by Karl Bremer, VERSA-LOK Retaining Wall Systems

Garry Ferrell, design division vice president at Eastside Nursery in Groveport, Ohio, wrapped an outdoor kitchen around the base of a hot tub to win VERSA-LOK?EUR??,,????'???s 2004 Modern Marvels Design Contest. A spacious paver patio flanked by a pergola and tiered gardens makes this truly an outdoor living area.

Outdoor kitchens are the hottest thing cooking in residential landscape design, thanks in no small part to the versatility of segmental retaining wall systems (SRWs). We?EUR??,,????'???re not talking about a concrete-slab patio with a Weber grill, either.

Kitchens now being installed outdoors rival or even exceed the most lavish indoor cooking areas, replete with high-end stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, food storage areas and fully plumbed sinks.

SRW systems are the backbone of many of these kitchens. Designers are finding uses for them beyond their traditional role of earth retention: as the base for cooking and food-preparation islands, perimeter seat-walls, columns and tables, to name a few. In some instances, they have even incorporated cooking areas as part of the retaining wall itself.

SOLID CONSTRUCTION

Richard Ventola of Green Acres Inc. in Palisades Park, N.J., designed and installed two outdoor kitchens this year and has two more on the drawing board. He used the VERSA-LOK Mosaic retaining wall system to construct the main elements of both, complementing them with concrete pavers in a matching color and texture.

Richard Ventola of Green Acres Inc. in Palisades Park, N.J., used over four pallets of Mosaic retaining wall blocks in this cooking island. Granite countertops were installed around the grill, on the backsplash and on top of the island to create a classy bar. The granite was attached to the top of the island using thin set mortar and then sealed for protection against the elements.

?EUR??,,????'??The entire cooking island is made of solid retaining wall units. There?EUR??,,????'???s no air in there,?EUR??,,????'?? Ventola notes, except for the cavities that were left in the island for the grill and food storage cabinets. ?EUR??,,????'??We took some of the block and cut it horizontally, like you do with a router, to make channels for the barbecue to fit into.?EUR??,,????'??

The solid construction of the units made modifications much easier than using hollow blocks, he notes.

About four pallets of retaining wall units were used in the island alone, so it?EUR??,,????'???s not going anywhere. Ventola also used retaining wall units to build a short freestanding column that serves as the pedestal of a table. The tabletop is a thick slab of bluestone.

Granite countertops were installed around the grill, on the backsplash and on top of the island to create a classy bar. The granite was attached to the top of the island and then sealed for protection against the elements.

Ventola recommended that a roof or pergola be placed over granite countertops. ?EUR??,,????'??If you have full sun, glare becomes an issue and the granite gets hot. If a roof or pergola isn?EUR??,,????'???t possible, the location should be set in shade.?EUR??,,????'??

KITCHEN-WALL COMBO

Robert Daniels, landscape division manager for Clearwater Swimming Pool Co. in Centre Hall, Pa., saw his first outdoor kitchen just three years ago.
?EUR??,,????'??I thought, that looks pretty easy, I think I could do that,?EUR??,,????'?? he recalls. Today, outdoor kitchens have developed into a specialty of theirs and, Daniels says, ?EUR??,,????'??I?EUR??,,????'???ve been getting more calls for them than ever before.?EUR??,,????'??

The cooking area became part of the retaining wall in this innovative design by Robert Daniels of Clearwater Swimming Pool Co. in Centre Hall, Pa. SRW systems are the backbone of many of these kitchens. Designers are finding uses for them beyond their traditional role of earth retention: as the base for cooking and food-preparation islands, perimeter seat-walls, columns and tables, to name a few.

He recently was faced with the challenge of installing an outdoor kitchen in a back yard with a steep slope and deep, three-tiered retaining walls. Daniels often incorporates retaining walls into his outdoor kitchen designs. However he adds, ?EUR??,,????'??That was the first time that I ever built one right into the retaining wall. These people had such a huge bank to deal with. The middle wall was coming right off their upper deck, so we figured we?EUR??,,????'???d utilize that as much as we could.?EUR??,,????'??

A paver patio was installed at the level of the deck and across the top of the first retaining wall tier to create a cooking and eating area. Built-in stairs connect this upper patio with the pool on the lower ground level.

Then, in a creative use of limited space, Daniels carved a kitchen area right into the middle retaining wall that includes a large gas grill, refrigerator and food preparation counter. The entire structure also was built with the Mosaic retaining wall system, so it?EUR??,,????'???s indistinguishable from the wall itself.

