Summer is here and grills are firing up across the country. Over the last few years we have noticed that many of our clients are interested in doing more than setting up a grill in their backyard, they want a designated outdoor kitchen that caters to the needs of the serious entertainer. We have put together a few tips for creating the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.
There are a myriad of high quality free standing grills on the market, however, for the serious outdoor cook we highly recommend pursuing a built in option. Consider installing a large grill as well as side burners and a prep sink so that you can cook the whole meal outside. Avoid lugging coolers around the property or dashing in and out of the house by including ample under-counter refrigerator in your kitchen layout. Provide additional counter space for serving as well as an area where friends and family can pull up stools. Make sure that you work with your interior designer to specify hearty, durable materials that will weather the elements and stand the test of time, especially if you live in an area that experiences freeze / thaw.
If you are installing a permanent built-in kitchen you want to be sure that you locate it in the right area. Pay attention to logical spatial adjacencies- It is best to have your cooking area located close to your interior kitchen as well as to your exterior dining area. You will want to have easy access to the indoors and will also want to have good sightlines to your main entertaining area.
Make sure that your exterior lighting plan addresses your cooking zone by providing adequate task lighting as well as soft ambient light sources for when you are done with the hard work and ready to relax. You may also want to include outdoor fans and an integrated speaker system. Lastly, don’t forget about keeping yourself and your guests comfortable. An enclosed or partially enclosed overhead shade structure can protect you and your food from the elements and provides an opportunity for mounting outdoor fans, misters and the aforementioned lighting and speakers.
See some of our previous design work:
Kitchen Design Production & Planning | Creating Interior & Exterior Design Space | Kitchen Designs Gallery
credit: Homedsgn | credit: Contemporist
Entertainment Value, Exterior Design, Kitchen Design, Outdoor Space