The back yard used to be where you sent the kids to play, to get them out of the house. And there was the good, old reliable grill for barbecue season.
But today’s home dwellers live differently. Their homes reflect the new lifestyle of combining open spaces with functionality, and the need for entertaining. This trend is true indoors and out. Homebuilders recognize that the exterior living space is as important as the interior of the home. The outdoor kitchen, in particular, has become a popular feature with homebuyers.
An outdoor kitchen is more than a nice grill set-up. This space provides a fully functional workspace for preparing, cooking, and serving meals—from the simple cookout to more epicurean fare. Anything you can cook indoors can be moved to your outdoor kitchen, where you can enjoy the open-air experience.
From food storage to cooking to clean-up, your outdoor kitchen design could be customized to include a wide array of culinary appliances and resources:
- Grill
- Stovetop
- Oven
- Pizza oven
- Refrigerator
- Sink
- Cabinets
- Bar
- Breakfast nook or counter
- Firepit or fireplace with rotisserie
The main difference between the inside kitchen and its outside counterpart is that everything installed outdoors must stand up to tougher weather conditions, like extreme heat and cold. Appliances should be constructed of stainless steel, which not only stands up to the temperatures, but also resists rusting. Cabinets must be waterproof and resistant to rot. Countertops need to be more durable outside, with stone or brick as good choices.
Depending on where you live, you might want to extend the season for outdoor entertaining by adding a heat source. Enhance the style of your outdoor kitchen with weather-resistant light fixtures and even a television that is engineered for outside use. good choices.
The great outdoors has never been so great. Take a look at your back yard and start thinking about how you can get cooking out there!