?EUR??,,????'??It actually made it a little stronger and added some stability there because there?EUR??,,????'???s so much more block in that area,?EUR??,,????'?? says Daniels.

Daniels recommends putting gas grills on a line to a large propane tank away from the cooking area, or on a direct natural gas line to the house, rather than take up space with a small propane tank next to the grill. He also advises running water lines to the cooking area.

?EUR??,,????'??It?EUR??,,????'???s usually an area that?EUR??,,????'???s not that close to the house, so it?EUR??,,????'???s not a problem talking clients into running water lines, even though it requires some additional maintenance to blow the lines out in the winter.?EUR??,,????'??

Another way to maximize space is with a freestanding seat-wall.

?EUR??,,????'??It adds a nice barrier around the edge of a patio, and provides extra seating for guests,?EUR??,,????'?? says Daniels.

SEPARATION OF SPACES

Jim Christensen, senior landscape designer with Villa Landscapes in Oakdale, Minn., says the ability to create outdoor kitchens out of a consistent product like retaining wall systems is a big plus for landscaping clients.

?EUR??,,????'??They?EUR??,,????'???re pleasantly surprised they can meld the two elements together?EUR??,,????'??+cooking areas and retaining walls?EUR??,,????'??+using the same product. In particular,?EUR??,,????'?? says Christensen, ?EUR??,,????'??they like the vertical separation of spaces that?EUR??,,????'???s possible using retaining walls.?EUR??,,????'??

Christensen says he often utilizes two or more levels to maximize the grades that exist on a site.

?EUR??,,????'??Even a 12 to 18-inch separation of space is visually big. It adds dimension. By breaking up areas in this fashion, it encourages smaller groups of guests to cluster together when socializing. Instead of one large group of 16 people congregating, you?EUR??,,????'???ll find three or four smaller groups of four or five apiece.?EUR??,,????'??

HIGH-END DEMAND

The demand for outdoor kitchens is coming chiefly from high-end landscape customers.

?EUR??,,????'??It?EUR??,,????'???s not something for someone shopping for a Weber grill,?EUR??,,????'?? says Ventola at Green Acres. ?EUR??,,????'??It?EUR??,,????'???s for someone who?EUR??,,????'???s got a Viking (appliances) kitchen inside the home, and they want to take that same look and quality outdoors.?EUR??,,????'??

Adds Daniels of Clearwater Swimming Pool Co., ?EUR??,,????'??A lot of them are pool customers. They already have a substantial investment in their back yard.?EUR??,,????'??

The most basic cooking island with a grill and counter space can be built for between $7,500 and $10,000. But it?EUR??,,????'???s not hard to go well beyond that?EUR??,,????'??+$50,000 or more?EUR??,,????'??+when amenities such as granite countertops, pergolas, refrigeration and wet bars are added. However, that should be within the budget of most clients. Landscape designers generally recommend that homeowners invest 10 percent of the value of their home in landscaping.

Daniels says they currently piece kitchens together using other vendors, but ?EUR??,,????'??it gets kind of expensive that way. We?EUR??,,????'???re going to try to see if we can get a grill provider in here to make it more affordable for people to do it.?EUR??,,????'??

Christensen says another way to keep the cost down is to use portable water?EUR??,,????'??+perhaps in a nice ceramic urn on a rolling stand?EUR??,,????'??+instead of a wet bar.

?EUR??,,????'??It?EUR??,,????'???s a heck of a lot cheaper than trying to plumb water, and less maintenance in colder climates.?EUR??,,????'??

DESIGN TIPS

Other things to consider when designing an outdoor kitchen include:

?EUR??,,????'???? Position the grill so prevailing breezes carry smoke away from where people congregate and eat.

?EUR??,,????'???? Slope countertops and patios slightly so rainwater doesn?EUR??,,????'???t pool on them.
?EUR??,,????'???? Make sure drainage issues are properly addressed, particularly where tiered spaces are used.

?EUR??,,????'???? Check with local utilities, building codes and manufacturers?EUR??,,????'??? specifications before installing outdoor appliances.

?EUR??,,????'???? Use a solid segmental retaining wall system to achieve a natural look that?EUR??,,????'???s also ?EUR??,,????'??bulletproof?EUR??,,????'?? from the elements and easily modified.

Karl Bremer is a writer and editor with VERSA-LOK Retaining Wall Systems. For further information about Versa-Lok Retaining Wall Systems, call 800-770-4525 or visit www.versa-lok.com.