Why You Need an Outdoor Kitchen This Year

If you’re like most Americans, the global pandemic means you’re already spending more time outside than you used to. One study found that we spend about 14 hours outside per week, which is a full three hours more than the previous average!

Along with more time outside, of course, you’ve probably taken some time to invest in some backyard redecorating to make the most of your living space. But is your outdoor oasis all it could be?

Next to a swimming pool, one of the most popular backyard features this year is the outdoor kitchen—and for good reason. Having this versatile area right outside your door offers a wealth of great benefits that are well worth considering. If you’re ready to reinvent your outdoor living space, here are the main advantages these kitchens can offer.

Create a Great Space for Entertaining

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a holiday, or a special event, most of us like to head to the backyard. This is especially true when there’s a large crowd on the guest list! With the right outdoor design, it’s easy to entertain in style.

If you want to take things a step further, however, an outdoor kitchen can be the perfect option. Even outside, nothing brings people together like cooking and food!

One additional benefit of these kitchens, of course, is that you can keep guests from bumping into each other in the limited space of your indoor kitchen and dining area. Instead, an extra outdoor space for cooking allows everyone to spread out more, giving you the opportunity to entertain with ease.

Spend More Time Outdoors

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, more of us than ever crave indoor-outdoor spaces as we reimagine our homes. It’s no wonder why: during the lockdowns, many of us have worked to expand our living areas and create more space to spread out.

But spending more time outside is also associated with a huge spectrum of benefits, including a more positive mood, less stress, and better sleep. It’s even linked with more energy and a healthier immune system!

Creating a dedicated space for al fresco dining in your backyard is a great excuse to head outside more often, allowing you to reap all of those benefits and more. With a reason to spend time outdoors, you’ll have no trouble getting more Vitamin D!

Keep Smells Outside

There’s nothing worse than cooking a meal whose scent lingers around your house for a day or more. This issue can be worse in the hot summer months. While these smells can be unpleasant, they can be especially problematic for anyone in the household with a sensitive nose or stomach.

When you invest in a space for al fresco cooking, you make it much easier to keep smells outside where they belong!

Make Cooking Easier and More Convenient

You’d be surprised at how much an outdoor kitchen can add convenience to your meal prep.

First, because these kitchens aren’t limited by the space within your home, it’s easy to customize the layout to your exact preferences. This versatility makes for more comfortable cooking using a design that incorporates more of the elements you need—and fewer of the ones you don’t. Feel free to add specific features like a smoker or pizza oven, for example, or create a larger prep or bartending area than your indoor kitchen offers.

In addition, outdoor kitchens eliminate the need to run back and forth between your indoor and outdoor cooking areas. With only a grill outdoors, many homeowners find themselves juggling side dishes indoors while cooking outside. An outdoor kitchen can include your refrigerator, storage spaces, and everything you need to get the job done without running in and out.

Next, outdoor cooking makes clean up incredibly easy. Instead of the headache of cleaning messes and spills, you can leave smaller spills to dry naturally or hose down your entire patio in minutes.

Last, don’t forget that a spacious backyard kitchen can be a great way to make room for more helping hands!

Save on Your Utility Bills

During the summer, heating up your kitchen to cook every day can cause a substantial spike in your home energy usage. With your air conditioner working double-time to compensate for the extra warmth, you may find your utility bills getting expensive.

When you start cooking outside, on the other hand, you don’t have to worry about hot air getting trapped inside your home—which translates to money back in your pocket.

Increase Your Home’s Value

If you’re looking for outdoor upgrades that increase your home’s resale appeal, an outdoor kitchen can be a great choice. Most buyers won’t hinge their entire decision on this feature, but it’s a quick way to add some “wow factor” to your listing and help your home stand out from others in the area.

Note, of course, that the increase in your home’s value will depend on a few key factors, like your property’s overall value and your location. It also depends on the design of the space itself, which is why it’s important to invest in a professionally installed and designed kitchen.

Choose State of the Art Landscape for Your Outdoor Kitchen

It’s clear that adding an outdoor kitchen to your home offers a huge range of personal, social, and financial advantages. However, when you’re ready to take the leap and create a flexible, functional living space, you’ll need an experienced team of professionals by your side.

With over 60 years of combined experience, the team at State of the Art Landscape can design, build, and install the perfect outdoor kitchen for your home. We stand by our superior craftsmanship and love to partner with homeowners to create unique custom designs for extraordinary outdoor living. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you

Elevate Your Company: The Benefits of Commercial Landscaping Services

The landscaping industry has been growing steadily despite the major events over the past year. The industry’s market size in America grew at a rate of approximately 2.5% from 2016 to 2021.

