Why have outdoor kitchens become so popular? Have you noticed how people always gather in your kitchen at home? Whether it’s family time, a casual gathering of friends, or a big party, you can count on people coming together in the kitchen. Now imagine that kitchen as big as your backyard. Outdoor kitchens allow the meeting to go outside without losing that homelike kitchen environment.
Take the oven, the sink, the kitchen, the refrigerator, the cupboards… take it all outside. No more running in and out of the grill to the fridge. You no longer have to carry a cooler to take it out and put it back in. Now everything can be outside. The outdoors with all the comforts of a modern kitchen.
Outdoor kitchens are more than just a great grill. Of course, the grill is a must, but that’s just the beginning. Cabinets, warming drawers, tables, bars, wood ovens… the list goes on. From the basic to the exotic, the options are limited only by your imagination. And of course, your bank account!
There are many things to consider when planning your outdoor kitchen. This is a significant step in an overall backyard design. Make sure you use enough of it to justify the expense. After all, the old way of cooking on a portable grill and coming back to the house for your needs still works. But if you’re ready to take your backyard design to the next level, an outdoor kitchen may be the perfect choice for you. Barbecue islands are a very popular option if you want luxury outdoor cooking without paying custom prices. See the following link for more information.
Things to consider…
What things are you likely to cook? How much and how often?
Grill options are numerous and price tags reflect them, but do you need them? If there are only two of you and no one ever comes to visit (that will change with an outdoor kitchen), do you need a huge grill? If you’ll be cooking mostly hamburgers, steaks, and pork chops, do you need the expensive rotisserie? Would a pizza oven be a better fit for your needs? You can get all of these, but there’s no need to spend the money if you’re not going to use them. Now, having said that, don’t go cheap on the grill. Pick the features you’ll need and spend some money on the grill. This is, after all, the part that makes all the rest worth having. The last thing you want is to install a cheap built-in grill in beautiful stone cladding with custom granite countertops only to have it pulled out, repaired, or replaced. So buy quality here. If you can’t afford a quality built-in, consider a portable cart style.
Is the rest of your backyard design compatible with outdoor cooking?
After you take the steaks and chops off your big, beautiful grill and hand them out to your impressed guests, do you have a place to sit? Are there covered seating areas for light rain or relief from the scorching sun? Take care to keep seats a reasonable distance from the grill. You want to cook T-Bone, not Uncle Joe. The effect of a great outdoor kitchen is lost if everyone goes back to eating indoors. The rest of your outdoor living room should support and complement the kitchen. That doesn’t mean you have to spend money on a covered porch or gazebo (although both are nice), but you should at least have an umbrella over a table and a set of chairs.
What other activities will take place while the party is being prepared?
Cooking and eating may be the highlight of time outdoors, but they’re not the only things going on. Are your guests gathering to watch the big game? If so, consider an outdoor television. Otherwise, you may be the only one out there, getting the job done while everyone else enjoys the Carolina Panthers beating whoever they’re playing. (Okay, I’m biased. So sue me.) Do your friends and family tend to hang out chatting while food is being prepared? Then you’ll want to listen to music through a nice outdoor sound system. An outdoor cooler is much better than running in and out of the house for cold drinks or lugging around a cooler full of ice. Will you be using the outdoor kitchen in cooler weather? A built-in fireplace or portable fire pit keeps things cozy for most of the year.
How much space do you have in your backyard?
If you have a small yard behind your townhome, you probably won’t have room for a full deluxe outdoor kitchen. If you put it up anyway, your guests will have to stand on your neighbors patio.
The idea is that you should think about your needs, not just what looks good in the pictures. Buy what you need, within your budget. Speaking of budget, that’s a real consideration. Outdoor kitchens can cost anywhere from $1,000 to over $100,000, depending on options, materials, size, and how exotic you want to be. If your budget allows you to go crazy, go for it! If not, do what you can, however you can. You don’t have to do everything at once. Just remember to think about your long-term design plan as you go step by step.
Keep in mind that while an outdoor kitchen is a great and fun addition to any backyard, it’s not essential. The vast majority of backyards don’t have one, and people have a lot of fun there anyway. If it fits your needs, your space, and your budget, go for it! If you don’t fit those things, don’t despair. Many, many good times and great memories have been made on a simple patio with a small charcoal grill. The most important thing is to spend quality time with family and friends, whatever the setting. But since you’re outside anyway, you might as well make a great backyard while you’re at it!