Cunningham Gas Products carries Renaissance Cooking Systems. Photo courtesy of RCS
Ceiling fans add summertime comfort. Photo by TK Images, courtesy of Texas Custom Patios
The kitchen’s brick facing matches the home. Photo by TK Images, courtesy of Texas Custom Patios 40 house& home | June 2018 | www.houstonhouseandhome.net
“That cost difference will soon be negated by the lower maintenance costs and the longevity these products offer over a natural product,” he says, pointing to Trex® composite decking or AZEK® PVC decking, which fare better than natural pine in the sun and rain. Russell Budnick with Creative Contours Landscape Co. says wood is recommended for pergolas and arbors, as well as for the cabinets in outdoor kitchens. He prefers granite and tastefully done concrete countertops. McQuin says homeowners should take the time to thoughtfully design their outdoor space and integrate it into their backyard usage, for now and in the future. “The number one requirement in a space — be it a composite deck or a complete outdoor kitchen with a shingled roof overhead — is that it flows well and blends in with the house,” he says. “Because if the space doesn’t have a good flow between the different areas: seating, cooking and traffic, then the space that was created for that client will not be used to its fullest capabilities. Nor will it be as comfortable to use.” The design should also take advantage of Houston’s climate for almost year round use, and it’s important that the kitchen or deck be built in the shaded areas of the yard. “I would say shade, shade and more shade with either a pergola or patio cover,” says McQuin, who also suggests adding ventilation with ceiling fans. “[They] at least make outdoor entertaining bearable during our summers.”