The Outdoor Lifestyle Blog

Once you have your beautiful outdoor kitchen installed and ready for the next outdoor celebration, you might be wondering what else you can do to upgrade your backyard. Perhaps you just have a bland patch of lawn to work with and you’re looking for ways to provide more character.

Here are a few ideas for your next backyard project, from the simplest to most complex:

Climbing vines

If your outdoor kitchen includes a pergola, you can add a little more character to the support beams with morning glories, jasmine, or other height-loving vines. They can add a bit of natural whimsy, and it’s fun to watch their progress through the season.

Once you have your dream outdoor kitchen designed and built in your backyard, and have perfected your outdoor cooking skills, it’s time to get your family and friends in on the action.

One of the first logistical issues you’ll face, after figuring out the menu, is to determine where everyone will sit. Some outdoor kitchen owners like to cook outside and just bring the food in to the dining room—but we’re of the opinion that everyone will want to enjoy San Jose’s beautiful weather as they eat.

Here are some outdoor seating options for your backyard kitchen.

Are you ready to ring in the New Year? For some people, big flashy parties in the city surrounded by strangers is the only way they’d have it. But for others of us, we’d prefer something a little more personal and low-key.

If you love noisy bars and clubs, by all means, get out there and party. But if huge crowds and blaring music aren’t your style (or if you prefer to blare music of your own choosing!) why not host an intimate party in your outdoor kitchen?

Not only will you avoid battling traffic as your first experience of the new year, but you can make the most of the beautiful custom outdoor living area you’re so proud of.  

Here are 12 steps to hosting New Year’s Eve your way:

If you’ve invested in a beautiful custom outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to enjoy it throughout the year—and the holidays are no exception.

Whether you’re having the whole family over or inviting a select few of your closest friends, why not take the party outside? It can be as small as enjoying coffee and marshmallows around your fire table, or—if it’s a mild San Jose day—hosting the entire celebration outdoors.

Here are a few ideas for hosting your holiday celebration in your backyard living area:

The evenings are getting longer, and if you’re enjoying your outdoor living area in the winter (and we hope you are!), chances are you’re running your lights more often than usual. This fact, combined with the fact that many people enjoy decorating their outdoor living spaces for the holidays, means it’s a good time for a reminder about outdoor electrical safety.

Here are some basic safety tips that can save you a lot of headache down the road!

The holidays are here!

That means it's time for get-togethers with loved ones, parties to host, and delicious holiday meals to prepare.

You don’t want to close up your outdoor living area for the winter—after all, we live in sunny California, not frozen Michigan!

We’re all about continuing the fun of your outdoor kitchen through fall and winter. But since the occasional San Jose evening can still get a bit too chilly for comfort, it's time to look at some man-made heating options that help you keep your outdoor kitchen comfortable throughout the winter. 

We love living in the San Jose area, but for some of us it means we’ve got pretty tiny backyards. (This trend is actually a fact of life for homeowners around the country, not just Californians.)

If you’ve got an itch to make your backyard into the ultimate place for relaxation and fun but feel like it’s just too small to work with, take heart! With some creativity and a few clever upgrades, you can make the most of your tiny backyard space.

Creative Landscaping

Have you ever seen an empty room and thought it looked cramped—until you fit your entire bedroom furniture set into it? Sometimes a blank, featureless space looks much smaller than it actually is. Adding a flowerbed, a garden path, or outdoor furniture can actually make your space look bigger, plus increase its usefulness.

Tired of mowing? Ditch the lawn all together in favor of a patio, deck, or even a rock garden, and use container-grown plants to add more interesting green spaces.

Autumn is here, with its many occasions to celebrate! Whether you’re planning a Halloween get-together, a football tailgate, or even a “Friendsgiving” feast, make the most of the weather and take the fun to your outdoor living area.

Here are some ideas for perfect fall fun:

Decorate with nature’s bounty

Autumn is when nature puts out her most beautiful show of colors. When decorating your patio steps, tables, or outdoor kitchen counter, take cues from Mother Nature and incorporate natural elements as possible. (As an added bonus, it’s an easy and nearly fool-proof way to add seasonal cheer!) Possibilities include:

Do you dream of having an outdoor kitchen, but are afraid your backyard is too small? You can still have a beautiful and functional kitchenette in your small yard if you plan carefully!

Pick what matters most

If you’re limited on space, focus in on only those appliances and tools that you really want. For most people, a high-quality grill is a must. (And keep in mind good doesn’t necessarily mean large—you can get a great grill that doesn’t take up all of your available space.)

Are you at the early stages of planning your outside kitchen? One of the questions you’ll need to ask yourself as you plan is which appliances you’ll want to include. Your outside kitchen should reflect your needs, so be sure to choose the appliances that fit your lifestyle and your cooking habits best.

You’ll also need to make sure you choose appliances that can withstand the rigors of the outdoors. Your outdoor kitchen is an investment, and you don’t want issues with rust or mold to shortchange you!

Here are some common appliances for outside kitchens, and some considerations for making sure they withstand the elements: