• Home Help: Create the perfect outdoor kitchen space

• ​

TIP OF THE WEEK
Now that warmer weather is here, you want to spend as much time outdoors as possible — and that includes mealtime. But what if your outdoor kitchen space is lacking? Worry not! There are several easy, affordable projects that can help you transform the area into the perfect cooking and entertaining area. Give these projects a try to recreate your space.
• Build a barbecue cover. Give your kitchen a beautiful outdoor shelter by building a barbecue cover from Western Red Cedar. This natural wood is resistant to rot, decay and insects, and it will look great no matter what the weather brings, turning a beautiful silver grey patina if left to weather naturally. Building the cover is easy: Follow the nine-step process found at RealCedar.com.
• Find the perfect light. Looking to make your outdoor kitchen an area everyone wants to be in, even at night? Forget the deck light and opt for ambient lighting options instead. Track lighting can be strung across your space easily to make the kitchen a welcoming environment. And if you want to be more unique, you can find simple instructions online for building wine-bottle torches or Mason jar lamps.
• A place for guests to dine. Enjoy the food where it was made by building a dining table and chairs from Western Red Cedar. Building a table is easier than you think, and red cedar can be finished anyway you like. This allows you to create furniture perfect for a more traditional or modern kitchen.
• Provide a little shade. Make those summer afternoons enjoyable and comfortable by providing some shade for your guests. Patio umbrellas are a helpful addition to any seating area. To cover a larger space, you could also opt for an all-encompassing retractable awning that will provide shade when you need it and peel away when everyone wants a little sun.

HOME-SELLING TIP
Add a fresh sent to the air. Your home should be pleasing to the eye as well as pleasing to the nose. Realtors have recognized the benefits of great smells for years. You can keep your home smelling great throughout the showing by using pure essential oils from Aura Cacia. Mix salt and oils, pour into a decorative dish or bowl and set out on a table. Placing the crystals in a warm sunny window or near a heat register will help diffuse the delicious aroma throughout the room. Stir in additional essential oils to boost the scent as needed.

DECORATING TIP
An easy way to add character to your main living room space is to incorporate pieces that tell a story. Treasured mementos from special vacations or frames filled with pictures of your loved ones give a personal touch to the room, while giving guests a deeper glimpse of the things that matter most to you. Another strategy for smart accessorizing is using items that do double-duty, such as adding a pretty wax candle that brings and inviting scent to the room.

GARDEN GUIDE
Water only where it’s needed so it doesn’t go to waste. When you use a lawn sprinkler to water your garden, much of the spray misses your flowers and vegetables and ends up on the grass, the sidewalk or the neighbor’s yard. Make certain the water gets to the roots of your plants via a drip-irrigation system like Raindrip. Raindrip irrigation uses 70 percent less water than underground sprinklers and frees the user from constantly hauling around hoses because the system stays in your garden all summer long.