The great outdoors is the next frontier for cooking, which includes everything and the kitchen sink. More homeowners are building kitchens outside that have the amenities of the kitchen inside their house.

Outdoor cooking spaces are topping the list of kitchen trends for the second year in a row, according to 2019 Home Design Trends Survey results conducted by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

"People are tending more toward outdoor living," says Russ Faulk, chief designer and head of product at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet. "Firing up a grill and cooking outside feeds a human primal urge." Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet is a high-end outdoor kitchen designer and manufacturer based in Michigan.

Outdoor or alfresco kitchens have evolved into permanent structures built to emulate the indoor kitchen, Faulk says. "People are investing money into their house, and an outdoor kitchen can improve a home's value and make it more desirable," he says. "Also, with the trend toward emulating restaurant or artisan cooking, having an outdoor kitchen with a grill is like having dinner and a show from the comfort of your backyard."

According to 2019 research conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), a majority of outdoor kitchens:

-- Cost at least $13,000, with 25% of homeowners considering very high-end kitchens of $30,000 or more.

-- Have an average size footprint of 100 to 400 square feet, including a sitting area in the meal preparation space.

-- Are directly linked to the home, often sharing an exterior wall, which allows for an easy transition between indoor and outdoor kitchens.

"Cooking in the backyard has come a long way from the post grill on the patio," Faulk says. "Now, an outdoor kitchen has key components that include not only a grill, but also refrigerator, sink, cabinets, food-prep surface and task lighting."

While dreaming of an outdoor kitchen, it's important to create a complete patio picture, which entails laying a solid foundation. Before pouring concrete or laying flagstone flooring, make sure you're working with competent contractors who have experience installing patios. After an outdoor kitchen design is drawn, the site needs to be prepared so that the patio slopes away from the house and drains properly.

A patio should be built with outside-rated bricks, tiles and pavers because these materials have less than a 3% water absorption rate, which means they won't crumble during numerous freeze-thaw cycles in colder climates. In addition to using outside-rated materials, it's important to use waterproofing membranes, especially if materials are bonded to concrete. Fixed overhead structures or pergolas are also popular and give a sense of an outdoor room by creating atmosphere, privacy and protection from the outdoor elements.

Any appliances, countertops or cabinetry in an outdoor kitchen must also stand up to both steaming and/or freezing temperatures. "When designing an outdoor kitchen, the first things people consider are what kinds of grilling implements they want installed," Faulk says. "But just as important is having an adequate sink and countertop space to handle a hot and heavy rack of smoked ribs coming off the fire."

Faulk says a galley kitchen setup is the most efficient use of cooking space outdoors. Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet fabricates cabinetry and appliances from stainless steel, which is a material that is smooth, durable and resistant to the elements; however, stainless steel scratches easily and conducts heat, which makes it impractical as a countertop. Custom-made cabinet countertop options can include outside-rated granite, soapstone or porcelain tiles.

While today's custom-made outdoor kitchen has cabinetry that can house a sink, refrigerator and countertop space, the outdoor kitchen can only get cooking when one brings the heat. "Before you invest in a certain type of grill, know whether you will use the outdoor kitchen for traditional grilling or smoking. Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet offers a hybrid grill that can use gas, charcoal and aromatic wood," Faulk says. "People can also invest in a pizza oven, an Argentinian-style 'gaucho' grill, or a Japanese-inspired Kamado grill."

Be certain that any appliance installed outdoors is manufactured to be used outside and marked with a UL (Underwriters Laboratory) seal approving it for outdoor use. "Standard indoor appliances are not rated for the kinds of conditions in outdoor kitchens," Faulk says. "Also, outdoor cooking appliances aren't to be used indoors either, since they become so hot and can pose a fire hazard."

For many who entertain, "eating out" simply means walking into their backyard outdoor kitchen. The secret to a successful cookout is to coordinate between the indoor and outdoor kitchen, doing most of the prep work inside and stocking the outdoor kitchen for entertaining, Faulk says. "An outdoor kitchen can feel more authentic and be a less pretentious way of hosting," he says. "Someone drops their plate or spills a drink in the outdoor kitchen? Clean-up is just a hose-down away."

Don't knock wood as a kitchen accoutrement that mixes form and function. When it comes to entertaining both indoors and out, wood boards are no longer on the chopping block.

