Homeowners are creating elaborate extensions of their indoor kitchen design ideas by building an outdoor kitchen off of their deck or patio, allowing them to entertain guests outside. A simple barbeque grill is no longer sufficient as outdoor kitchens are becoming more sophisticated with the addition of sinks, grills, outdoor fireplaces, cabinetry and countertops for cooking.
This article focuses on designing your own outdoor kitchen. The first thing you must consider when designing your outdoor kitchen is choosing the right location. Because they are growing in size and functionality, the outdoor kitchen becomes the main focal point in the backyard. As such, you should take into account the view, the weather, and the proximity to the house. You want to place your outdoor kitchen in an area that will look out on to an area of the back yard that is pleasant to look at. However, you also want the area to be aesthetically pleasing when seen from inside. If your outdoor kitchen is located right outside a house window, you want to make sure that you design it so that the view is pleasant from the inside too.
When designing the layout of the kitchen and where the grill or fireplace will be located in your landscaped backyard design, consider which way the wind blows and what areas are most shaded. The next thing you should take into account is the weather where you are located. Smoke from the grill blows downwind so you will want to strategically place the grill so that the smoke does not blow into the house or at your guests. It is also wise to place a grill in areas that are more shaded to avoid overheating while cooking during the hot summer months. Another thing to take into account is the proximity of the kitchen to the house. Some homeowners may want their outdoor kitchen to be an extension of the house, however, those who choose to place their kitchen farther away should try to keep the outdoor closer to their home.
During the summer months more and more homeowners are spending most of their days outside, whether it is entertaining friends and family or simply enjoying the nice weather by themselves. As a result, the new trend in landscape design is to create a relaxing outdoor living area by dividing the backyard into different rooms. The most popular addition to a backyard is an outdoor kitchen.
When grilling and cooking outside you dont want to have to walk a long ways to bring the food out from the indoor kitchen or have to return for forgotten items. Make sure the outdoor kitchen is close enough to the house to allow easy access to food and utensils. Once the location is determined, you should consider the overall design and look you are trying to achieve. Because outdoor kitchens are becoming more and more popular, their design can range in complexity from a simple gas grill with a concrete kitchen countertop next to it, to more complex fully equipped kitchens. You should determine how large you want your kitchen to be and what utilities you would like in your kitchen. Consider the size and number of cooking surfaces you desire, the size of the grill, and whether you want a sink and patio storage areas.
You should also consider if you would like a bar for entertaining and dining set nearby to serve guests. Once this is established you can focus on the style of your outdoor kitchen. The most popular material being used for outdoor kitchen surfaces today is concrete countertops. It is considered the best material to use because it is durable, easy to clean, a practical cooking surface, and visually pleasing. If concrete countertops do not suit your style, there are many other options for kitchen countertops. Another popular choice is granite countertops because of their durability and ease of maintenance. After choosing on a countertop option, the type of wood for the cabinet must be decided. Pick a type that is durable and easy to clean. The design of your outdoor kitchen should compliment your house and backyard, and most importantly, achieve a look that will please you and enhance your overall outdoor living experience.
