Must-Haves For An Outdoor Kitchen

Enhancing outdoor spaces with an outdoor kitchen is growing in scope and popularity, and is a solid investment.  Homeowners everywhere are moving more and more of their dining and entertaining outdoors.  Designing an ideal outdoor kitchen and living area involves careful planning and investment decisions.   Using experienced designers and contractors is always a good idea.

Kitchen Island Construction.

Outdoor kitchen islands that include cooking appliances should be made of “non-combustible materials”.  However not all barbecue grills and other appliances require clearances to combustibles, and if they do, non-combustible grill “liners” are usually an available option.  Pay careful attention to the manufacturer’s instructions and local building requirements.  

That said, outdoor kitchen islands are typically masonry or steel frame construction with a cement board skin.  They are custom-designed to fit the available space, with cutouts for the selected appliances, outdoor kitchen cabinets, and other amenities.  Careful consideration must be given to the final finish colors and material as well as the countertop in the context of the overall space.

Appliances.

Grills, smokers, side burners, pizza ovens, and a dizzying number of other options are all available.  Consider what kind of cooking you will actually be doing, and how much space and budget you have to work with?   In addition to the cooking part, you might also want to consider things like outdoor heating, refrigeration, and an outdoor sink for cleanup.

Storage (Cabinetry):.

Outdoor kitchen cabinets are undoubtedly “functional”, but homeowners should consider them the foundation of their outdoor kitchen design in the same way they would for their kitchen indoors.  While everyone is used to seeing stainless steel, many homeowners are growing tired of that look and searching for other ideas.  Solid teak outdoor kitchen cabinetry is a great way to bring beauty and function together with a custom approach.  They open up a whole new world of design and finishing opportunities.  Having been the first choice for boat builders and outdoor furniture makers alike for centuries, it shouldn’t be a surprise that teak is also a perfect material for outdoor kitchen cabinets.  They require less maintenance than stainless steel and will literally last a lifetime.

Seating and Decor:  

Cozy dining and entertaining furniture is also a must for outdoor living and entertaining.  Other amenities such as fireplaces, televisions, shade covers, plush outdoor rugs, and outdoor

drapes and shades have also all become common outdoors.   These features are all typically thought of as separate from the kitchen, but outdoors, they will probably be together in the same space.   This is where coordinating design elements, especially with the cabinets, is important.