Category Archives: Outdoor Kitchens

Popular Outdoor Design Trends

Whether you have several acres and a pool or just a city balcony, here are the most popular outdoor design trends.

As we transition into summer, spending time outdoors becomes more important. After a grueling winter and spring, people are looking forward to being outside. So, there is more pressure than ever to create a resort-like space in our own backyards.

Popular Outdoor Design Trends

Popular Outdoor Design Trends and Plans

Four Popular Outdoor Design Trends

Glass Pool Fencing
Pool fencing and aesthetically pleasing rarely belong in the same sentence, but Aquaview pool fences are different. Founded by friends and entrepreneurs Jordan Goodman and Kelly Maynard, the brand was even featured on TLC’s Make This Place Your Home.

Aquaview fences are made from stainless steel and half-inch thick tempered safety glass. This has many advantages over traditional pool fencing. Unlike other materials, glass provides an unobstructed view and will not detract from landscaping or other architectural features. This is one of the popular outdoor design trends that can even increase property value, making it a smart investment.

Glass is also a better choice for safety than standard pool fencing. It is far easier for homeowners to keep an eye on children and pets through glass. It also discourages intruders and animals from getting into the pool area because glass cannot be climbed.

Outdoor Bars
At the end of April, Wayfair Professional released a report sharing data and search trends which revealed what their customers were looking to buy for the upcoming season. One of the most notable findings was that searches for outdoor bars increased by 155 percent. It’s easy to understand why. Much like a fun pool float, just the sight of an outdoor bar can put someone in a more festive mood.

Building an outdoor kitchen is a major undertaking that’s simply not an option for everyone. So, one of our popular outdoor design trends is an outdoor bar. There many options to choose from that will fit anyone’s budget making it a far less expensive alternative.

Lighting
Having sufficient outdoor lighting is essential to getting the most out of your backyard. One of the best ways to install lighting outdoors, according to John Barnes, who is a design expert with Lamps Plus, is using a DIY Landscape Lighting Kit. Easy to install plug-in kits come complete with everything you need: LED lights, plug-in transformer, and wire. Simply position the lights where you want in your yard, make the simple connections, and plug into an outdoor wall outlet. The transformers have built-in dusk-to-dawn sensors, so the lights will automatically come on at night and go off at sunrise.

It is recommend using these kits to highlight trees or garden details as well as brighten walkways for safety. There are so many different options for this type of lighting in a range of aesthetics and budgets.

Rope Furniture
One of the biggest and most popular outdoor design trends in outdoor furnishings is rope. It originally started as more of a coastal decor look but it’s now used in so many different ways that it can fit in almost style and budget.

There are many outdoor kitchen appliances and manufacturing companies to choose from. Here are a few we recommend; Masterbuilt, Vicking, AJ Madison, BBQGuys and Kalamazoo.

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Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive outdoor design software. Cad Pro is great for designing outdoor living projects, DIY home projects, smart home designs, technical drawings, electrical drawings, construction details, and much more.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of outdoor living areas. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Planning Outdoor Living Space

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Professional Outdoor Kitchen Projects

As outdoor living spaces continue to evolve, homeowners are increasingly likely to seek help for professional outdoor kitchen projects. Nearly two-thirds of homeowners consulted design professionals on outdoor kitchen designs and projects and more than eight in ten homeowners used professional installers, according to the 2019 Outdoor Kitchen Consumer Profile released by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).

Outdoor living space no longer just means a grill on a patio and a picnic table. Outdoor kitchen designs typically include hardscaping to define areas for dining, cooking, and relaxing, built-in refrigerators, grills, sinks, cabinetry, plumbing, bar areas, shelter and overhead structures, and lighting.

When designing these professional outdoor kitchen projects there are many outdoor kitchen appliances and manufacturing companies to choose from. Here are a few we recommend; Masterbuilt, Vicking, AJ Madison, BBQGuys and Kalamazoo.

CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders and contractors plan and design all types of outdoor kitchen designs. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors as well as the National Association of Landscape professionals.

Professional Outdoor Kitchen Projects and Outdoor Kitchen Designs

Professional Outdoor Kitchen Projects and Designs

Professional Outdoor Kitchen Projects and Budgets

As outdoor living spaces continue to include more elements, the budgets for such projects continue to expand. The NKBA report found the average spend among surveyed homeowners on outdoor kitchens is $13,000, with nearly one quarter of respondents building high-end professional outdoor kitchen projects costing more than $30,000. An additional 14% of respondents spend between $20,000 and $30,000 on outdoor kitchen design projects.

Homeowners increasingly regard their outdoor living spaces as extensions of their homes, and therefore are building them more elaborately, taking design elements and creature comforts into greater consideration. Although more than one-third of outdoor kitchens are in warm-weather states like Florida, Texas and California, homeowners in states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts are also making more use of their outdoor spaces for two or even three seasons, with amenities like fireplaces, fire pits, and patio heaters where needed.

