Currently Craving A Party-Ready Outdoor Kitchen

Mallorie and Jim Rasberry of HGTV's Home Town serve up ample Southern style at their family cabin outside of Laurel, Mississippi

1 CHARACTER BUILDER

Board-andBatten Siding Because his grandfather's original cabin that sat on the property couldn't be saved, homeowner Jim Rasberry sketched out a plan for his family's new retreat with a look that honored the nostalgic old structure. Design details such as board-and-batten siding and a metal roof give the exterior that been-around-forever feel. "We wanted it to be an ode to the old cabin," says Jim's wife, Mallorie.

2 CHARM FACTOR

Advertising Signage Popular throughout the 20th century, hand-painted metal signs can weather the elements and stand in as artwork to help an outdoor space feel more like at room. If you don't mind a little rust, you can find good options at antiques malls for less than $200.

3 AMERICAN-MADE

Lynx Grill Just up the road from Laurel in Greenwood, Mississippi, Lynx (lynxgrills.com) makes customizable outdoor cooking spaces of all configurations. The Rasberrys' setup includes a gas burner on one end and a refrigerator on the other. A butcher-block slab, made at the Scotsman Co. factory, provides the prep area.