While a wood surface initially might fall flat in terms of water and stain resistance, it's a product that stands the test of time, says Steve Pless, national sales manager for John Boos and Co., a fabricator of wood countertops and boards since 1887, based in Effingham, Illinois.

"Due to a minimalist trend that highlights stainless steel and dark polished surfaces, wood brings instant warmth to an overall kitchen design," he says. "While wood has never completely fallen out of favor, our company has been experiencing solid and steady growth that's doubled in the last six years."

While hard-rock maple is the most-used wood to fabricate countertops and cutting boards made by John Boos and Co., other woods, including oak, poplar, walnut and cherry, each have their own unique grains and characteristics that are one of a kind. Nicks and scratches are part of a wood surface's patina, says Pless, and natural countertops and cutting boards require ongoing maintenance. Application of food-safe mineral oil provides a nontoxic coating to protect a natural finish.

"A wood countertop can also be factory-treated with a smooth semigloss finish, and can be easily cleaned with mild soap and warm water, which doesn't require regular re-oiling," Pless says. "I don't advise cutting directly on a countertop, no matter what surface it is -- that's what a natural wood cutting board is for -- but you need to embrace the fact that a wood surface is going to take on a character of its own."

Part of a countertop's character comes from one of three ways the wood is fabricated:

-- Edge-grain-style: Cut lumber planks are laid on edge and joined together. They can be cut to make countertops up to 4 inches thick.

-- Plank-style: Wood planks are joined together to form the width of the countertop. Each board can run the entire length of the countertop and shows off the heart of the grain.

-- End-grain-style: Many short (usually 4-inch thick) pieces of wood are stacked side-by-side and joined with cut ends facing up. This produces an extremely tough surface that resembles a checkerboard, and gives a traditional "butcher block" appearance.

John Boos and Co. hard-rock maple countertops start at $75 per linear foot, according to Pless, and are popular on kitchen islands that don't house a sink.

"The experienced weekend do-it-yourselfer can install these countertops over existing cabinetry and easily change the look of the kitchen," he says. "The important thing is to allow for expansion and contraction of wood, since it is a dynamic material and responsive to weather."

Water-repellant finishes and barriers can make wet kitchen applications possible, and while wooden countertops are durable, they are not moisture-resistant and may warp over time if exposed to water on an ongoing basis. No matter the type of wood or finish, allowing liquid to pool on the surface can cause watermarks and expansion that can lead to glue joint failure and warping.

"Wooden countertops are easily cleaned by simply wiping the surface with a slightly damp cloth using anti-bacterial dish soap or a small amount of bleach or vinegar in the water," Pless says. "Follow that up by thoroughly drying the wooden countertop after washing it."

Pless says it is a good habit to use separate cutting boards for different types of food preparation. "For example, use one cutting board for raw meats and fish, and another for cooked or raw foods, such as vegetables and bread," he says. "Of course, clean the cutting board thoroughly after each usage, according to manufacturer's guidelines, and that will help protect against cross-contamination."

For Katy Milton, a designer located in the San Francisco Bay area, wood is good when it comes to entertaining on the go. A custom-made 4-foot-long plank of natural poplar wood is the basis for a cheese board that feeds her guests who are anything but bored.

"Wood is organic and has its own story, and just invites people in," Milton says. "This is the way I love to entertain: There's just something about the informality and beauty of a beautiful wooden board laden with food."

Milton "boards outside the box" of her home, and it is anything but cheesy. She packs her wooden board with an assortment of meats, cheeses, crackers, olives, fruit and nuts, then artfully displays the food for an impromptu picnic or gathering.

"When everyone is done eating, I just wash the natural board and treat it with a food-grade mineral oil," she says. "There's no pretention when you're entertaining using a wooden cutting board. Wood is approachable, and people just innately gather around it."

Wood is Good

Follow Katy Milton and her wooden cheese board adventures on Instagram at katy.milton.

Select RESIDENTIAL options at JohnBoos.com to find an authorized dealer for cutting boards and countertops near you.

Think outside the basin when it comes to a bathroom's vanity. Designers are coming clean when considering the bathroom's furniture focal piece. Sandra Diaz-Velasco, principal architect and designer of EOLO Design in Miami, says the vanity is the place where many elements must work together.

"Whether it's a guest or master bathroom, the vanity is usually the first and last thing you see, whether you're looking in the mirror or washing your hands," she says. "There are a lot of elements to consider -- water, wood, stone and metal -- and how they are combined should create a harmonious form that also functions well."

