Building Your Outdoor Kitchen: What You Need to Know Beforehand

Have you ever thought about building an outdoor kitchen? It’s summer and that means home improvement stores are pushing patio furniture and grills, and everything else that goes into it. So the idea is there. “What would it be like to have an outdoor kitchen?” and “how would I even get one started?” Every year we ask these same questions, and this year, we decided to bite the bullet. While not a complete list by any means (since every home and person is different) our list does cover many of the things that you need to consider when planning for an outdoor kitchen. 

Finding the Right Spot

That’s a trick question actually. There is no ‘right’ spot, nor is there a “perfect spot’.  

No, really. Take that idea and chuck it. No matter where you place an outdoor kitchen there will be reasons to love it and reasons to hate it. There isn’t a defined set of parameters that are going to make a spot ‘perfect.’ What you can decide on though is ‘perfect for you and your needs.’ 

Ask yourself, do you want it close to your house, or farther away?  There are benefits and drawbacks to both. 

-If you’re going to keep it close to the house: 

-It’s great because it’s easy to run water, electricity and gas. And extending a roof isn’t difficult. You can even get away with not having a sink if you place it near your indoor kitchen. 

However, 

- Make sure it’s on a northern wall to reduce exposure to the sun for you and your appliances. 

- Consider the location of doors and windows in relation to the area  so your house doesn’t become known for its smoked meats and furniture. 

If you want to build well away from your house consider: 

The benefits here include more space to spread out, the heat and smells from cooking won’t be as strong inside your house, and you’ve added an entire room to your floor plan. However, there are a few things that you’ll have to do ‘in exchange’. 

• Building a roof to protect appliances (and you) from the sun

• Including plenty of storage so you don’t have to run all over for tools, utensils etc. 

• How you’ll run water and electricity to it. Running back and forth to wash your hands is a pain. 

Talk to an expert 

Even if you intend to build it yourself, an expert consultation can be a big help. 

Experts can help with things like 

Building codes

How close to your property line can you build? 

Even if your local code says you can build right up to the edge of your property, maybe don’t? Consider the noise, privacy and smoke issues from your neighbor’s side of the line. 

What do you need for fire safety? 

While not a comprehensive list, when it comes to fire

-  Keep the grill or stove at least 10’ from combustible materials and your house. 

Always have a fire extinguisher, a bucket of water and a bucket of sand in a specific cabinet in the event of a fire. And know when to use each. 

What types of permits need to be filed? 

Consider lighting and ventilation

Lighting - Make sure that your work surface and the surrounding paths leading to the kitchen are adequately lit. Given how easy it is to get hold of small solar powered lights this is very easy to set up, and ensures a safe work environment. 

Ventilation- No one wants to hangout in or near a smoky kitchen, so make sure that the grill is either at the edge of the space or install a ventilation system. 

Can you afford it? 

According to Angieslist, an outdoor kitchen can cost between 5k to 15k, depending on how many of the indoor comforts you want (Although if you want to get really elaborate, we have seen some that have gone as high as 75k.) 

• How often will you use it? 

Really consider this one. Do you want it just for one major event a year? Or will you use it most weekends throughout the summer? Or do you really love cooking and plan to use it as often as possible? These answers are going to affect where and how you spend your money. 

• What features do you want? 

Just like when we went through how to remodel your indoor kitchen, you need a list. You have the basics: 

Water supply

Direct gas line for the grill 

Fridge or mini fridge for drinks

What about seating? Fans? A trash drawer? Outdoor safe cabinets and counters? 

• How much maintenance do you want to do? The materials you choose for your outdoor kitchen will directly affect how much you spend cleaning and repairing as time goes by. 

• ROI

For some homeowners they look not just at ‘can I afford it and enjoy it now,” but “will it make my home sell better in the future?’ 

