Everyone loves a backyard barbeque in the mid-summer sun-author Michelle Kodis shows how to take that idea to an innovative new level! From a "Whimsical Outdoor Martini Bar" to an "Adobe Kitchen Enclosure," Ultimate Outdoor Kitchens features projects that reflect a range of styles, from sleek modernism to rustic country, with a wide array of architectural influences. With twenty-six chapters divided into three easy-to-navigate sections, Kodis makes it easy to determine which design style and budget will fit your backyard best!

♦ In "Just the Basics," readers will learn about ways to create a simple, down-to-the-basics outdoor kitchen/cooking station, with a focus on simplicity and affordability.

♦ "Creative Functionality" goes a step further, incorporating special design features and true outdoor "rooms."

♦ "Going All Out" pays little regard to budget restraints and focuses instead on the idea of the "dream" outdoor entertainment and living environment.

♦ Also includes floor plans in a variety of design styles.

Michelle Kodis, who received her master of science degree in journalism from Columbia University, specializes in writing about design and architecture. She is the author of the Gibbs Smith, Publisher, "Blueprint" series: Blueprint Small: Creative Ways to Live with Less, Blueprint Affordable: How to Build A Beautiful House Without Breaking the Bank, and Blueprint Remodel: Tract Home Transformations That Turn Everyday to Extraordinary. Her favorite outdoor spaces are in and around the mountains near Telluride, Colorado, where she lives with her husband and two dogs.