Creating an Outdoor Kitchen Is Easier Than You Think
One of the great pleasures of summer is grilling food outside, over an open flame. If you’re fortunate enough to have some space outdoors, your grill can become more than just a place to flip burgers. With a little design help, you can turn it into an outdoor kitchen — and the center of all your outdoor entertaining.
I look at the outdoor kitchen as an extension of the great room,It’s not just a barbecue space; it’s about moving a whole lifestyle outside.Just as the indoor kitchen has expanded to become a hub for many homes, the outdoor kitchen is having its day in the sun thanks to improvements in materials and equipment, and aesthetic upgrades.
Choose the Location
While it may be tempting to choose a distant, unused corner of a big yard or terrace as the place to put your outdoor kitchen, it usually isn’t the best choice.
“A lot of people will say, ‘Oh, I never use the back of my yard, so put the kitchen there, so I’ll go back there and use it,But that never happens. I always tell people to try to put it as close to the house as possible. Because the closer it is, the more you’ll use it.”
That’s true in all seasons, Even in the winter, when it’s too cold to sit outside, if your grill is just beyond the patio slider, you may decide to fire it up for the occasional dinner. Carrying utensils, platters and condiments from the indoor kitchen to the outdoor one will also be easier.
It also makes it easier — and less expensive — to run services like electricity, plumbing and gas from your home to your outdoor kitchen. If you’re wanting to install a sink all the way across the yard, but don’t have plumbing there, that just drives your costs up exponentially. But if you do it against the house, you can tie into your existing water.
Just don’t put it too close to the house. Any grills and other flame-generating appliances should be kept away from combustible materials, and you should always follow manufacturers’ recommendations and local regulations. In New York, for instance, grills must be at least 10 feet away from any material that could burn, like wood siding.
Select Your Equipment
As interest in outdoor kitchens has grown, so has the range of available appliances. Beyond grills, there are smokers, pizza ovens, burners, refrigerators, ice makers and beverage centers, to name a few popular options.
How many of those things do you really need? The truth is, you can create an impressive outdoor kitchen with a limited number of appliances. For a small outdoor space, a single cooking appliance is sometimes best. The obvious choice is a grill, Mr. Calacino said, but before you spend any money, consult your inner chef.But I’ve also worked with folks where all they want is a power burner, because they want to do wok cooking outside.”
After you choose the appliances, what’s next? A counter. Having counter space near the cooking area can make a huge difference in the way an outdoor kitchen functions.
Countertop space is great for prep,It offers a place to put platters, trays, tools and ingredients; it provides a place to work; and it helps with presentation when the food is ready to serve.
If you’re hosting an event with family or friends,you can set it up as a serving counter, for buffet-style dining.
Cabinets installed below the counters are also useful for stashing grilling tools, a trash bin and other accessories right where you need them.
Choose Robust Materials
Outdoor kitchens can take a beating from the elements, and if they’re not made from the right materials, they can deteriorate rapidly. Quality outdoor appliances are designed to withstand storms; cabinets and counters should be, too.
Wood cabinets should be built with a framework of weather-resistant wood or metal and clad in a resilient hardwood like ipe, teak or mahogany, he often uses composite decking for cabinetry cladding because it requires less maintenance (like regular oiling) and tends to last longer than wood.
Outdoor kitchen makes cabinets from a concrete composite. And has designed custom cabinets clad in stone veneer, painted brick and stucco.
Choosing a countertop material is trickier outdoors than indoors. Anything that can be easily stained, like marble, should be ruled out, unless you want a rustic look. With marble, not only can food stain it, but you’re going to have to worry about oak pollen and leaves staining it,. Granite, bluestone and soapston
It also makes it easier — and less expensive — to run services like electricity, plumbing and gas from your home to your outdoor kitchen. If you’re wanting to install a sink all the way across the yard, but don’t have plumbing there, that just drives your costs up exponentially. But if you do it against the house, you can tie into your existing water.
Just don’t put it too close to the house. Any grills and other flame-generating appliances should be kept away from combustible materials, and you should always follow manufacturers’ recommendations and local regulations. In New York, for instance, grills must be at least 10 feet away from any material that could burn, like wood siding.
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