Extending The Life Of Your Outdoor Room (NAPSA)—According to research from the Propane Education & Research Council, more than half of U.S. homeseither currently have an outdoor room or have one in the “plan and design” stage to be built in the next year. It’s a room they will use during the spring, summer andfall, and even on some warmer winter days. Lifestyle factors are driving the demandfor outdoor living spaces, with 50 percent of consumers say- ing they spend more time at home than they did five years ago. Many think of the outdoor room as an extension of the kitchen. With well-placed lighting and a propane patio heaterorfire pit, many homeowners are enjoying the outdoors well into the cooler months. “Nowadays, outdoor rooms possess a certain level of sophistica- tion,” says Katherine Whiteside, best-selling garden and cookbook author. “No matter what the season, an outdoor living space gives you freedom to entertain with two kitchens and two fabulous gather- ing spots.” Whiteside offers these sugges- tions for extending the use of your outdoor room into cooler weather: 1. Think about protection from the elements—particularly the cold. Consider a propane tabletop heater, which is only two feet tall but heats five feet in diameter. A propane patio heater by the grill will keep your cook warm on chilly nights. A floor with propaneradiant heating can keep the outdoor area as cozy as the indoors. —_— ———— With propane heating and cooking appliances, homeowners can get more seasonal use from their outdoor rooms. 2. Use your outdoor room as an extension of your indoor kitchen. Today’s propanegrills come with all types of accessories, such as woks and rotisseries that make creating appetizers and main courses a snap. 3. Although the daysare getting shorter, you can still use your outdoor room to its fullest with some well-placed lighting. Whenit starts getting dark in September, turn on some beautiful gas lights for atmosphere and visual effect. And think about lighting areas beyond the outdoor space. For example, light up a tree or purchase a gas post light to show off plantings. 4.If you have multiple propane appliances, consider putting in an underground tank for peace of mind and a constant source of fuel. For more information about extending the use of your outdoor room and appliance options, visit Www.usepropane.com.