Given that most of our clients live in Texas we can firmly say Yes. According to Quicken Loans, houses in the south see a 100 - 200%  ROI on their outdoor kitchens. The reasons for this are many, but here are a few

-The weather is suitable for year round use

- If you use weather safe woods it will last for decades

- It gives a versatility for living indoors and out which is a growing trend, alongside outdoor bedrooms and living rooms. 

When you’ve looked at all of that, how does it add up for you? Do you think you’ll save up for another year and put in a lavish outdoor kitchen next year to boost the value of your house? Or are you dying to get started grilling now and you’re willing to add to it bit by bit? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

And remember, if any of your appliances are giving you a hard time, you can always call or set up an appointment on our website. We want to keep your home running in tip top shape. 

Outdoor Kitchens: 7 Reasons You Want One Today

Every year we hear people talking about why they should get an outdoor kitchen, but so few people do. They talk and talk, but they never seem to decide to take the plunge, even though they're so useful!  We've put together 7 reasons you absolutely should put 'get an outdoor kitchen' on your to-do list for the summer. 

It will cut down your utility bills  

 This is a big one for many of us. If you've been with us for a while, you've seen that we like to help you save money when we can. An outdoor kitchen is a great way to do it, that not many people consider. 

Think about it,  if you're spending more time outside, your AC doesn't have to be cranked to max to keep your house cool. 

To really make the most of this you can install an awning, fan, or lots of green plants in your outdoor kitchen. All of these will help bring the temperature down on a hot Texas day.  If you can manage all three, say with an awning, a mobile fan, and then screens of green plants, you'll have created a small oasis for yourself. We all know that summers in Texas are unbearable, so why have everyone crammed into one or two rooms when you want to be together if you can spread out instead? 

They're great for entertaining

An outdoor kitchen is the perfect spot for entertaining. People can move around, talk with the cook, get drinks, and wander all without having to move from room to room. Where the food is, people gather and we love to socialize when we do. An outdoor kitchen doesn't have to be just a grill though, you can make it an entire oasis by bringing out lighting, furniture, patio heaters and more. What you can create in your outdoor kitchen is only limited by your imagination. 

An outdoor kitchen increases your home's value.

An outdoor kitchen is an investment in your home, and by comparison to most other outdoor projects, sees the most return on that investment.  

Additionally, most outdoor kitchen appliances and grills are stainless steel. They are easy to clean and built to withstand tough outdoor conditions, and the trend to be timeless (at least so far.) All of these add up to a long term investment that isn't going to go out of style or appear 'dated' if you decide to sell your home. 

Credit for the images goes to Country Living and Max Kim Bee

 Cooking becomes so much easier

- Most outdoor kitchens include everything you have inside, with an ice maker,  refrigerator,  side burners, and most importantly, the counter space. This means that you don't have to prep inside and move it outside, forgetting things you need and having to make multiple trips. Instead, everything you need is right there and you can get on with what you want to make. 

-When you cook inside, certain smells tend to linger. They'll seep into the walls and you'll be dealing with them for days, even if your vent hood is going full blast while you're cooking. Fish and deep-frying are two well-known culprits. With an outdoor kitchen, that's not the case. The air isn't restricted the same way it is inside, so the smells won't linger for any longer than it takes to clean the area. 

-No matter how hot things get, neither smoke nor heat will linger. This means that you're not overheating while cooking, or trying to air out the kitchen while also worrying about the food cooking properly. 

It gives you more room to spread out

Why build on an entirely new room with walls and a roof if you have a patio? As we said above with one or two tweaks you can make it into a small oasis, a kitchen, and a space to entertain guests on all sorts of occasions. Once you bring in the furniture you can expand the uses for it even further. With an awning or a solid roof added, you can even use it during rainy days. 

 Foods you cook are Healthier and Tastier

When you're cooking on the grill your foods, be they meat, vegetable or grain, tend to retain more of their flavor. They are also having the fat drip out of them, instead of sitting in it were it to be cooked in a  pan, which means that the end product is healthier too! 