First-place winner of the 2019 National Kitchen and Bath Association's (NKBA) Design Competition in the Large Luxury Bath category, Diaz-Velasco's design of a master bathroom in a Coral Gables, Florida, home blends contemporary design with comfort. The vanity's design should be in keeping with the style of furniture found throughout the home, she says.

EOLO's award-winning design of the Cocoplum gated community home's master bath features a walnut wood vanity with copper-colored tubing and fixtures. A round mirror is suspended in front of a glass backdrop, which allows for natural light to help illuminate the vanity. A rectangular overmounted sink sits atop the vanity for dramatic effect, as the wooden structure stores personal effects neatly inside.

"The vanity is the most personal space in a bathroom, so treat it carefully," Diaz-Velasco says. "All eyes are focused on it, so make sure it has the right lighting, and is a place where one wants to put their best face forward."

Furniture Focal Point

Vanity varieties include everything AND the bathroom sink, according to Faye Nielsen, owner and designer of The Nielsen Collection of Interiors, based outside Dallas.

"The vanity is a focal point with function," she says. "There should be a place for everything, and everything should be in its place with drawer pullouts that organize everything."

Vanities come in all shapes and sizes and can give a bathroom its bearings. Start by selecting a vanity based on personal style and the room available -- a single or double sink variety; a leggy freestanding cupboard/dresser; a custom-made contemporary with sleek storage; or a wall-mounted sturdy "shelf" that resembles a large mantelpiece with sinks -- are all viable options.

Watershed Moment

Sinks make a statement, but bigger appears to be better with the trend toward rectangular trough sinks. As part of a vanity's freestanding cabinet, retro console or futuristic metal framework, the right sink depends on a homeowner's style sensibilities.

-- Self-rimming sinks have a secure, waterproof outer lip, which can be "dropped-in" and sealed into a custom-cut hole in the vanity's countertop.

-- Undermount sinks give a clean look of open counter space. The sink is mounted beneath a vanity's countertop with special brackets for a seamless look.

-- Vessel sinks sit atop the vanity's counter with the rim above the surface. Sometimes called countertop sinks, these can be used to dramatic effect.

Counterpoint

The first step to a super-clean bath design is to make sure the vanity remains squeaky clean. Marble countertops are a popular choice, but Nielsen says engineered stone or quartz surfaces are waterproof and stain-, heat- and scratch-resistant, and can be manufactured to mimic stone. Because a quartz countertop lacks surface holes, it does not require sealing, nor does it support the growth of bacteria.

Glass, concrete or stone countertops with integrated sinks are also popular custom choices, says Nielsen. "Colored glass countertops with integrated sinks make for a streamlined style," she says. "As a rule of thumb, the countertop should be no more than 3 feet tall by 2 feet deep."

Fixated on Fixtures

Chrome is still cool when it comes to fixtures on and near the vanity, Nielsen says. But the inclusion of more metal finishes doesn't mean design has to be watered down, and can feature the popular oil-rubbed bronze, matte black or warm copper-colored finishes. While some faucets still mount into the vanity's top, more designers are considering the wall-mounted variety for added effect.

Fixtures not only include faucets, but also lighting. "Mirrored medicine cabinets with integrated lights on either side are great," Nielsen says. "Avoid a single fixture on top of the mirror, which creates harsh shadows on the face."

Shed real light on a design concept by creating a layered lighting plan that blends different types of illumination -- eye-catching ceiling fixtures, coupled with task or accent lights on either side of a mirror should have finishes that match the faucets. For a final touch on the vanity, choose knobs or pulls that complement the accent color or metal finish in a bathroom.

But the most illuminating tact toward having a ravishing vanity is to have a bathroom infused with as much natural light as possible -- either through windows or a skylight, Diaz-Velasco says.

"When you first set eyes upon the vanity, one should almost have the feeling they're entering a spa," she says. "On balance, it should be clean and austere, but also warm and welcoming."

Bathroom Bliss

-- National Kitchen and Bath Association, NKBA.org, click "Find a Professional" box for a certified kitchen professional near you, or contact the NKBA Member Engagement Team at 1-800-843-6522

-- EOLOdesigns.com, or call (305) 250-9939

-- NielsenCollection.com, or call (214) 463-2743