Outdoor kitchens give you the luxury of cooking gourmet meals to enjoy outside with your guests on a beautiful day. You will no longer have to miss most of the party because you are cooking inside, while your friends and family are gathering outside. Outdoor kitchens run the gamut from a simple grill space to a full-blown professional kitchen. Follow along to learn how to plan for your outdoor cooking experience.
Choosing Components
When choosing the components for your kitchen, make sure you choose things that are rated for outside use. Indoor components will not last long outside. They are not built to withstand temperature fluctuations or winds that fling sand and dirt at them. Outdoor components are a little more expensive, but you should not have to replace them for many years.
Roof or No Roof
Does your kitchen need a roof? It is less expensive not to build a roof, but that limits the kitchen’s utility. A roof protects your components from rain, snow, and sunlight. It also means a little precipitation doesn’t ruin your food – or your party. Some components, such as high-end ovens and stoves, really can’t survive without a roof even if you buy outside versions. If you will use your outdoor kitchen at least once a week then, you may want to consider covering to maximize your enjoyment and ability to use the space.
Choices
Planning an outdoor kitchen can be fun. There are many choices to make, though, so here are some ideas about what can go in your outdoor kitchen.
Appliances
Before looking for appliances, make a list of the type of food you will be cooking outside. That list will dictate the type of appliances you buy for your outdoor kitchen. It is best to focus on appliances that will be consistently used. It is not necessary to get a wine fridge if you don’t drink wine or a rotisserie if you don’t eat a lot of chicken. Choose the appliances that your family will use regularly to get the most value out of your outdoor kitchen.
Grill
BBQ lovers will want a grill to work on. This can be a movable BBQ grill or one that is built into an island with a countertop. Built-in units are the best for a stunning design, especially if you use them a lot. If you are a part-time griller, then a moveable unit may be ok. You also get to choose the type of fuel you use. You can use wood, charcoal, or gas. When deciding where to place the grill in your outdoor space consider the direction that you will be facing while cooking and try to orient it towards the living area so that you can interact with your guest. You should also consider the views from the inside of the house. There will be a lot of times that you won’t be out there and you don’t want to look straight out the window and a bulky grill. Try to tuck the grill island in corners if possible.
Side Burner
If you cook stir-fries frequently, you will want to get a side burner to do that on. These get very hot very quickly to sear the flavor into vegetables, meats, and other food. They are usually gas-powered and can be a nice touch for the avid BBQ master.
Fire Table
This can be a table that has gas burners embedded in it. Guests can sit at the table and visit while watching you cook. After the cooking is done, you can leave the gas on and light up the night with fire or turn it off and use the table without the flame.
Refrigerator
Keep all your food cold in a refrigerator. That keeps you from having to carry items out from the house while entertaining. It keeps the beers cold during the party, too. Fridges are usually a good investment as they tend to be used a lot by adults and children to keep drinks handy and nearby.
Wine Refrigerator
Wine aficionados will want to include a wine refrigerator in their list of appliances. These keep your wine at just the right temperature. They also leave the refrigerator space for the food.
Ice Trough
Parties demand lots of ice. While it is not wise to put an ice machine outdoors in our cold climate, you can have a dedicated place to keep the ice during the party. An ice trough helps store the ice, so it is out of the way until you need it, and you can fill it with sodas and beers for your guests to have easy access to cold beverages.
Sink
Sinks are nice for cleanup. Unfortunately, the pipes tend to freeze in the winter and would need to be winterized in our Midwest climate. It may not be worth the investment if you don’t think you will use them regularly.
Seating
Everyone needs a place to sit while eating. We often design bar type seating into our outdoor kitchens to provide additional space for guests when hosting a large event or a place to use for serving station or set drinks.
Sports Experience
Sports watching parties are an honored tradition in KC. BBQ and football or baseball are serious events here in our city. We can install a large outdoor television so you can watch the game while grilling and entertaining outdoors. We have to consider the location of the TV so everyone can watch the game, but the TV doesn’t get too hot from the cooking flames. We also want to make sure there will not be a glare on the TV where we place it. Finally, we have to consider the availability of electrical for the TV and where we can run power to it. Once all these factors are considered you will find the perfect spot for displaying the game for your crowd of fans.
Storage
You need to consider what kind of storage you need in your outdoor kitchen. Will you keep a complete set of pots, pans, and utensils outdoors to use when cooking? You will need cabinets to put them in. You will at least have some tongs and tools for grilling along with miscellaneous items for serving and cleaning. We can help you find the best storage options to fit your needs.
Materials
The extremes of heat and cold your cabinets will be exposed to make concrete block and stone the most popular materials to use. We can also incorporate wood, composite, or steel in the design. We just have to be more careful to consider how the heat from the cooking surfaces may affect these material choices.
