The Outdoor Lifestyle Blog

Your daughter is getting married, and there's only one place she wants to say her vows...

At home.

In your backyard.

You've been told the occasion is going to be intimate in your outdoor living space but you also know the expectation is that this wedding is done with all of the elegance and class (and expense) of a traditional wedding at a traditional venue.

So... How do you do this?

Some foods immediately make us think of grilling out — steak, hamburgers, wings. Other foods seem hard to imagine with grill marks or an added smoky flavor.

It's easy to get stuck in a rut with food and how we prepare it, which is why we wanted to share an article about very common foods that taste uncommonly delicious on the grill.

The ironic thing is that these foods almost never get grilled. It's as if they're every grill master's best kept secret. But that secret is about to be out because we're confident that once you start grilling these four foods, you won't want to stop.

There's nothing more frustrating than planning a backyard barbecue in your outdoor kitchen only to have it rained out. Either you end up taking the party inside or cancelling it completely. Both scenarios are less than ideal because no venue can really compare to an outdoor kitchen.

So, if you want to ensure that the rain never hinders your plans for hosting a party in your outdoor kitchen, you should consider designing an outdoor kitchen that's weatherproof and protects your guests from the rain. 

Your outdoor kitchen is your cooking haven, but nothing can change that faster than a run-in with food poisoning. One evening you're having a relaxing dinner on the patio with your family, and the next morning you're suffering the effects of food poisoning. Or imagine how horrified you would be if you hosted a dinner party and served a meal that caused food poisoning.

No one ever plans for food poisoning, but neither do people consistently take the proper precautions to avoid it. Every ounce of effort you put into keeping your food sanitary is worth it. This blog will help!

If you're like the majority of the American population, you're probably grilling burgers for the 4th of July. You'll also toss some hot dogs on the smoker just incase you run out of burgers or to give the kids another option, but burgers are usually the main event.

What if you did something different this year? What if you made hot dogs the highlight of your 4th of July cookout? Grilling them is easy; it's the toppings that make them truly spectacular! Since we're celebrating America's Birthday in just a few days, let's look at some truly American dogs that are inspired by different parts of the country.

Kitchen islands seem to be a staple in most kitchens today. Maybe Chip and Joanna Gaines are are to blame, or perhaps people are just realizing how nice it is to have added counter space. Either way, kitchen islands are more than a fad. So does that mean you should put one in your outdoor living area? 

Instead of giving a simple answer to a question that doesn't have one, let's cover the do's and don'ts of building kitchen islands, and then you can decide if you think an island is still appropriate for your outdoor living space.

Dads are hard to buy for.

Great... you're thinking. Now tell me something I don't know.

Okay, we will! Buying dad a Father's Day present is not the only way to celebrate him this weekend. In fact, a lot of dads don't necessarily even like gifts, or else they don't need them. They have enough tie clips and personalized coffee mugs to last them a lifetime. We're here to help you think a little more creatively, and yes, practically this Father's Day. 

A kitchen without cabinets is like a beach without sand or a bike without pedals. How would you even function without them?

That's why people rarely ask themselves if they should put cabinets in their outdoor kitchen. Instead they're asking, how do I choose cabinets for my outdoor kitchen?

There are a lot of options out there, but since we're outdoor kitchen lifestyle experts (like, it's literally our job), we want to help you sort through the abundance of kitchen cabinet options and choose the best cabinets for your outdoor kitchen.

It's bound to happen this summer if it hasn't already. You'll be sitting in your outdoor kitchen after a long day and a relaxing dinner, and then you'll look up at the sky. You can't help but notice how bright the stars are. You remark on their brightness and their beauty, but your astronomy knowledge is limited enough that you don't have much more to say after that. So instead, you start to look for Orion, but you can't find him. A few moments later, you decide to be content with at least spotting the Little Dipper. 

Stars are fascinating, and there is a plethora of science and mythology associated with them. The more you know, the more interesting the sky becomes — and less confusing. For example, if you had known that Orion wasn't visible this time of year, then you wouldn't have been so disappointed with yourself for not being able to see him. Additionally, if you knew just a little bit more about astronomy, you might have been able to enjoy the night sky more fully. 

Let's dive into some fascinating facts about summer constellations so that you can truly appreciate the galaxy from your outdoor kitchen.

So, you know that you want an outdoor kitchen. That's great. But maybe it's not that easy. Maybe it's not solely your decision if an outdoor kitchen gets built in your backyard.

If you have a spouse or significant other, then you'll both need to agree whether or not you'd like to add an outdoor kitchen to your backyard. If your significant other is not completely on board with the outdoor kitchen idea just yet, don't give up the fight too easily. Let us help you win the debate with some tactful and true arguments.