LanChester Grill & Hearth Blog

Outdoor Kitchen Plans: Figuring Out Kitchen Zones

May 17, 2019Outdoor Livingezsolution

Chapter 2 — Outdoor Kitchen Guide

Your new outdoor kitchen is so close that you can almost taste those perfect grill marks on your next steak. You can’t help but visualize your family playing in the backyard as you cook a hearty meal, enjoying that much-desired outdoor time with them. Yet there’s still one thing missing—where are you going to put everything?

When it comes to outdoor kitchen designs for your new space, there’s a lot to consider. Even if you’ve already decided on the placement of your kitchen and appliances, there’s at least one more aspect that LanChester Grill & Hearth suggests looking at: kitchen zones.

In this second chapter of our outdoor kitchen plans series, we’re sharing the four types of kitchen zones: cooking, prep, plating/serving, and entertaining. Each of these zones can also be classified as either hot, cold, wet, or dry, and they will help keep your outdoor cooking as organized as possible. Continue reading Outdoor Kitchen Plans: Figuring Out Kitchen Zones →

Your Outdoor Cooking Station: Determining Place & Purpose

April 18, 2019Outdoor Livingezsolution

Chapter 1 – Outdoor Kitchens

Having an outdoor cooking station is a luxury that most homeowners and grilling enthusiasts only dream of. Being able to cook, entertain, and store food all in one outdoor area is a useful amenity to anyone looking to increase the value of their home or to improve the amount of quality time that is spent with their family. When you work with LanChester Grill & Hearth to design your outdoor kitchen, that dream can easily become a reality.

Now that you’ve determined you want to make the investment in an outdoor kitchen, there are a lot of seemingly daunting tasks that go along with the decision-making process. In this first chapter of our outdoor kitchen post series, LanChester Grill will walk you through how to hone in on optimizing the function and location of the cooking station in your new outdoor kitchen. Continue reading Your Outdoor Cooking Station: Determining Place & Purpose →

How to Design Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen

March 29, 2019Outdoor Livingezsolution

As summer sizzles closer, daydreams of outdoor entertaining and the smell of grilled foods start to waft through many homeowners’ minds. The cold grip of winter begins to loosen and everyone spends more time outdoors. While a gas or charcoal grill can be great for anyone’s outdoor cooking needs, sometimes the lack of space or bringing food in and out of the kitchen can be a hassle. So the question is…why not bring the kitchen to you instead?

Fortunately, people have been cooking outdoors for centuries—whether it’s over a camp fire, a grill, or in an oven, the timeless tradition of outdoor cooking doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. That’s why we’re beginning a new post series that will walk you through every step and detail of planning for your outdoor kitchen. From placement to design, make sure you stop back to our blog frequently in the coming months to check for the next blog installment in this series. Continue reading How to Design Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen →

What is an Infrared Gas Grill and How Does it Work?

March 25, 2019Outdoor Livingezsolution

One of the latest trends in outdoor grilling is the growing popularity of the infrared grill. Once a feature only available on high-end models, infrared technology has gone mainstream, showing up in grills at many price points. But what is an infrared grill and should you be thinking about adding this latest technology to your grilling arsenal?

Today, we take a closer look at infrared grills and help you decide whether this technology is right for you. Continue reading What is an Infrared Gas Grill and How Does it Work? →

Discover the Mendota Fireplace Secret

February 12, 2019Indoor Livingezsolution

Have you grown tired of the mess and hassle of your wood-burning fireplace? Would you love to add the ambiance, comfort, and beauty of a fireplace to just about any room in the house? A gas fireplace could be the solution for you!

Once shunned as fake imitations of the real thing, gas fireplaces have vastly improved in recent years. Gas fireplaces from Mendota are a prime example, combining stylish beauty and clean, efficient heat that we’re proud to recommend to our customers every day.

If you’re ready to ditch the mess and hassle of your wood-burning fireplace or want a fireplace that really makes a statement, it’s time you discover the secret behind one of the best gas fireplace brands in the business. Continue reading Discover the Mendota Fireplace Secret →

Fireplace Mantel Ideas You’ll Love

February 4, 2019Indoor Livingezsolution

You love your fireplace for the cozy warmth that it brings to your home on cold winter nights, but when was the last time you thought about your fireplace’s facade or mantel and how it can also be a focal point in your decorating scheme?

