Sizzling Outdoor Kitchens

Cool Summer Cooking

Imagine walking into your own outdoor kitchen complete with a built-in barbecue grill, sink, mini fridge, pizza oven, and ample counter space allowing you to cook al fresco in a refreshing breeze as you enjoy the view of your garden, keep an eye on your children, and chat with guests in an adjoining seating area. An outdoor kitchen transforms a regular backyard into a posh destination.

Outdoor kitchens are on many homeowners’ wish lists even if they don’t offer an excellent return on investment. Whether you have the funds to hire professionals for design and construction, or you plan to DIY your own budget version of luxury, consider the following tips. 

Durable materials

When it comes to an outdoor kitchen, durability is the key to lasting beauty. While wood is a good choice indoors, it quickly warps and fades in the sunshine and moisture of the outdoors. Brick, tile, river stones and cut rock are much better building materials. 

Countertops also need to be weatherproof. Quartz, resin, tile and stainless-steel offer style and durability.

Be sure to include a few stainless-steel cupboards or storage drawers to keep wasps, flies and other pests away from the food.

Protection from the Elements

Outdoor cooking can be a breeze, but when the wind picks up and raindrops start to fall, the weather quickly puts a damper on dinner. Installing a roof will extend the enjoyment of the space and protect the kitchen from the damaging effects of the elements. 

A roof can take many forms: a pavilion, a retractable awning, or an extension of the home’s roof. 

Locating the kitchen next to the house will also protect the space from high winds at no added expense.

Cost-effective Location

There are many other good reasons to build your outdoor kitchen beside the house; the main one is cost. If you plan to have electricity for a refrigerator, plumbing for a sink, and gas for a barbeque, those all involve hiring professionals to extend lines from the house. The shorter the distance, the lower the cost. 

Building an outdoor kitchen next to the house might also mean you skip some of these pricey options entirely. If your indoor kitchen is just steps away, you might decide you don’t need a sink, so you don’t need plumbing work. You may also be fine with going back and forth to your indoor refrigerator rather than paying for the electrical work. A low-tech ice chest can keep your food and drinks cold while your cook and enjoy a meal. 

Lighting

Lighting is essential to the usability of an outdoor space. By choosing the fixtures and their positions with care, you can also create a relaxing ambiance. 

There are two main types of lighting with differing costs. You can hire an electrician to wire outlets and fixtures into your new outdoor kitchen. A cheaper alternative is solar lighting, which charges on sunshine during the day then typically sheds a soft light for several hours in the evening. 

Hardwired electric lights offer a few benefits: they shed stronger light, they are reliable, and you can install them in locations that don’t receive sufficient sunlight (for a solar charge). Solar is a great option within the garden to create a pretty scene of illuminated walkways and plants.   

Character 

An online search will reveal stunning outdoor kitchens built using beautiful stone, sleek stainless-steel and gleaming countertops. Adjacent to the kitchen there is typically a bar with high stools and/or a seating area arranged around a fireplace for warmth on a chilly evening. 

Building your dream kitchen with character might involve using salvaged brick and stone. Recycled barn rafters can make beautiful bar countertops. 

Portability

What if your budget is very tight, you are renting, or you want to take your outdoor kitchen with you when you move? A portable version is your best choice. 

You could purchase a new or used table or sideboard to prepare your food; use portable carts to wheel food and supplies back and forth between the indoor and outdoor cooking areas; and use a propane or charcoal grill that does not require a gas line. 

Whichever type of outdoor kitchen you create, it is sure to serve up memorable, sumptuous experiences. 

Sources:

Sizzling outdoor kitchens: Cool summer cooking: Sutton blog. Sutton. (n.d.). https://sutton.com/blog/home-improvement/sizzling-outdoor-kitchens