The most common regret for homeowners when designing these professional outdoor kitchen projects is wishing they built better structures for shade and protection from inclement weather, according to the NKBA. Other common regrets include not designing a bigger space, not allocating more counter space, not installing atmosphere, lighting, or temperature control, and not including cabinets for storage.

The Outdoor Kitchen Consumer Profile report polled 303 homeowners who either completed an outdoor kitchen project in the past three years or were planning to complete one in the year ahead.

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Cad Pro is an affordable and easy alternative to other more expensive outdoor kitchen design software. Cad Pro is great for designing outdoor living projects, DIY home projects, smart home designs, technical drawings, electrical drawings, construction details, and much more.

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10 Best Backyard Landscape Ideas

No matter how you utilize your backyard space, a little time outdoors will do you good. Try these 10 best backyard landscape ideas and improvements to turn your backyard into your own personal oasis. Your backyard can serve many purposes such as a gardening hub, a space for entertaining family and friends, or even just the perfect place to relax on a beautiful day.

Cad Pro’s custom home remodeling projects and design software are affordable and easy alternatives to other home design and remodeling software programs. Cad Pro is great for creating remodeling plans, floor planslandscape drawings, outdoor kitchen plans, deck plans and patio designs, and much more.

10 Best Backyard Landscape Ideas

Affordable 10 Best Backyard Landscape Ideas

A List of the 10 Best Backyard Landscape Ideas

#1 – Potted Plants
While all backyards need shrubs and trees, consider adding potted plants to your backyard designs for more dimension in your garden. Container favorites include begonias, asters and azaleas. Fill containers with an organic potting mix, to ensure proper drainage and best results. Potted plants are one of the most economical 10 best backyard landscape ideas.

#2 – Kids Corner/Playgrounds
Get kids outside by making the backyard fun for them, too. Add an outdoor DIY chalkboard where kids can express their creativity. Games and toys like hopscotch or jump rope are perfect for warm nights outside. You can even encourage them to eat healthy by growing a vegetable and fruit garden.

Gardens Highlight the 10 Best Backyard Landscape Ideas

#3 – Edible Gardens
Yards can be purposeful, too. Growing your own fruits and veggies ensures the best quality, convenience and taste. Grow plants in raised bed gardens or containers, if you’re short on space. Some plants offer year-round foliage, tasty fruit and space saving, and some plants are good for your garden. Choose dwarf varieties such as those from Bushel & Berry for growing in containers.

#4 – Refurbished Household Items
Instead of throwing away old household items, give them new life in the garden. Almost anything can be turned into a container garden, from toolboxes to wheelbarrows. Fill empty wine or beer bottles with LED lights for unique lanterns. Refurbished items are a definite money saver for the 10 best backyard landscape ideas.

#5 – DIY Lanterns & LED Lights
DIY lanterns make for a great crafting project and add a unique touch of light to your backyard. Add candles or LED lights to mason jars or painted tin cans.

Outdoor Fires in the 10 Best Backyard Landscape Ideas

#6 – Fire Pits
Nothing says summer like a backyard bonfire. Purchase a fire pit at your local garden center or create your own fire pit using stone or brick surrounded with gravel or small stones. Grab some comfy furniture, family and friends and get ready for s’more season. This idea really warms up the 10 best backyard landscape ideas.

#7 – String lights
Enchanting string lights turn your backyard into an outdoor oasis. Hang them between posts, dangle from walls or ceilings or even wrap them around planters or trees.

#8 – Outdoor Furniture
Durable yet comfy outdoor couches and chairs make your backyard the perfect space for entertaining. Hang a hammock between two shady spots for a place to catch up on some reading.

#9 – Walkways and Paths
Use gravel, stepping stones, or wooden pallets to create a walkway through your garden. Line the path with low-growing shrubs or groundcovers like verbena, hostas or sedges.

#10 – Add a Water Feature
Adding some type of water features is a favorite of the 10 best backyard landscape ideas. Adding water fountains to your backyard will create a Zen garden effect. Tiered fountains look great in any backyard and add the soothing sound of running water. Create a small pond to create visual contrast with your plants. Birdbaths can also serve as a focal point and provide shelter for our friends in the sky.

Any of these 10 best backyard landscape ideas will be sure to turn your outdoor space into a fun, relaxing and beautiful space.

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CAD Pro has helped thousands of homeowners, professional designers, builders, and contractors plan and design all types of outdoor plans. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors and the NRCA roofing contractors. CAD Pro is also used by NHBA home builders and contractors, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). as well as the (NALP) National Association of Landscape Professionals.

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