It’s no surprise as landscaping provides many benefits. This is particularly evident for commercial landscaping services. As a business owner, you may be tempted to overlook this seemingly insignificant detail.

However, first impressions count, and the exterior of your business is the first encounter potential customers will have with you. It’s important to make it stand out. 

Read on to find out how you can transform the outdoor space of your company to attract more customers.

What Is Commercial Landscaping?

Commercial landscaping encompasses the design, installation, and maintenance of the outdoor surroundings of any commercial building whether an office or retail outlet. It includes outdoor elements such as plants, trees, grass, shrubbery, and flowers that surround your office building.

Many commercial landscaping service companies provide additional services that include other outdoor features such as irrigation systems, water features, outdoor lighting, and pathways.

When implementing a design, they’ll take into consideration the style of the building and the outdoor environment around it. This allows them to use features that complement the overall aesthetic of the location. The final design will enhance your building, making it more attractive and appealing. 

Benefits of Commercial Landscaping

Commercial landscaping can enhance the curb appeal of any business, making it more welcoming to customers. An inviting landscape can improve the attractiveness of any business including:

  • Office Buildings
  • Retail Stores
  • Doctor’s Offices and Medical Facilities
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants (especially those with outdoor dining)
  • Government Buildings
  • Educational Institutions
  • Apartment Buildings
  • Financial Institutions

Here are some of the benefits of landscaping you and many other companies can experience:

Attract Customers

The state of your landscaping sets the tone for your business. Commercial landscaping serves as an extension of the standards you set as part of the day-to-day running of your business. Exceptional landscaping will reflect positively on your business.

You’ll attract new clients to your company as they will believe you set high standards for your products and services as well. It also lets current customers know that you consider and invest in their comfort, and therefore value their business.

Increased Productivity

Nature has a great influence on productivity. A study by Exeter University found that just looking at greenery boosted brainpower. It also makes workers more attentive and generally improved their mood.

Imagine the level of productivity if your employees could enjoy nature while they are at work! Productive, healthy, and happy employees will be motivated and work more efficiently.

Enhanced Security and Safety

Employees, as well as clients, will feel safer and more secure, especially if working after hours. Proper lighting and a well-maintained landscape can improve the safety of your building.

This feeling of comfort can also increase productivity. It will also attract customers who will be more likely to do business with a company that caters to their security needs.

Environmental Efficiency

Your investment in the design and maintenance of your landscape shows clients that you not only care about them but the environment as well. Commercial landscape experts will know where and how to incorporate eco-friendly elements including native plants. These will not only beautify your surroundings but will improve environmental efficiencies as well.

Increased Property Value

Curb appeal doesn’t only apply to a residential property. It also provides benefits to commercial listings by increasing their overall market value. Don’t be one of those businesses that are not willing to invest in their surroundings.

It’s an opportunity to stand out from your competition. Customers will be curious about a business that looks well taken care of on the outside. It’s a way to make them venture inside to see what else you have to offer.

The benefits of commercial landscaping don’t end there. It also increases foot traffic and sales and enhances your brand.

Types of Commercial Landscaping Services

There are a variety of services a commercial landscaping company can provide that encompass horticultural and maintenance solutions. 

Some companies do landscaping only and provide specific services. Others will offer you an end-to-end solution from concept to design to implementation and maintenance.

State of the Art Landscaping provides the latter. Our services include:

  • Commercial Lawn Care and Groundskeeping
  • Landscape Enhancement
  • Hardscape Updates
  • Irrigation Maintenance
  • Outdoor Lighting
  • Homeowners’ Association (HOA) Property Maintenance
  • Snow and Leaf Removal

These cover a wide range of detailed tasks including:

  • Mulching
  • Mowing
  • Shrub and Tree Pruning
  • Bed Maintenance
  • Mechanical Edging
  • Irrigation Startups and Shutdowns
  • Irrigation Repairs
  • Turf Programs

With over 60 years of experience and our wide range of services, we can beautify your company’s surroundings to make it as functional and attractive as possible.

The Right Company for Your Commercial Landscaping Needs

Beautify your storefront and make it so appealing it draws passersby into your business. Any type of business can benefit from commercial landscaping services and so can you.

State of the Art Landscape is one of the best commercial landscapers in Virginia. We provide a full-service solution where we advise you on the best landscape design, provide the installation and continue to maintain and update it, as necessary.

The great thing is, we don’t only focus on your landscape, we can help you with your hardscape features as well. If your stairs or walkways need a makeover, we can assist.

Our services include pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and nations. Take a look at our portfolio to see what we’ve done for our clients. We can do that for you too!