You save money on eating out

When you have a  private dining area where you can enjoy the breeze, delicious healthy food, and the company of friends and family, without having to deal with other people's friends and family, why would you dine out? Every time you use your outdoor kitchen, you're keeping money in your wallet and building memories and bonds built around food. 

So, have we changed your mind? Are you considering turning your neglected patio into an outdoor kitchen? Let us know over at our Facebook page or in the comments. Even if you completely disagree, tell us that too! 

Whether you have an outdoor kitchen or not, we can still help with your appliances. All you need to do is place a call at ((214) 599-0055) or go to our website to set up an appointment and we'd be happy to help.  All of our clients matter to us, from Dallas to McKinney, and want to help keep your homes running.

Remodeling Your Kitchen Guide : Part 3 The DIY Timeline

Welcome back to our Kitchen Renovation series! If you missed parts one (creating the game plan)  and two (inspiration, features and layout) , not to worry! You can find them here and here. Don’t worry, we can wait. 

All caught up? Let’s get on with this month’s topic then, The DIY timeline. If you’re the type to get your hands dirty and want to see the project done just right, this post is for you.  There’s more to the process than just budgeting and figuring out what you want to do with what you have. Our next step is to plan it out. From experience we can say you DEFINITELY don’t want to try a full kitchen overhaul in one weekend, by yourself or even just with a friend or two. It takes some serious time to get it done right… unless of course this is what you do for a living. If so, have at it! (And tell us how you managed it? Because we are in awe.) 

You’ll want to start by looking at what time of year works best. Most people choose to do projects in the beginning of the year rather than the end because of the holidays. You don’t have to do it that way though if that’s your slow season at work. Maybe you’re like our blogger and cannot handle the heat of summer. All of that needs to be taken into account first. From there, think about kids and pets if you have either. If this is a large project, how will you keep them out of  the area?  Would doing it over school break of some type work?  

Grab a drink and your calendar and look at what works best for you and your life. When is there an open time that you can work around. Of course, this is also going to vary on just how large a project you’re doing. Figure out if you can do it in stages, or if you would rather get it all done in one long week (assuming that’s possible.) 

Once you have your time blocked out, celebrate! You’ve started the DIY process!

Six months before the start date 

Take this time to research what local regulations are and what permits you’ll need. Some communities will require that you pass a test before you take on large scale renovation projects. Get a binder and make a list of all the permits and what not. As you get each of them, put it in here. Keep this binder with you all the time, because everything is going to go into it. 

This is also the point when you should be looking through your inspiration board and choosing specifics. Are you replacing your appliances? Nail down the specific brand and who you’re buying it from. Are you painting and tiling? Figure out the exact color names and how much tile you’ll need. That sort of thing.

4 months before the start date

Grab your pencils and draw an accurate floor plan of your kitchen. (You can learn how to make one here with this great site.) Or you can hire a professional to make one for you. Make copies and stick it into your  project binder. 

Make a list of all of the things you need to either buy or rent, one project at a time, including all the tools, equipment and quantities of materials. 

Once you’ve done that, head over to your favorite store and make a detailed budget. Include things  like food and dining out if you’ll be doing more of that during the course of the project. 

Get all of your permits, and triple  check that they are in order. 

3 Months before the start date 

Source the materials and projects you’ll need, and place an order. Most shops will let you place orders in advance.

2 Months before the start date

Find a place that is both secure and temperature controlled where you can store all the tools and materials that won’t fit into your home. Make two lists. One that you save digitally, and one that goes into your binder. We suggest taking photos as well.

One week before the start date. 

Take all of your ‘before’ pictures.  We suggest doing two sets. One with everything in the kitchen and then once you’ve cleared out everything. Which of course means, you need to clear the room of everything. 

Arrange for pickup and disposal of both old appliances and materials, anything that you’re getting rid of needs to be done so safely. 

Make yourself a mini kitchen in another room including  a microwave, a mini fridge and either an electric kettle or a coffee maker. If you can’t do dishes in this room, stock up on paper plates and plastic utensils as well. 