Countertops are usually made from limestone slabs that are chiseled or bullnosed on the edge and polished on the top. Another option would be concrete countertops that can be custom made for color and even have flakes or epoxy added in for an extra flare. Granite can also be used, but it is a thinner material at about 1″ thickness that doesn’t fit the outdoor scale quite as good at the thicker 2 1/4″ limestone or concrete options that we prefer.
Electrical and Lighting
Most likely you will want to incorporate a few outlets for a blender or charging a phone or speaker outdoors. So it is best to think this through when laying out your outdoor kitchen space. Lighting is also important since you will be outdoors and often entertaining after dark. Think about lighting up the space for your guests and don’t forget about the cook. Their job is much easier when they can see what they are doing.
Bringing It All Together
You want your outdoor kitchen to be a place where cooking, eating, and entertaining all come together. At Royal Creations, we can work with you to design exactly what you need for what you want to do. Our Blue Crew can then install it for you with the appliances you have picked out. Winter is a great time to plan spring projects. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to be ready to watch baseball in your outdoor kitchen this spring.
Trees and shrubs still need water in the winter, they just don’t need it as often. Not sure how to water your different types of plants now that the irrigation system has been winterized and the water hoses brought in? Read on as we help explain the process.
Deciduous Trees and Shrubs
Deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves and go dormant during the winter. They still need water to function but do not need as much water as when they are actively growing. The trees and shrubs can benefit from a good soaking before the weather is consistently below freezing and the soil starts to freeze. Some more southern plants, such as magnolias, crape myrtles, and ajuga ground cover will especially benefit from a few deep soaks before the cold sets in. This makes sure the trees and shrubs have access to water if the soil freezes deeper than their roots grow. This is especially important for young plants as their roots are not as established as older plants. Be sure to check that the mulch is at least 3” thick around the root zone but not burying the trunk of the plant. This will help the moisture to soak in and not evaporate as quickly.
To water these plants, make sure to focus on the root zone all around the tree or shrub and about 3 feet from the trunk. Fill this area with water. Let the water sink into the ground. Repeat 3-5 times, until the water stands instead of sinking in. It is easier to do a group of trees or shrubs at once, so you don’t have to wait for the water to go down in plant one all the time. You can move to plants 2-5 and come back to the first plant after the water has soaked in to continue watering it. Make sure that you unhook the hose from the spigot and bring it in when done so it doesn’t freeze. If hoses stay hooked up too long during freezing temperatures it may cause pipes to burst or even flooding inside the home or basement.
Evergreen Trees and Shrubs
Evergreens continue producing chlorophyll during the winter, so they will need water all winter long. New evergreens will especially need to be watered since their roots are not as established. While snow adds some water, it isn’t enough. Snow has a lot of air in it, so one inch of snow does not melt into one inch of water. Heavy, wet snow that is 4-5 inches deep melts into one inch of water, while powdery, light snow that is ten inches deep may also melt into one inch of water. The consistency of the snow affects the moisture that will ultimately reach the plant’s roots.
It is extremely important to water newly planted evergreens deeply before the temperature stays reliably under freezing in the same way you water your deciduous trees. When there is a break in the weather and it gets above 50F, everyone runs outside to enjoy the sun. Evergreens enjoy the warmth, too, but get especially thirsty on these warm days. Remember to soak your evergreens deeply so they can continue their role as the stars of the landscape in winter. Lack of water can not only cause winter burn, but it can also kill evergreen plants outright. Since evergreens are typically the most expensive plants in the landscape, replacing them could also be costly.
WiltPruf® Your Evergreens
Before the weather starts to freeze, you can apply WiltPruf®. This is a product made from some of the chemicals found in pine pitch that builds a molecular film over the leaves or needle. This film helps stop the loss of water through the evergreen’s water pores. It wears away molecular level by molecular level so should be reapplied every 3-4 months if the weather is still cold. WiltPruf® must be applied when the air temperature is warm enough to keep it from freezing before it reaches the evergreens. It is cured by ultraviolet light, so make sure there are at least 3-4 hours of sunlight left in the day before applying it.
We can care for your trees and shrubs and make sure they have what they need to get to survive the winter. Royal Creations can help deeply water your trees and shrubs to prepare them for the cold. We can also coat the evergreen trees and shrubs with WiltPruf® to help prevent winter burn and other winter problems. The Blue Crew can help with all your garden care needs, including maintaining your ornamental trees and shrubs, all year round with our “Royal Treatment” program. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to schedule a consultation to see what we can do for your landscape.
