Are You Ready for an Outdoor Kitchen?

Love having family and friends gather outside for a delicious meal but often feel like you’ve missed out on some of the fun because you were running back and forth to the house for a forgotten utensil or condiment? Or maybe you need to replenish the supply of food or beverages? Wouldn’t it be great to have everything you need for outdoor entertaining within an arm’s reach? It might be time to consider adding an outdoor kitchen to your outdoor living space. An outdoor kitchen expands that living space and those that are well planned will function as efficiently as the kitchen inside your home.

Location

Deciding where to construct your outdoor kitchen is important. Make sure it is downwind from your house and not the other way around, allowing smoke and grilling odors to drift inside. Those odors can penetrate the fabrics in your home and linger.

You will also want to have your kitchen in a spot where it doesn’t obstruct your view. For example, if you have a waterfront home, that’s going to be what you want to look at. Or when looking out the window, you don’t want the kitchen to be the first thing you see. Place your kitchen off to one side or at an angle, so you have a clear view.

Also, consider the traffic flow and recreation areas of your yard. You don’t want the kitchen right next to the area where volleyball is played or the Frisbee is being thrown. Keep your family’s safety in mind when choosing a location.

Foundation

You may already have a patio or deck that would be the perfect place for your kitchen.  If not, you will need to decide on a hardscape as this will be the foundation of your outdoor kitchen. There are many different options such as concrete, slate, stone, pavers or you may choose to have a deck built for your kitchen. These options can be decorative as well as functional.

The style of your home may give you a hint of which direction to go as you don’t want your outdoor space to look out of place or clash with your home. You will also want to take into consideration the safety and durability of each option.

Amenities

What features do you want to incorporate into your outdoor kitchen? Do you just want to make outdoor cooking a little easier or do you want all the conveniences of a traditional kitchen?

Of course, you’ll want a grill and there should be counter space as well as a sink on either side for food preparation.  Both a refrigerator for food and beverages and storage for cookware, plates, and utensils are necessities if you want to spend more time with your family and friends and less time running back inside.

You may want to go above and beyond what is required and add more unique items to your outdoor kitchen like a pizza oven, a side burner, a wine cooler or a kegerator.

Ambiance

It goes without saying you will need a good size table and enough chairs for everyone to gather around and enjoy the wonderful meal you’ve prepared. Those chairs should be comfortable enough for relaxing after the meal or you may want to scatter more comfortable seating where everyone can enjoy a cocktail and pleasant conversation.

You don’t want the good times to end just because the sun is staring to fade, do you? Everyone will want to hang out a little longer if there’s a cozy fire pit and subtle landscape lighting to creating atmosphere and ambiance. Sound nice? You might find that you get more enjoyment from your outdoor kitchen than you ever imagined!

Create the Outdoor Kitchen of Your Dreams

At David Ash, Jr. Landscape Contractors, we strive to design landscapes and outdoor living spaces that inspire families and friends to make memories as well as add elegance and value to your home. If you are ready to get started on that outdoor kitchen, consult with us. We will walk you through the entire process, from planning to the completion of your perfect outdoor kitchen.