Shield any connecting rooms, the floor and the air vents with protective covers.  Painters tape is your friend doing all of this. 

Go over your list of projects and make sure that everything you need is purchased and you know where it is. Also ensure that the projects are in order of how they need to be done if getting one done necessitates another being done already. (Such as getting the new cabinet in before you can put in the new sink and plumbing.) 

Check one last time that all of your permits are in order. (We all know of horror stories of wanting to do a project only to find out at the last minute that some permit or another is wrong or missing.) 

Go Day!

Work one project at a time and take pictures after you finish each step.  (Keep going, you can do it!) 

Take breaks and stay hydrated. It’s easy to get overheated and flustered and that’s never any good for you or your team.

When you’ve finished up

Make sure the kitchen has been cleaned thoroughly, including the air vents. Even with the best taping, it’s better to check. 

Go through the process of making sure that all of the work you’ve done is up to code, and has passed all inspections that are needed for local regulations. 

Scan the warranties and instruction manuals for your materials and products into something like Evernote or OneNote, for easier finding later.  (And less mess in the kitchen!)

Go through your binder one last time to make sure that all of your bills have been paid. Make sure to also compare your actual expenses to your original estimated budget. Did you do well? Cheer! Did you go over? It’s ok, chalk it up as a learning experience for the next time you do something like this. 

Take a bunch of ‘after’ photos and bask in the beauty of your new kitchen! You did it! 

If you’ve gotten this far, congrats! We hope that you enjoyed learning about this process with us. Next month we’ll be taking a look at the process of finding someone to redo your kitchen for you. 

If you have any questions, let us know over on our Facebook page. We love hearing from all of you and would love to know what questions you have about your home and appliances. 

Don’t forget that if your appliances are giving you any trouble, we’re only a phone call away.((214) 599-0055 ) Our clients in Richardson and the surrounding areas mean the world to us, and if phones aren’t your thing, you can also make an appointment on our website. 

Is An Instant Pot Worth The Hype?

For the last ten years people have been raving about one appliance, but does the Instant Pot hold up? If you haven’t already gotten one, or maybe you have but you haven’t opted to open it or use it much, we’ll walk you through them. What are they, what do they do, do they really work, and what can you make with them? We’ll go through all of these. 

A quick note first, it’s an Instant Pot, not an Instapot. We had it pointed out to us. 

Before we dig in, let’s clarify one thing, Instant Pot is a specific brand of ‘all in one appliances.’ Cusininart, Breville, Gourmia, TaoTronics, Mealthy and Ninja Foodi all have multi function pressure cookers that they sell, with similar functions. So why has this type of appliance become so popular? At first it was a novelty, and then it was realized that it was a very solid option. It saves both time and space within your kitchen, without sacrificing versatility.  We’re going to focus specifically on the Instant Pot brand for this article and see if after 10 years it still holds up to the hype. 

What is an Instant Pot and how does it work?  

While the different functions will vary based on which model you pick, there are some basic programs that will be available on most models. 

-Slow cooker

-Pressure cooker (most models let you choose  high or low pressure, or specific pressure settings like poultry or meat/stew)

-Rice cooker

-Steamer

-Saute/browning

-Yogurt maker

-Warmer

The community has also gotten inventive and found that you can do all sorts of things with different inserts such as cupcake molds, springform pans, or aluminum foil. 

Tip! Using aluminum foil lets you keep ingredients separate from each other which means you can cook your meats and veggies at the same time. 

Do they REALLY work? 

-How does the food taste? 

From experience, meats are amazing.  Fall off the bone tender, juicy and utterly fantastic. (90 minutes to get this. Just 90 minutes!) 

Vegetables are something we’re still experimenting with to figure out. Sometimes, they turn out amazing! Other times not so much. The one thing we’ve seen is that you don’t cook them with as much water as you think, or for as long. 

-Doesn’t that high heat destroy the nutrients? 

