Have you ever hosted a party where you were stuck inside in the kitchen while everyone else was outside enjoying the beautiful weather and floating in the pool?
What if you could be outside cooking up a great meal and enjoying the weather— and the company of your friends too? You can! With your very own outdoor kitchen!
Outdoor kitchen? Renovating the indoor kitchen was enough to stress you out. Why go through the process outside? Our bet is that you love the improvements you made indoors. Why not leap and create the outdoor kitchen of your dreams too?
Reasons Why the Investment is Worth It
If you are hesitant about the investment required for an outdoor kitchen, here are four great reasons why the investment would be worth it!
1. It Increases Your Home’s Value
As with any well-considered investment in your home, an outdoor kitchen will increase your home’s value. Right now, outdoor kitchens are a popular and sought after home improvement.
A well planned and smartly equipped outdoor kitchen will last you for years to come– an be a major attraction for home buyers when you are ready to sell.
2. It Saves You Money
An outdoor kitchen could save you money over the long run. As you may have noticed when you bake, fry, roast, and broil foods in your indoor kitchen, the temperature in your house elevates several degrees.
This means that the AC runs more to compensate. Cooking outdoors will give your AC— and your utility bills— a break.
3. It Expands Your Living Space
No need to build a whole new room onto your house. The extra room is already there!
Use your back porch, covered patio, or pergola as a beautiful outdoor living space where guests can gather and enjoy themselves without being crowded around the stove inside.
4. It Keeps Cooking Smells Outside
Have you ever paused before grilling up something in the house because you didn’t want to deal with the after-stink? No need to worry if you grill that great steak or beautiful salmon outside.
The Sky is the Limit!
Convinced that your outdoor oasis is ready for a kitchen? An outdoor kitchen could be as straightforward or as extravagant as you can dream up. In fact, we recommend that you dream first and then move on to reality.
Create a Pinterest page or vision board with images of your favorite kitchens, appliances, colors, and textures. Go all out— even if your budget is small, you can use these dream boards as inspiration.
After taking the time to dream, let’s get grounded in reality. Set yourself up for success by asking these questions:
What is my budget?
Where will the kitchen go?
How do I want to use the space?
Now that you have answered these questions, you can move forward with realistic expectations while planning your design. Here are six things to consider during the design phase:
1. This Is an Extension of Your Living Space so Make It a Comfortable One
Consider the climate in your plans. Awnings, umbrellas, pergolas, ceiling fans, and misters can make all the difference during the hot summer months. For the cooler temperatures include a fire pit, pizza oven, or outdoor gas heater. If you have a higher budget add radiant heat over the patio for a luxurious treat.
2. Your Outdoor Kitchen Is a Transition Zone
An outdoor kitchen lies in the transition zone between your indoor living space and the out of doors. Bring the indoor design outside by using many of the same textures and colors in your outdoor design that you used in your indoor one.
Also, think about your home’s exterior and the surrounding landscape. Choose colors and textures that compliment or extend that style as well.
Blending the two will give you a seamless transition between your indoor landscape and your beautiful natural or urban surroundings.
3. Plan Your Layout
Use the same design principles for your outdoor kitchen as you would for your indoor kitchen. But also be aware that there are significant differences between the two.
Walls, doors, and windows rarely define the outdoor kitchen. Instead, it defines the space on its own. L-shaped designs are a perfect choice outside because they provide a sense of room division for the area.
Appliance placement should also be carefully considered. Avoid placing a hot gas grill directly next to a refrigerator and allow plenty of space for food preparation.
4. Choose Appliances and Materials Carefully
There are plenty of appliances and accessories to choose from, so choose well. Make sure that they are made for use outdoors and that they can withstand the elements.
Also, choose products that are low maintenance and easy to care for so you can spend less time cleaning and more time having fun.
Appliances and accessories that you might consider for your dream kitchen are:
- Grills & Smokers
- Built-In Refrigerator
- Built-In Kegerator
- Ice Maker
- Oven
- Sink
- Side burners
- Even dishwashers!
5. Lighting
Incorporate both task lighting and ambient lighting into your design. Thoughtfully place lights to shine on cooking and food prep surfaces. Create ambiance with solar-powered accent lighting or string lights.
Use traditional or LED candles to create an intimate setting. Ward off mosquitos with tiki torches or citronella candles.
6. It’s All in the Details
Now that you have your layout planned, appliances were chosen, and lighting set adds decorations, potted plants, and comfortable seating. Choose moisture-resistant fabrics, and that resist sun-fading. Choose sturdy accessories that won’t blow over.
Voila! Your Outdoor Kitchen Plan Is Complete!
Not all patios, porches, or backyards are kitchen ready. Often additional electrical wiring and plumbing are required to service the appliances and lighting. If these types of additions are beyond your scope or if you need help polishing and implementing your dream design, we are ready to assist you.
We Can Help
Our team at Complete Landsculpture are experts in outdoor kitchen design. We also know what’s popular and what buyers are looking for so if you are not just looking to increase your enjoyment but your home’s value we can advise you on the best choices to make. Call for a consultation today!
