Outdoor Kitchens Design, Build, And Enjoy

An outdoor kitchen might be something you have not really thought about before but if you enjoy cooking and eating outside, it could be the ideal complement to your home. You will be able to cook mouthwatering meals and be right in the middle of the party when friends and family visit. Outdoor kitchens are useful as well as enjoyable.

Americans spent almost 0 billion remodeling their houses in 2005 and a third of this amount was spent on exterior areas. You can see already that outdoor kitchens are a hot trend! You might need to spend a few thousand dollars getting your outdoor kitchen up to scratch but it is an investment and will push the property of your home upwards if you ever decide to move. Before you hit the shops, here are some guidelines about outdoor kitchen design and putting your outdoor kitchen together.


Which Outdoor Kitchen Design to Choose

Outdoor kitchens come in three basic designs. Amongst these are a basic island, an L shaped island and a U shaped center. A basic island has a grill, a sink, and food preparation space. Basic islands are usually quite small so if you are cooking for several people, another type might be better. L shaped islands have cooking and preparation areas and are larger than basic islands. U shaped centers have a grill in the middle, a preparation area, and a serving area. If you want to serve food straight from the grill without leaving it, a U shaped island might be the perfect solution.

Which Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets are Recommended?

Outdoor kitchens are exposed to water, sunlight, and extreme temperatures, so durable cabinet and worktop materials are best. Brick, marble, and granite are good materials to choose. Wood is highly flammable and rots easily, especially the untreated variety. Outdoor kitchens are meant to last for years so it is a good idea to invest in the best quality kitchen design you can afford.

Outdoor Kitchen Appliances - What Will You Need?

The grill will be the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen and you can choose from a charcoal grill or gas grill. Charcoal grills give a delicious smoky flavor to your food but gas grills offer a better temperature control. If your grill will be exposed to the elements, you will need a waterproof cover for it.

A kitchen island is another necessary feature in your outdoor kitchen plans. You can design your own or buy an island in one piece. Good materials to use in your outdoor kitchen design include stainless steel, stucco, and stone. An outdoor sink is useful and can draw from the house's water supply or a portable water hose. You might want to add an outdoor refrigerator to your list of outdoor kitchen appliances although an outdoor refrigerator will have a maximum life span of five years because of the fluctuating temperatures it is exposed to quite often.

Building Your Own Outdoor Kitchen

When building outdoor kitchens, it is important to take your time and plan exactly what you want the finished outdoor kitchen to look like. What kind of cookery will you do? How often will you cook there? How much can you spend? How many people will you feed at once? Do you want your outdoor kitchen stationary or movable? These are some of the important questions to ask yourself before designing your outdoor kitchen plans or thinking about outdoor kitchen appliances.

When you have decided what you want, you can hire a contractor to help you or build the outdoor kitchen yourself. Make sure the outdoor kitchen is near the house so you can transport food in and out easily. Also, ensure the outdoor kitchen is not placed so that smoke will blow into your guests' faces. Your grill should be thirty-six inches high and you should not use flammable materials in the construction of outdoor kitchens.

Once you have your plans and materials ready, it is time to build the perfect outdoor kitchen, where your family and friends will enjoy making delicious meals for many years!