Nope! While it’s true that your food is going to go well above the boiling temperature when cooked in the Instant Pot, it’s not like cooking in a normal pot. Cooking at high pressure allows the heat to be distributed quickly and evenly throughout so you don’t have to immerse foods in water. In fact, you only need enough water to create the needed amount of steam and pressure within the Pot. Usually a cup is enough.  This means that the nutrients don’t leech into the water, nor do they get oxidized by exposure to air. 

-Doesn’t that mean I can over-cook the food? 

Nope. Instant Pot has both sensors and self-regulating features for both temperature and the amount of pressure.

Are there any rules to using them? 

-An important first note before saying ‘it doesn’t work.’ 

The Instant Pot (and all pressure cookers really) have to pressurize before the cooking countdown begins. You also have to wait at the end of the process to properly release the pressure. Depending on your model, you might have a ‘quick release’ feature. These times need to be counted into your recipe math. 

-Meals with less liquid will come up to pressure faster than those with a lot of liquid. For example meats vs soups. 

-If you need to thaw and then cook something, the best thing to do is just follow the normal cooking process in the recipe. The food will fully thaw as the Instant Pot comes  to pressure. 

-If you’re one to prep your foods ahead of time, make sure that they’re frozen in either bowls or boxes that will fit into the pot easily.  

-Layer your foods carefully. 

Because the Instant Pot works via bottom burners, it’s possible to burn your food. If the foods at the bottom don’t have enough moisture they can  burn. The good news is that the Pot has sensors that will shut off power if it looks like this is happening. 

-Wash carefully and often!

The Pot has a silicone ring for the locking lid. The ring is great but it’s silicone and that means it absorbs smells over time. If you notice that building up, take it out and wash it by hand, and here’s the link for how to clean it from over at The Kitchn.

-Check out “5 ways you’re using it wrong.” 

What things can you make with an Instant Pot? 

The list is frankly huge. There are entire sites and numerous books devoted to Instant Pot recipes. 

You can also check out the Good Housekeeping tried and tested recipes. No we’re not getting advertising money for this, though we wish! 

Or check out what The Kitchn has for recipes.

But if you want a list, try these random suggestions:

-Frozen foods

-Pasta with spinach, starch and veggies 

-Meats 

-Cheesecake

-Mac & cheese

-Giant Pancakes! 

- Veggies with rice and tikka masala 

- Soup

-Stock

-Chilis galore!

-Steel Cut Oats 

-Frozen chickens (Yes really, the heat and pressure means the bacteria is killed) 

- Baked potatoes -super creamy on the inside and if you want them to be crispy, toss them under the broiler for just a few minutes 

-There are people who have found ways to make crispy vegetables too! 

Should you get one? 

If you do choose to buy one, keep this in mind. 

A 3-quart pot is best for a small family of two or three people. 

The 5 and 6 quart sizes are best for families of 4-6. 

The 8-quart is large enough for families of six or more, or if you entertain better. 

-If you’re busy and on the go often, there are models like the Wi-Fi enabled version that allow you to monitor and control it via your smart phone. 

-Like we said up top, Instant Pot is the most well-known, but it’s not the only player in the game. If you want to buy one, it’s smart to check out all of the options. You might find one with additional features that fit your life better or a lower price tag. 

Although we will say that Instant Pot does go on sale quite often. 

So to us, yeah, we’d say that the Instant Pot has proven itself to be a useful appliance. It can replace several different appliances and people are still coming up with inventive ways to put it to use.  Whether you have a lot of time to prep and plan or you need to get food together fast, the Instant Pot is dead useful. 

Did that help? Do you feel like your questions about the Instant Pot have been answered? Let us know over at our Facebook! If we didn’t, and you tell us what we missed, we can always do a follow up post in the future. 

If you live in Dallas or the surrounding areas and your appliances aren’t working properly, we want to help! You can call us at (214) 599-0055 or click here to set up an appointment with one of our technicians. 