No matter the overall style of your home – from traditional 1800s farmhouse to mid-century ranch to contemporary suburban family home – there’s a mantel design that will look great. Whether you prefer to highlight artwork, enjoy displaying collections, or appreciate a more minimalist look, your mantel can complement your fireplace, the room it’s in, or your entire home.

Check out some of our favorite ideas here, and also be sure to take a look at a few of our recently completed fireplace projects for even more inspiration! Continue reading Fireplace Mantel Ideas You’ll Love →

9 Tips to Keep Your Fireplace Running Efficiently This Winter

November 30, 2018Indoor Livingezsolution

Do you love the warm glow of your fireplace on a cold winter night, but wish it could warm your home more efficiently? While most homeowners don’t count on their fireplaces as a primary source of heat, that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be nice to turn the main thermostat down a bit and save some money on your heating bills.

Fortunately, there are some great ways to improve your fireplace’s efficiency and keep your home cozier throughout the winter. Here are our best tips for getting the most from your fireplace this winter. Continue reading 9 Tips to Keep Your Fireplace Running Efficiently This Winter →

Why You Should Not Choose a Vent-Free Fireplace

October 26, 2018Indoor Livingezsolution

Are you looking to add a new fireplace to your home or upgrade an existing one? If so, you’ve probably read about vent-free gas fireplaces, and you may also now be well-acquainted with the debate about whether or not they are safe. Vent-free fireplaces are advertised as being a “smokeless” and worry-free heat source that allows you to retain heat from burning gas instead of venting most of it away.

Sounds a little too good to be true, right? It is.

Here at LanChester Grill & Hearth, we always strongly caution our customers against installing these unvented, gas-burning fireplaces in their homes. We simply don’t believe the risks they present to your family’s health and safety are worth the cost. (And there are other big issues with these fireplaces, as well.)

Today, we’re highlighting our objections concerning vent-free fireplaces so all of our customers can make more informed purchasing decisions. Continue reading Why You Should Not Choose a Vent-Free Fireplace →

Options for Revitalizing Your Old Fireplace

September 12, 2018Indoor Livingezsolution

Are you unhappy with the look and feel of your current fireplace? Had you always dreamed of having a fireplace, but are disappointed with the one you ended up with when you bought your home?

It may seem surprising, as fireplaces are primary focal points in living rooms, family rooms, and dens in many homes across the United States, but it’s often a home’s builder that chooses the fireplace, not the people who will be living with it. And some fireplaces have just “always been there” in older homes where no one is sure who chose the fireplace or even how it was used over time.

No matter your fireplace’s history, you know that you don’t like your fireplace today. It’s drafty when not in use, and you rarely use it because it’s such a hassle and doesn’t work well. Perhaps it’s completely nonfunctional. But you want to like your fireplace and use it often!

As we prepare for the upcoming colder weather, it’s time to finally do something about your existing, disappointing fireplace. And the good news is that you have several options for restoring or revitalizing it depending on the type of fireplace you have now. Let’s take a closer look. Continue reading Options for Revitalizing Your Old Fireplace →

Why You Need a Fire Pit

August 10, 2018Outdoor Livingezsolution

Have you created the perfect patio or poolside retreat in your backyard? If you don’t currently have a fire pit as part of your setup, you’re missing out! It’s true that some people skip over fire pits out of concerns about safety or fear of big messes caused by wood ash and soot, but today’s popular propane and natural gas-fired pits are easy to control and virtually mess and maintenance-free.

Much like your gas fireplace in your home, modern gas fire pits create a cozy feeling in your outdoor entertaining space and can be turned off and on at the flip of a switch. You don’t have to spend time and effort cleaning up after each time you’ve been enjoying them, either. Here are a few great reasons why you need to add a new gas fire pit to your patio or even your deck. Continue reading Why You Need a Fire Pit →