Yes, it's summer, and the days of wearing cashmere have receded into swimsuit season. With the warmer weather comes the opportunity for more alfresco dining. ...I decided it might be time to trade in my wheeled grill with the annoying propane tanks for a tricked out outdoor kitchen...

While my dreams may not necessarily match my checkbook balance, there are a multitude of ways to create an amazing outdoor kitchen on a variety of budgets. After all, for those of us in Southern California, our yards are an integral part of our homes, so aesthetics should play a factor when creating an outdoor kitchen that will be viewed, enjoyed, and judged by family and friends.

Heaven knows, we all fret about whether we picked the right granite and stainless appliances for our indoor kitchen. Shouldn't we feel the same way about our outdoor kitchens as well?

Many people think that because outdoor kitchens will bear the brunt of mother nature, we shouldn't waste the time or money. Nonsense. If you really think about it, outdoor kitchens seem to be the most natural thing to create...

Scott Cohen of The Green Scene is a master when it comes to innovative design and practical advice regarding outdoor kitchens. Since the current economy has put people off taking lavish vacations, he says the ... "staycation" has resulted in people investing in and sprucing up their yards, creating a resort-like atmosphere just outside the sliding glass doors.

According to Cohen, outdoor kitchens are becoming the star of the yard and the place that most people congregate. Additionally, building an outdoor kitchen is one of the few things most couples agree upon. Most men love to grill, and many women love to have their men out of the kitchen. It's a perfect solution!

Cohen believes in creating varying counter heights in the outdoor kitchen. For example, prep counters might be lower than the plate and serve zone.

He also imbeds counters with fiber optic lighting and recycled glass bottles, creating one of a kind works of art, and because The Green Scene pours the counters in place in many shapes and colors, there is little waste, offering clients a more green design approach.

Cohen says built in coolers are great for entertaining. They not only allow guests to help themselves to beverages, but they are also a more economical option to a classic refrigerator because they don't consume energy and are easy to maintain.

When it comes to selecting the right grill, one great gadget for the Valley grill master to consider is a built-in sear zone. These zones allow you to sear meat and fish like a restaurant at a staggering 1400 degrees. Try doing that with charcoal and lighter fluid!

The Green Scene can help with everything from design consultations to designing and building the actual kitchen. They also have links to more than 70 kitchen plans that you can download for $9.99 - 19.99. Cohen says that the perceived value of an outdoor kitchen is more than it really costs to create, and it offers a great return on investment. Custom counters will generally run about $5,000 - $12,000, depending upon the size and degree of custom work. Appliances and add-ons can run as low as $3,000 - $6,000. Value aside, I'm sold on restaurant quality seared meat...