Outdoor kitchens are a popular amenity in high-end homes nationwide...

There was a time when the only requirement for a cookout was a grill, a good set of tongs, and a Styrofoam cooler to ice down the beer. Today, the grill might be built in, and it might be accompanied by a rotisserie, a refrigerator, a sink, a beer tap, warming drawers, and a pizza oven.

In fact, many high-end builders now offer well-designed outdoor kitchens to their customers, and some find that these spaces provide the stimulus for remodeling the entire backyard. "It's one area where husband and wife agree that it's a good place to invest money. It's a focal point for outdoor entertaining," explains Scott Cohen, garden artisan at The Green Scene.

One reason (the outdoor kitchen) has grown so popular is the growing list of options available for outdoor kitchens. "We have built-in beverage centers, captain's tables, warming drawers, outdoor stereo equipment, centers - almost none of which was available five years ago," says Cohen. "Plus, outdoor furnishings have changed. We're not dealing with strappy lounge chairs anymore."

Cohen considers 4 primary design elements when designing an outdoor kitchen:

Proximity To The House - Some clients wants the outdoor kitchen as far away from the house as possible, but he recommends against it because "you always end up making multiple trips inside. Placing the outdoor kitchen next to the indoor one is more practical. If you want to make the best use of the back corner of the yard, have it be a dining area or fire pit.

View - The view from the house and the outdoor kitchen needs to be taken into account. Simply put, make sure it's attractive.

Prevailing Winds - One caveat when locating an outdoor kitchen next to the house is that you don't want to place the grill where smoke can be blown inside.

Countertops - The shape, size, and configuration of countertops are as important outdoors as they are inside the house.