CEDAR FALLS -- If you can't stand the heat, move the kitchen outdoors.

Nationally, it's one of the hottest home improvement trends as homeowners expand beyond four walls and into the backyard. Outdoor living isn't just about decks or patios anymore. It's about full-fledged kitchens and entertainment spaces that are the envy of the neighborhood.

"I think we've got more cooking elements outdoors than we have in the indoor kitchen," Wayne Magee confesses, laughing. "But I grill year-round, and this brings the grill under cover and transforms the backyard into a complete space for entertaining friends and family."

His firm, Magee Construction, has custom-designed and built several outdoor kitchens in the metro area. He incorporated that expertise into his own design. The kitchen was built earlier this summer on the spot where an old fir tree once stood behind his home's attached garage -- a "perfect location because it doesn't interfere with the existing deck or block views of the backyard from the house."

Architecturally, the structure is a contemporary design with clean lines, featuring columns and a gable roof with skylights that open by remote for ventilation -- and automatically close at the first drop of rain. Open grillwork adds visual impact and mimics expansive windows Magee designed and built when remodeling the ranch-style house.

"I wanted that visual continuity. The outdoor kitchen needed to look and feel like a logical expansion of our living space, not tacked on or out of place. Our decorating style is contemporary, and it all had to tie together," he explains.

The American Institute of Architects reports double-digit growth in outdoor kitchen installation with project pricetags that start at a few hundred dollars, although elaborate set-ups can cost $20,000 or more. A 2006 AIA survey of 500 members shows work by architects on serious outdoor space is up nearly 20 percent since 2005, while projects involving upscale landscaping and other outdoor amenities are up 13 percent.

Melissa Birdsong, head of trend forecasting and design for the home store chain Lowe's, agrees with assessments that outdoors is where it's at for homeowners. "Over the last few years we've seen a growing migration or more and more indoor living elements to outdoor spaces. The basic idea of creating a lush landscape and adding a deck or patio has evolved to a desire for even greater comfort and function," says Birdsong.

The outdoor living market, including products and services, reached $62.5 billion in 2004, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, with sales of outdoor kitchens, living areas and related equipment, such as high-performance appliances, topping the list.

Magee's outdoor kitchen features a weather-resistant, stainless steel appliance package from Viking, including a grill, oven, warming drawers and small undercounter refrigerator, plus a sink and plenty of storage for cookware and summer dishes. An ironwork table (created by Magee) and chairs provide an intimate dining space, while a broad island and the adjacent deck provide seating.

Plaster-finished stucco walls are painted sage green and concrete countertops are black, a striking combination against the crisp white columns. Vibrant artwork graces one wall, while Honduran mahogany is an earthy touch on the island's base. Underfoot, the heated floor is concrete with a limestone pattern overlay.

"All the surfaces can be hosed down for cleaning, so it's easy to maintain. It's a relaxing, inviting space, and it's where we want to come at the end of the day," Magee says.

By contrast, Stephanie and David LeCompte's outdoor kitchen is open to the elements and has a classic, almost old-fashioned motif that suits its Cedar Falls location. Tufts of grass spring up between pavers and old Chicago brick envelopes the grill and fire pit where the kids cook hot dogs and make S'mores.

"We wanted this outdoor space to fit into the landscape. We're in town but it has a rural feeling. We have kids playing in the backyard, so it had to be kid-friendly, too. We grill out all summer and because it's such a short season, it's nice to be able to expand grilling year-round."

Consider this

If an outdoor kitchen sounds appealing, here are some factors to consider:

1. What's the logical location?

2. Think about your lifestyle and how the space will be used.

3. Plan and use space to its best advantage.

4. Think about traffic patterns -- where to locate appliances, how people circulate in the space, etc.

5. Is the look of the home going to change? Is the expansion of outdoor living space driving other changes?