Take Your Summertime Living Outdoors
"You know how people have gourmet kitchens?” asks Gino Pitera of Gertens, a garden center in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. area. “Now, people want gourmet patios, too. Not so much so they can cook on them, but more that there is an expectation of a certain level of detail, just like there is in a gourmet kitchen. People want lighting, they want water gardens, they want old-fashioned brick pavers, and they want nice grills — all these things are considered when creating a patio.
“The old-fashioned concrete patio is losing ground,” says Pitera. “Tastes are becoming more sophisticated and natural.”
Deb Fry, co-owner with her husband, Andy, of Select Stone Company on Airport Highway, says that there are two types of concrete. “One that’s cracked, and one that’s going to crack,” she jokes.
 She says that the popularity of using pavers or stone has grown in the last 10 years, particularly as the interest in gardening and landscaping has grown among homeowners. They’re using natural stone products such as Chilton or New York bluestone for their patio surface. Another popular look for patios and walkways is flagstone.
Clay pavers are also in vogue, as they resemble old-fashioned street brick. Consumers still seek salvaged brick for that truly authentic Old World look. Ms. Fry says, “It’s for someone who wants a little bit more of a natural or earthy look.”
What to place on the new patio is the next challenge. This summer some of the things designed to make outdoor living as easy as indoor may carry hefty price tags.
Keeping it all cool outside
 One such category is outdoor cooling products – and we’re not talking about a big Igloo cooler – that include refrigerators, bar caddies and icemakers. The Marvel 9BCS is a portable bar caddy with a Dupont Corian® bar top, a 3-cubic-foot refrigerator chamber, and a 6.1-cubic-foot chamber to hold a half-keg of beer. You’d have to party a lot to justify the $8,000 price tag.
By itself, the DCS 6.1-cubic-foot refrigerator that will fit into your grilling island is less expensive at $1,600. However, it needs to be attached to a 96-inch grilling island, which could cost another $3,300.
Ice is something you never want to run out of during a summer soiree. Why take chances? U-Line’s CO2075FF combo ice-maker/refrigerator is 4.2 cubic feet, frost-free, and makes up to eight pounds of ice a day.
Not your mother’s kitchen
Does entertaining outdoors leave you exhausted from constantly carting things in and out of the house? You’re not alone. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, outdoor cooking equipment is one of the hot trends.
 “The concept of cooking food was always an outdoor thing,” says Libby Marx, project designer for Expo Design Center in Davie, Florida. “With our search and passion for a return to nature, we are taking it all back outside where it started.”
The move back to outdoor cooking began with pricey stainless steel gas grills and morphed into a desire for a more self-sufficient outdoor cooking area. Current options range from burners and a mega-BTU stainless grill on an island to all-out kitchens with everything from refrigerators and sinks to icemakers and warming trays.
Outdoor kitchens can be found in a variety of price ranges, from about $3,000 for a 48" grill on a base with a tile countertop to $30,000 for a custom-built outdoor kitchen with cabinets, sink and refrigerator.
Comfortable, warm-weather invitations to relax
 Mike Mangan, spokesman for Sears Craftman, reports that many of today’s patio furniture sets include swings. Sitting firmly on rust-free aluminum bases, two- and three-person swings are upholstered in a variety of designs to complement a garden setting. Mangan recommends a test drive. “Sit in the swing that looks good to you. Make sure it’s comfortable,” he advises.
For a different direction, you might want to consider a glider. Smith & Hawken offer one made of top-grade teak with brass slides. Called the Devon Glider, it ensures long-lasting, smooth motion.
CEO Barry Gilbert says, “I believe people go to their garden to find peace and relaxation. There’s nothing more pleasant than sitting out in the evening and enjoying the gentle, comforting movement of a glider.”
Another swinging idea is the Key Largo hammock made of all natural materials. It’s big enough for two people to comfortably while away a summer afternoon or cuddle under the stars.Set the mood with your lighting
It’s a beautiful evening, and you decide to enjoy it in the garden. If you’re wise, you’ve planned your lighting to suit that mood.
 Landscape designer Jeff Garton says, “The options in outdoor lighting today are nearly limitless and the effects can be stunning.”
These lights, generally low-voltage four to ten watts, are mood-enhancers that can create nearly any illusion you want, from intimate to festive. Light also defines a space and creates depth, which will make your property seem larger than it really is. It can also highlight points of interest. For example, a couple of underwater lights shining up through a waterfall or a simple spotlight on a fountain can add a romantic dimension.
Light options need not be electrical. Manufacturer GPI Consumer Products has a line of oil torches, ranging in size from more than five feet to seven-inch tabletop models.
Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits come in a variety of options from a low circular terra cotta bowl with cutouts, grill and top screen to a $450 portable California fire pit. What a lovely way to end the day, sitting on your glider, sipping a refreshing drink, and gazing into the fire.
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