At Home: Outdoor kitchens

Most folks enjoy dining al fresco, especially as fall’s cooler air gives us reprieve from the dog days of summer. But imagine being able to cook and eat outside — in your own backyard.

Historically, kitchens were built in separate structures from the house in case of fires. At Oaklands Mansion, for example, the kitchen is connected by a breezeway leading to the main house.

These older kitchens were essentially outdoor structures intended for preparing and serving large family meals in a safe environment, which still makes sense today as homeowners entertain large groups of friends and family.

Certainly, an outdoor kitchen will double or triple your entertainment capacity. And the sky’s the limit when choosing your features — from grills, ovens and fire pits to water fountains and ponds.

“It expands your living space,” says Jay Ashburn, a local stone mason and bartender. “When you have company over, it gives everyone a place to go. The kids might end up hanging out by the water fountain, while the adults stay around the fireplace. Everyone’s not on top of each other.”

You might have met Ashburn if you’ve stopped in Wall Street restaurant on the Murfreesboro Square in the past 10 years. But he has also worked as a mason with his father, Gilbert Ashburn, since he was 13 years old.

The Ashburns work with Charles Holland, a general contractor based out of Springfield, to build a wide range of outdoor living structures for different budgets across middle Tennessee. The team handles the process from beginning to end.

When planning your own, Ashburn says it’s important to talk with your general contractor first to communicate what features you want to build and where. The contractor will then draw up plans, and once you tweak and approve your plans, an official architectural drawing will follow and building can begin.

“The exact layout can change a little,” says Ashburn.

Just be open to the possibility that you might have to change plans, he said.

“But it is important to be absolutely sure about what you want,” says Holland, who has worked as a general contractor for 39 years. “Because once you start, it can be so costly to change something.”

When choosing your materials, you have options that will affect the overall cost and life span of your outdoor living space. Natural stone and brick are the most popular, but man-made stones are available at a lower cost.

“We try not to use man-made stones,” says Holland. “They look good on the front end, but they will wear, tear, and fade.”

“Real stone won’t fade,” says Ashburn.

Some features to consider when planning your own outdoor kitchen are countertops for food preparation, shelter for the person cooking, lighting, a bar cart to keep food and drinks cool, and seating for your guests — all combined to create a basic island of efficient design.

For more information on outdoor kitchens, you may contact Holland by phone at 615-207-6566 or by email at hollceh@aol.com.

Contact Colleen Johnson-Bryant at colleen.mj@gmail.com

AT HOME

Each week, The Daily News Journal showcases creative ideas for home and garden. The series runs every Sunday in this section.