A Plus Landscaping, a family-owned outdoor living design-build company based in Reinholds, Pennsylvania, says it is seeing a notable change in how homeowners approach backyard projects: outdoor kitchens are increasingly part of the first design conversation rather than an afterthought once a patio is finished. The company announced the trend on September 14, noting that early planning allows plumbing, gas, and electrical connections to be mapped out before any patio surface is installed, and lets counters, appliances, storage, seating, and walking paths be coordinated as a single unified layout.
“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 the local observation. The 2026 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study found that 95 percent of outdoor kitchen projects started from scratch, and more than two-thirds included plumbing, electrical, or heating improvements. That suggests homeowners are prioritizing functionality and long-term usability over piecemeal additions.
The shift has practical implications for the construction process. When an outdoor kitchen is included in the initial property visit, utilities can be routed efficiently, reducing the risk of costly retrofits and layout compromises. A Plus Landscaping designs outdoor kitchens around how each homeowner plans to cook, serve, and gather, incorporating 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, and larger projects may include full 3D renderings before construction begins.
For homeowners in Central Pennsylvania—including Lancaster, Harrisburg, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Middletown, and Reading—the trend signals a broader shift toward treating the backyard as an extension of the home. By integrating the kitchen into the original plan, homeowners gain more control over utility placement, seating arrangements, and overall flow, which can enhance both daily enjoyment and long-term property value. As outdoor living continues to gain prominence, the early-planning approach may become the standard rather than the exception.
A Plus Landscaping, founded by Marcus Waldner in 2006, offers outdoor kitchens, paver patios, retaining walls, custom pools, decks, and landscaping, and backs its paver patio installations with a limited lifetime warranty. Financing is available through HFS Financial. Homeowners interested in learning more can visit the company’s website.