“You have such a nice landscape. I always enjoy coming to your outdoor parties to see all the beautiful plants and flowers. I bet it takes you a lot of work, doesn’t it?” Who doesn’t want this kind of compliment? You don’t have to tell them how low maintenance your landscape is. Let it be your secret.
There are three keys to keeping your landscape looking nice without spending hours every week slaving in the garden. When we discuss low-maintenance landscapes, we are talking about the ornamental garden beds where your shrubs, perennials, and ornamental trees are located around the house and property. These keys are 1) hardy, healthy plants 2) weed control, and 3) pruning. Each contributes to designing a low-maintenance landscape.
Hardy, Healthy Plants
Start your landscape off right by choosing hardy, healthy plants to put into it. These plants will survive with low inputs of water and fertilizer and resist pests and diseases. The best way to find the hardiest plants is to use native and adapted ones. Native plants are already adapted to the amount of rainfall the area gets, the pests and diseases in the area, and the temperature extremes the area goes through. Adapted plants are not native but have needs like native plants and so don’t require a lot of care. Of course, you will need to water your plants 2-3 times a week the first year of the plant’s life, but by the second or third year, you will only need to water during summer months or times of drought. Experienced landscapers and gardeners will know what plants work best in the environment and what plants to avoid.
As for the healthy part, you will need to carefully inspect any plant you are considering putting in your landscape. Make sure the plant looks healthy, is not wilted, has no yellow or discolored leaves, and shows no signs of pests on it. If you see any of these red flags, don’t buy that plant at that nursery. It is similar to choosing produce at the market. By starting with the best stock you will have better chances of a hardy plant in the future.
Weed Control
In addition to looking bad, weeds take nutrients, water, and sun from your landscape plants. If weeds are not controlled, they will choke out the more desirable plants. The easiest way to control the weeds is to use a mulch in combination with a granular pre-emergent. These mulches come in natural or dyed colors to match your décor. If the pre-emergent does not stop the weeds from growing, the two to three-inch layer of mulch will starve the weed plant before it reaches the sun.
While mulch needs an inch or two added to the existing mulch each year to refresh it, river rock does not. When using rock as a mulch we recommend laying a weed barrier fabric on the ground and then putting the river rock on that. This keeps the weeds from growing between the rocks. While river rock doesn’t need to be refreshed, it does need to have all leaves and grass clippings blown off it regularly. Otherwise, these decay and form pockets of organic matter a weed seed can grow in.
Pruning
Shrubs and ornamental trees need regular pruning to look their best. The first year, the trees and shrubs will need very little pruning when they are planted. After that, they should be pruned two to three times a year to stimulate growth, make sure they are growing into pleasing shapes, and remove dead, diseased, and broken branches. 2 to 3 times a year to manage the beauty of your landscape plantings is a small amount of time compared to the effort we put into our lawns every week and every month mowing, fertilizing and watering.
Perennials will need to be cut back when the foliage dies for the season. They can also be deadheaded to stimulate more blossoms during the growing season if you want the most of these plants. Ornamental grasses will also need to be pruned once a season to stimulate new growth. We recommend doing so as the growing season is just starting in the spring since the grass adds interest during the winter season.
No Maintenance Landscapes
There is no such thing as a no-maintenance landscape. Even low-maintenance gardens need some attention. We know you have busy lives and may not want to spend some of your scarce leisure time taking care of your landscape. The Blue Crew knows landscape and garden care, and we are happy to help. Whether you need us to install your landscape or simply maintain an existing landscape, contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to have a beautiful landscape that flourishes all season long.
Imagine your family huddled around a roaring fire in the cool fall evening air. You share stories and roast marshmallows for a sweet smores treat. Everyone’s phones and screens are put away for the moment and you are connecting and enjoying each other’s company. Laughing and bonding around an essential element that has been around for millions of years.
There are many ways to bring fire into the landscape. These fire features vary by shape and size, from wood-burning to gas-fueled. Some with lava rock, glass beads, or gas logs. Read on for our most popular ideas to integrate fire into your landscape.
Fire Pits
Fire pits are usually above-ground structures built of stone or other pleasing rock. The fire is built in a depression in the center. Some fire pits are recessed in a hole in the patio. Built-in benches or chairs usually ring the pit. This pit helps warm up the area surrounding it. You can toast marshmallows or enjoy the fire just as if it were built on a campground.
Fire Tables
If cooking or sharing food is a major part of being outside with friends, you can have a fire table. These have a burner, usually fed by gas, that can be cooked over. The burners can be round or in a line, whichever fits the table’s shape. The fire warms the area of the table. If the fire is not needed, the table can be used without it.
Fireplaces
Fireplaces can be a warm place to share your landscape. A fireplace can hide any unsightly views. It can also be a place to mount a large television or an impressive mantel. Storage boxes for wood and a hearth can be included in the wall that holds the fireplace. Fireplaces tend to be the most expensive option for adding fire into the landscape. Care should be taken to design the fireplace to fit with the style and architecture of the home.
