House Magazine - Long Island's premier design architecture & lifestyle magazine

OUTDOOR KITCHENS SIZZLE!

Outdoor kitchens have sizzled upon the scene becoming the fastest growing trend in landscape designs and the home improvement market.

Those who want a new edge to their already upscale homes, Americans looking for a stay-cation experience and outdoor-lovers alike, want it all: lavish landscapes, pools, elaborate bars and decked out grills. These clients seek a lifestyle that allows them to have all the conveniences found within the house, outside, while extending the time they could and would use their yards. Thus the outdoor kitchen was born.

The outdoor kitchen trend remained firmly fixed in the high end of the consumer market for many years, and as the demand for outdoor kitchens increased in popularity, so did their elaborateness. In these past few years, the outdoor kitchen trend has flooded the market with more affordable options, thereby firmly establishing itself as a mainstay within middle to upper income clientele. This gave way to opening up a wide array of products and design ideas available in a variety of price ranges.

According to Joseph L. Cerbone, president of JLC Landscape Services, his clients are asking for "creativity, recreation and lots of amenities" to create their ideal kitchens. "Each client has different demands," says Cerbone. "Some want beautiful custom stone work with granite countertops and high end appliances, while other clients are looking for us to install a less custom kitchen using modular pieces where accessories can be added as their budget allows. There is a fit for everyone."

Whether a client chooses a custom or modular kitchen design, according to Cerbone, the end result is a dramatic transformation of their outdoor living space and how the family uses it.