdoor kitchen will not cause a pull-away. Patio owners don't have the same cause for concern.
Plan your space for convenience…you'll need counterspace with landing zones of 18-36 inches to either side of a grill that's at least 24 inches wide if you're cooking for a crowd. Talk to one of our design professionals about Du Pont Corian and which colors are better suited for outdoor countertops! Add a sink, tapping into the household cold water line and an undercounter refrigerator placed into cabinets made of weather resistant materials. Install electrical outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) so the ice cream maker and coffee percolator are at hand for dessert preparations. Suspend cooking utensils on hooks within easy reach and you're cookin'!
Set your table out of the path of blowing smoke, keep a water-filled spray bottle nearby for dowsing grill flare-ups, place 2 or 3 citronella candles per 12 X 12 foot area as evening approaches, and always keep a watchful eye on toddlers. Oh, and don't forget to kiss the cook!