All That You Wanted to Know About Outdoor Kitchens

Summer is all about outdoor fun! It’s the time of the year when music is playing from the poolside or passing cars, when children are shrieking excitedly, and when the aroma of barbecue fills the senses. It’s also the time for evenings where guests gather around the fireplace and enjoy the weather. But it can also be hectic if you are the host- running frantically between the grill and the kitchen carrying food, beer and wine, and the taking the dishes back to the kitchen once everyone leaves!

The ideal solution to these problems would be an outdoor kitchen where you can not only entertain guests but also manage everything perfectly. A typical outdoor kitchen is installed with some cooking gear, a storage cabinet, refrigerator, an oven, grill, sink, and eating area. While some like to keep it simple, there are others who go the whole hog with elaborate furnishings, TV, etc. Here are a few things that you ought to know about outdoor kitchens:

• Budget: The design of your outdoor living space would largely depend on your budget. Costs can vary from $3000 for simple designs to even $15,000 and above for higher end versions. A simple version wouldn’t include more than a grill, a counter top, and a storage cabinet.

• Space: The scale of your project is also largely dependent on the space that is available. You will have to determine how the look of the place is likely to impact the look of your yard; both from within and outside the house. Also, decide on the distance of the kitchen from your home. An attached kitchen is ideal when there’s not much space. A freestanding kitchen is viable only if outdoor space is huge.

• Free standing or Attached: As earlier said, an attached kitchen is a good choice in homes with very little outdoor space. Besides, they’re also easy to maintain and less expensive. It is also easy to carry food to and from the indoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is also buffered from the weather. But a freestyle outdoor kitchen offers you the ultimate in outdoor entertainment. You can either go for a partial freestanding structure with a roof on the posts or a pavilion with half-walls.

• Flooring options: Although wood is a common choice for most kitchens, concrete can be a good idea especially if you want the flooring to be decorative as well as functional. Besides they’re easy to maintain as well.