Project Highlight Part 1: Backyard Oasis for Post-pandemic Enjoyment

This is a two-part blog discussing the different outdoor living elements of this project.

I’m excited to share this two-part blog showcasing one of my latest projects, which Southern Exposure Landscape Management* installed. This amazing outdoor living project incorporates so many popular design elements that are perfect for total backyard enjoyment.

In this first part, I’ll share about their new porch and outdoor kitchen. Don’t miss my next blog showcasing the firepit, plantings, and outdoor lighting.

Ultimate Outdoor Living Space

This project utilized a covered porch and uncovered patio area to create the ultimate outdoor living area right outside their back door.

For the covered area with the outdoor kitchen and fireplace, the design utilized dramatic volume ceilings with heavy molding. Throughout the design are stones with a Smokey Mountain veneer. The floor is a lavish and durable tile.

Just outside the covered area, is a patio with numerous comfortable seating options. The patio flooring consists of gorgeous Belgard Mega Arbel pavers. Whereas the walls are Belgard Celtik wall blocks. Overall, these materials create a seamless and stunning look on the patio.

Outdoor Kitchen with All the Bells & Whistles

The outdoor kitchen in this project had all the top and most amazing features in it. Major elements included:

·       Pizza oven

·       Grill

·       Smoker

·       Attached bar

·       Island with sink & seating

·       Refrigerator

·       Storage areas

It is truly a space where both meals and memories will be made!

Custom Stone Fireplace with Comfortable Seating Area

In addition to the impressive and all-inclusive outdoor kitchen, another aspect of the covered porch area is the custom stone fireplace and seating area. On each side of the fireplace are log holders for easy access to wood but remains aesthetically pleasing. Above the fireplace is a mounted TV screen for enjoying movies, games, and TV shows. The seating includes comfortable chairs and a couch.

Ready to Create Your Own Dream Outdoor Oasis?

At Hawkins Landscape Architecture, I partner closely with every single client to ensure they have their dream backyard. Plus, my 3D landscape design allows clients to see what the area will look like on their property before construction even starts.

Why wait any longer to create your ideal outdoor living space? Call me today at 336-848-7164 to get started! Be sure to follow my Instagram page for photos and inspiration on all things outdoor living! Don’t forget to check out my next blog to see the rest of this amazing outdoor living project!

*All photos by Southern Exposure Landscape Management

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Outdoor Kitchens – Bring your Cooking and Entertaining Outdoors

Imagine not only enjoying a meal outside but cooking that entire meal outside as well. This dream is all made possible with an outdoor kitchen. From a griddle to a refrigerator and everything in between, an outdoor kitchen truly allows family and friends to cook and dine al fresco!

In today’s blog, I will cover all the various components of an outdoor kitchen. There are so many factors to consider when designing and building an outdoor kitchen and I want to ensure you know all your options.

At Hawkins Landscape Architecture, my 3D landscape design allows clients to see what an outdoor kitchen will look like in their backyard. It also gives them an idea of spacing of various outdoor kitchen components. This state-of-the-art technology is the perfect way to visualize what your yard will look like with your brand-new outdoor kitchen!

Ready, set, grill!

Components of an Outdoor Kitchen

There are many options available for outdoor kitchens today. This means the sky is the limit when designing them and you can create a dream kitchen right in your backyard.

Here are the main components of an outdoor kitchen:

·       Grills

·       Smokers

·       Pizza Ovens

·       Griddles

·       Refrigerators

·       Sinks

·       Kegerator or Drink Stations

·       Storage

·       Attached Bar Areas for Serving

Within each of the above components, there are an abundance of options available. Keep in mind you do not need to have all these components. You can pick and choose which items best work for you and your family’s needs.

Grills

When deciding on a grill for your outdoor kitchen you will need to contemplate the following factors.

·       Brand

·       Size

·       Type

There are so many brands of grills on the market today. I highly recommend you do your research to see which fits within your budget and fits your needs. A few popular brands include:

·       Blaze

·       Vermont Castings

·       KitchenAid

·       Weber

Most grills range in size from 200 to 600 square inches total. This would include not only the grill/cook surface, but the shelving on the side and areas below. Here is a great article on deciding on the perfect grill size for your outdoor kitchen.