Pizza Oven
If you love pizza, bread, and other baked goods, you may want an outdoor pizza oven. Nothing tastes like a pizza cooked over a wood fire. Not only can you make wood-fired pizza, but the oven also puts off a lot of heat to keep you warm in your landscape. There are many types of pizza ovens for the outdoors. Many come with some very nice features, such as an internal temperature gauge so you can keep from burning your food.
Other Fire Features
We can custom-build other fire features. Some requests include fire bowls, fire boulders, and fire/water combinations. Putting a fire element inside a water element can be a dramatic conversation piece. A fire floating in a pond or in the center of a fountain makes those features more interesting. Fire can also backlight a waterfall, making the water glow as it falls.
Tiki Torches
Tiki torches can surround a patio or deck to add light with ambiance. Permanent torches may run off gas. Other more temporary torches can be filled with oil scented with citronella. The smell of this burning oil helps keep the mosquitoes at bay so you can enjoy the outdoors more.
Fire ignites something primal in people. It seems to represent safety – from predators and humans with ill intent – and warmth. Of course, you don’t have to worry about either type of predator in your landscape. However, tapping into those feelings with the use of fire elements in the landscape makes your landscape more inviting. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can build these and many other fire elements for you. Our crew includes skilled stonemasons, plumbers, and contractors to convert your vision into reality. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to schedule a consult and find out what we can build for you.
Pathways give you a way to move through your landscape without damaging it. They also keep your feet clean, even during muddy, wet days. There are several different ways to create pathways to complement your landscape. Here are some of them.
Use big stepping stones
Stepping Stones
Stepping stones are a common and economical way to build a pathway. It is important to make them close enough and big enough to easily use them. Flagstones or large pavers make nice stepping stones. To ensure the stones make an easy and walkable path, we say, “Go big or go home.” Tiny stones mean you must tiptoe through the tulips. Stepping stones are an economical way to move people through your landscape. One issue you can find with stepping stones is that grass, mulch, or obstacles can get on and between the stones. They can be harder to navigate for the elderly and those using wheelchairs or walkers.
Gravel Paths
Gravel paths are another simple way of making a path through your garden. They are also economical and are environmentally friendly. Water can soak through the gravel into the soil. Most pathway gravel is recycled from other quarry activities, too. However, gravel paths can be difficult to roll strollers or wheelchairs on. The gravel tends to get into nearby beds and lawn along the path, and weeds can grow through the gravel. You also may need to add gravel every few years.
Concrete paths
Concrete is low maintenance and easy to keep clean. That makes it great for entryways or sidewalks. It is easier for strollers and wheelchairs to navigate than steppingstones or gravel paths. You can color and stamp your concrete, so it matches your house. Concrete can also be poured and fashioned with nice, crisp lines. Properly installed concrete paths can last a long time and weather most storms. Over time, the soil moves, and the concrete expands with hot temperatures, so it may crack. Rebar must be used to make the concrete strong. Before the concrete is poured, a wooden form must be made. For the best results, concrete should be installed by professionals who have the proper tools and training.
Paver paths look good in front of the house
Paver Paths
If stepping stones are not your style, try a solid paver path. These paths give a simple sidewalk or path some flair. They are nice going up to the front door. They also make a nice path from the front walk to a pool in the back, so people do not have to come through the house. Pavers come in a variety of sizes and styles and can be used to blend in with the architecture or to contrast to it. A paver path is easier to roll your cooler into the backyard than steppingstones or gravel. Pavers can be laid in amazing patterns and have more personality than plain concrete. You can replace a single paver if it heaves or cracks. However, laying the path and keeping the pavers level is harder than it looks. You may also have to touch up the sand between the pavers every few years.
A classy way to cross over water
Bridges & Ramps
Does your pathway cross a drainage swale, creek bed, or water feature on the property? You need a bridge. You have many choices for the building material: wood, composite, PVC, stone, tile, or pavers. We can make the bridge really shine, whatever material and bridge style you choose.
Ramps make areas more accessible. They can be used in the place of stairs or right beside them. We can make the ramp an integral part of your paver pathway so the elderly or disabled friends can reach the whole landscape.
One thing all these paths have in common is that the land must be prepared before you can lay them. That means the sod is removed, gravel or sand put down, then the path material can be laid. This is a lot of work, and it needs to be done right the first time to have good pathways that stay level and useful. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping has the tools, experience, and crew to do this right. Our team can design the perfect path, complete with bridges, ramps, and other important features. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today and schedule a consultation with our professionals on what path option is best for you.
