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Turn Your Back Yard into a Retreat
(ARA) - Whether you live in a warm climate where you can enjoy your yard all year round, or if you live in an area where the summer months are all too fleeting, more and more homeowners are turning their back yards into extensions of their homes, complete with outdoor kitchens and garden "rooms."
It used to be that a simple grill qualified as an outdoor kitchen. But now, it's not uncommon to see backyard kitchens that rival anything you'd find inside the house. Outdoor kitchens come equipped with a cooking area, an eating area, even a prep area complete with a sink and refrigerator. Some outdoor kitchens even boast a dishwasher to take care of cleanup.
If you're planning an outdoor kitchen, you'll want to pay as much attention to the setting as you do to the equipment. For example, is the seating area located where you have the best view of the yard? Is there enough shade so that diners will not be roasting themselves in the sun?
For the cooking section of your outdoor kitchen, is the layout conducive to easy entertaining? Is the prep area within easy reach of the grill? Do you have a stable surface on which to set cooking supplies or to hold a platter as you take food off the grill?
One way to add to both the ambience and the functionality of an outdoor space is to incorporate design elements such as pergolas, arbors and a built-in surround for the grill. Lifestyle magazines are full of good ideas and inspiration. You'll notice a lot of stone used in these projects - or is it? Only the homeowner knows for sure.
Products like Milestone Architectural Stone, made from hand cast, lightweight concrete, make is easy to have the look of stone and marble without the expense. It also makes installation quick and easy. "Our product is 50 to 65 percent lighter in weight than standard cast or genuine stone with the natural veining which enhances the hand carved look our products are best known for," says company CEO Melody Saunders Brenna.
For example, the company's marble-look pillars form the perfect base for a stately pergola, providing instant shade and dramatic interest for the patio or pool area. Milestone is known for its fireplace surrounds, and they have expanded their product line to include surrounds for built-in, high-end grills.
Milestone's composition of white Portland cement, natural sands and mineral pigments achieves every desired color and surface texture, while maintaining durable physical properties, often exceeding that of natural, cut building stones.
The design experts at Milestone are happy to share their years of experience to ensure a finished project that you'll love. For more outdoor design ideas, visit www.milestoneltd.com.
Copyright © 2006, ARA Content
Other Articles in Home and Garden
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Home Decorating :: Spruce Up Your Interior with a Fresh Spring Color
Backyard Play Equipment Harbors Harmful Grime and Dirt
Home Gardening :: Gardening without a Garden
Create the Perfect Kid's Room
Looking for Luxury
Turn Your Back Yard into a Retreat
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Let Nature's Renewal Inspire You
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