2000s Kitchen Decorating Trends That Overstayed Their Welcome

Have you ever flicked through old photos or magazines and wondered 'who in the world thought that trend was a good idea?' We know we have, which is why this week we're taking a look at the kitchen trends of now and then, focusing on the design choices of the early 2000s. (We know, it's weird to us to think it was 20 years ago too.) 

Mason Jar Decor

Lighting, candles, soaps, storage, mason jars have been everywhere and used for everything. 

They were affordable, easy to come by and you could buy them in bulk. Not to mention once you were done with the food inside them, you might have to wait a while before you could fill them again, so you needed to use them for something, right?  People got creative and found all sorts of ways to use these staple items. It was great! And then it became overwhelming. You couldn't pick up a magazine or open up Pinterest without seeing at least one 'innovative, new way to use mason jars!' 

Fortunately a shift towards handmade wares seems to be growing, meaning that mason jars might have to move out of the spotlight.

Granite everywhere! 

Backsplashes, counters, and anywhere else designers could put it. Granites are so busy when you have them all over your kitchen, and combined with the thick cuts, it led to kitchens feeling very dark and confining. 

Fortunately, today's trend is all about marbles or smooth expanses of a single color. Both of which can be obtained with some contact paper. 

Ferns 

Ferns were the plant in the 2000s and really, it’s not a terrible trend. They bring a lightness to a room if you take good care of them. Unfortunately, most people didn't. They're finicky plants and they do shed... a lot if you're not careful. So when succulents started to enter the spotlight in 2009 or so, ferns were ushered back into the offices and waiting rooms. 

Stainless Steel Everything

Sure, most appliances come in stainless, but there’s no need to have it floor to ceiling. Which is what the 2000s did, even going so far as to have all of the appliances in one long line so that you had a wall of stainless steel when you stepped into a kitchen. Mix things up and check out different options! You can use contact paper to get wild or purchase ones that come in different colors like these gorgeous ones from SMEG. 

Accent Walls

Can they be done right? Yes. Were they? Not really. 

Ok, that's not fair. There were tons of magazines and interior designers that pulled off this look flawlessly. For the majority of us though, we'd try and use a cool color in a  room full of warm furniture or vice versa and it just never worked the way it was supposed to! 

   This is still a trend surprisingly, but it's being done more cautiously. Instead of going with bold, eye catching colors people are choosing colors that already exist within their decor and using that for the accent. 

Stark Black and White 

This was a trend, and we’re not entirely sure why? It can be very disorienting to have everything in just two colors with no variation or places to rest the eyes. 

        It makes us think of high concept music videos or something, and really, we're glad this one has stayed in the past. Not to mention how difficult it is to keep stark blacks and whites clean!

‘Rustic’ Kitchens

Roosters and oil paintings, as far as the eye can see. It was a frightening time full of reds and yellows that didn’t really work well together.  Rustic is a great aesthetic, and it can be utterly beautiful, but really, you can only have so many roosters in one kitchen. This one has stuck around surprisingly, but it's expanded out to include reclaimed woods, shiplap, and a broader range of colors. 

Tuscan Kitchens

    Our last one .. is hard for us to admit. Who wouldn't love to wake up in a villa in Italy? (Especially now that they're welcoming tourists back.) The problem wasn't that the design was bad, it was that it was reduced down to components, individual pieces that people would try to smash together without caring how they worked or why. It was boiled down to faux paintings, travertine tiles, more granite, and terra cotta floors. This reduction process left our kitchens feeling dark, gaudy and entirely tasteless. 

Today's focus in the kitchen is on light, airy spaces. Windows dominate and everyone wants to have white EVERYTHING.Pendant lights and statement backsplashes add to the feeling, showing off your personality. Herringbone is taking over where subway tile previously reigned supreme, bringing in a twist to the world of tiling. How long will these trends last? We don't know, it's only the beginning of the decade after all. 

Let us know what you think about trends of now and then in the comments here or over on our Facebook page, we'd love to hear from you! 

If you're having trouble with some of your appliances you can reach out to us here or via phone ( (214) 599-0055) so we can help.