REINHOLDS, PA. — A Plus Landscaping, a family-owned outdoor living design-build company in Reinholds, Pennsylvania, is observing a shift among Central Pennsylvania homeowners who are now incorporating outdoor kitchens into the original backyard plan rather than treating them as an afterthought once patio construction is complete.
That change in approach affects how the entire outdoor space comes together. When the kitchen is part of the conversation during the initial property visit, plumbing, gas, and electrical connections can be mapped out before any patio surface goes down. Counters, appliances, storage, seating, and walking paths can then be coordinated as components of a single, unified layout rather than worked around existing infrastructure.
“Homeowners used to think of the kitchen as something you add once the patio is done. Now it’s one of the first things they bring up on the initial walk-through, right alongside the patio and the fire feature,” said Marcus Waldner, founder of A Plus Landscaping. “Building it into the plan from day one means we’re not working around plumbing or seating that’s already locked in.”
National data supports what A Plus Landscaping is observing at the local level. The 2026 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study found that 95 percent of outdoor kitchen projects started from scratch. More than two-thirds of those projects included plumbing, electrical, or heating improvements.
A Plus Landscaping designs outdoor kitchens around how each homeowner plans to cook, serve, and gather. Projects may include built-in grills, pizza ovens, counters, storage, seating, and adjacent fire features. Each project begins with a property visit from an A Plus Design Professional. Larger projects may incorporate full 3D renderings before construction begins. The company manages the project from design through installation.
This shift matters because it reflects a broader trend in outdoor living: homeowners are prioritizing functional outdoor spaces for daily use and entertaining, not just for resale value. By addressing utilities and layout upfront, homeowners avoid costly retrofits and ensure their outdoor kitchen integrates seamlessly with the rest of the backyard. For design-build firms, this means adapting consultation processes to capture kitchen requirements early. A Plus Landscaping’s experience suggests that early planning gives homeowners more control over the final result, from appliance placement to seating arrangements. As outdoor kitchens become a standard part of the initial design conversation, the resulting spaces are more cohesive, efficient, and tailored to the homeowner’s lifestyle.