The final factor to determine is the type of grill. Below are the four popular types of grills.

·       Charcoal

·       Gas

·       Pellet

·       Electric

Smokers

In North Carolina, BBQ is a must! That means smokers are extremely popular options for outdoor kitchens around here. Similar to grills, there are various types of smokers that include charcoal, gas, pellet, and electric. Some popular smoker brands are:

·       Masterbuilt

·       Traeger

·       Cuisinart

Pizza Ovens

Pizza always tastes best when it comes out of a pizza oven. That is why pizza ovens are growing in popularity for outdoor kitchens. Wood-fired pizza ovens tend to be the most known. However, within those are sub-types, such as, barrel vault ovens or Napoletana ovens.

Griddles

Unlike grills listed above, griddles offer a flat cooking surface instead of ones with parallel or lattice bars on the cooking surface. This means it is much easier to cook and clean almost anything on a griddle vs. a grill. In addition to common grill out food, many people enjoy cooking stir fry, hibachi, seared and sauteed ingredients for fajitas, bacon, and pancakes. A few popular griddle brands include:

·       Blackstone

·       Pit Boss

Refrigerators

Who wants to constantly go in and out of the house for ingredients while grilling or cooking outside? Save yourself the time and energy by adding a refrigerator into your outdoor kitchen. Not to mention you can keep your beverages cool in there and simply grab one while you are cooking or dining outside. Outdoor refrigerators come in a variety of sizes and are built to withstand the elements. Learn a little more about what to look for in selecting an outdoor refrigerator in this article.  

Sinks

A sink in your outdoor kitchen makes meal prep and clean up very easy! Stainless steel tends to be the most common material for outdoor sinks; however, stone sinks are also rising in popularity. Stone sinks tend to be made from soapstone, granite, or marble. Regardless of what material you choose, it makes the perfect addition to an outdoor kitchen.

Kegerator or Drink Stations

Unlike indoor kegerators, outdoor kegerators must prove their durability since it can get hot or cold outside depending on the time of year. A few options to consider when choosing an outdoor kegerator:

·       Single-tap vs. double-tap

·       Size

·       Class – luxury, premium, or standard

Another popular drink station choice for outdoor kitchens are outdoor wine coolers. These are perfect when you are entertaining multiple guests or throwing a party.

Storage

Just like an indoor kitchen, you will want storage in an outdoor kitchen. You need to plan to keep utensils, cooking tools, plates, cups, etc. outside if you do not want to make a ton of trips back and forth between inside your house and outside.

Attached Bar Areas for Serving

Last, but certainly not least, to consider is adding an attached bar area for serving. Adding this option into your outdoor kitchen makes serving family and guests so simple. It requires less effort for the cook and host.

Let Hawkins Landscape Architecture Design Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen

Is your mouth watering thinking about all the amazing meals you can make in your very own outdoor kitchen? Catch up to your senses and get started on building your dream outdoor kitchen today by calling me at 336-848-7164. I partner closely with all my clients to design landscaping elements they love and will enjoy for many years!

Follow my Instagram page for photos and inspiration on outdoor kitchens and any outdoor living element!

Porches are all the RAGE!

Porches! This year has been the year of home renovations, many including screened or grilling porches. This porch is off of a stately home on High Rock Lake. The porch serves as a covered area for outdoor dining and entertaining off of the new pool! The design not only included the porch with grilling/dining area and custom fireplace, but also a new shotcrete pool with infinity edge and spa. Other porches I have designed this year have many other types of amenities:

*Fireplaces and other Fire Features

*Built In Kitchens- these kitchens can include more than just a grill, how about a pizza oven, Green Egg, kegorator, or a built in bar?

*’EZ Screen folding doors, that can allow the porch to either be open air, or open entirely to allow the fresh air and dining alfresco:)

*Built in Hot Tubs

*Built in Showers

The sky is the limit when designing these wonderful home renovations. Most homeowners can expect a return of 84% on their investment when they add a porch to their home- so a great value for the money! Using my 3D imaging technology, customers are able to see the finished porch before construction:) See more projects such as this on my Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/3dlandscapearchitect/