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OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTIES.
5 RULES FOR YOUR OUTDOOR KITCHEN
HER BIZ IS GROWING During quarantine, some of us turned our attention to cultivating plants. Others have been green-thumbers for decades. Both groups might consider a trip to Kennedy & Vine, which recently opened in Atlantic Highlands. Turns out the pandemic was the driving force behind Jennifer Spina’s decision to open this store, having left a corporate job last summer to pursue her passion for plants. After taking courses on how to start a business and obtaining a loan, Spina set up her shop, which features more than 800 specimens of indoor plants in a lush, tropical space. Perhaps that’s where you’ll find your next silent, leafy companion. • Kennedy & Vine, 60 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands, 732.708.3466; kennedyandvine.com
As summer arrives and we ease back into in-person gatherings, backyard entertaining has never looked better. “Outdoor living has become an accepted normal, especially with the pandemic,” says Jessica Petrino, editorial director at AJ Madison, a New York-based kitchen and home appliance retailer. “People are realizing their next vacation is in their backyard, so they are taking more time and care with home improvement projects.” Petrino shared with Monmouth Health & Life a few recommendations homeowners should consider if they choose one of the hottest projects, an outdoor kitchen: • Keep it all outside. A good setup will reduce or eliminate the need to shuttle back and forth to your indoor kitchen. That means an area with cooking space, refrigeration, a cleanup station and cabinet storage. “We are seeing an uptick in people wanting cabinetry and islands,” Petrino says. “Everyone has separate outdoor cooking equipment and dishes, so why not store them outside? And a faucet is good for handling meats and comes in handy when gardening too. Everything should be centralized in the outdoor kitchen.” • Express yourself. Silver and black are classics, but there are many ways to customize your kitchen. “People are looking for ways to be original, and they’re adding pops of colors,” Petrino says. Brands like Hestan have grill lines in orange, yellow and emerald, while pizza ovens and hearths
can be customized as well. • Worry not about size. Let’s face it: Not all backyards are created equal. It’s easy to fit a grill, a pizza oven, a dishwasher and more when you have a sprawling backyard, but what if you don’t? Petrino says the basics call for 6 feet of grill area, counter space and refrigeration. “Prefabricated modular islands take the guesswork out of it,” she says, adding that models are built with ample counters and dedicated openings for different appliances. • Consider an expert. Though not strictly necessary, hiring professionals to help with your kitchen design can help. AJ Madison staff, for example, can help homeowners choose appliances that fit their lifestyle and entertaining needs, while plumbers can take care of water and gas lines. “People are more committed now to their largescale projects, so they want them to look nice, complement the architecture of the house and most of all be safe,” Petrino says. • Think winter. We’re certain you’re not contemplating snow in June. Well, Petrino suggests it should be in the back of your mind when you’re creating an outdoor kitchen. “It should be close enough so that one can get to the house quickly, and in places where the plow guys don’t pile snow and where snow won’t slide off slanted roofs,” she says. For our infamous winters, appliances made of marinegrade stainless steel are best as they are most resistant to rust.
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LET’S GO FOURTH! A summer without proper Independence Day festivities—we’re never doing that again! Monmouth County municipalities are celebrating the nation’s birthday and the (slow) return to normal this year with in-person parties and fireworks shows. In these four towns, you can enjoy the revelry: • Manasquan. Start Independence Day weekend off right at the town’s celebration on July 2. A parade and concert begin at 3 p.m., followed by fireworks at dusk. • Bradley Beach. The borough’s Red, White and Blue Festival is set for July 3, with a full day of music and entertainment and an evening of fireworks and entertainment along the waterfront. • Holmdel. Take the family to Historic Longstreet Farm from noon to 3 p.m. on July 4 for a day of free music and games. • Long Branch. Though the daytime festival is cancelled this year, 4th of July Oceanfest returns with an evening fireworks show beginning at dusk on Independence Day.
JUNE/JULY 2021
6/2/21 8:35 AM
