Outdoor kitchens bring all the best features of an indoor kitchen into the privacy of your own backyard. While they are a hot trend in landscaping design, you don’t have to build a custom home to enjoy an outdoor kitchen. Materials, appliances, and design plans allow for outdoor kitchens to be possible for just about any budget.
The Benefits
Homeowners who may initially believe an outdoor kitchen to be a splurge soon learn that there are practical benefits, including:
- Simple entertaining options, especially for large crowds
- Easy clean-up, because the mess doesn’t spill into your home
- Lower utility bills, because charcoal and propane doesn’t show up on your gas or electric bill
Three Outdoor Kitchen Necessities
Outdoor kitchens can be installed on an existing patio, or deck contractors can build a beautiful outdoor kitchen as part of a larger home landscaping project. The best outdoor kitchens feature three pieces that are both beautiful and functional.
Grill
It’s not just for hamburgers. Upgraded grills come with accessories like a smoker drawer, a warming rack, and even a rotisserie.
Refrigerator
It’s a convenient place to store drinks you want to serve guests. Outdoor refrigerators are also recommended for food safety, because your raw food can sit in the refrigerator instead of in the sun.
Refreshment Center
This appliance is what makes your outdoor kitchen just as functional as your indoor kitchen. Features available on most refreshment centers include cutting boards, drain boards, sinks, faucets, and towel racks.
Four Outdoor Kitchen Storage Options
When it’s time to choose outdoor storage or counter tops, deck contractors can help you pick materials that are both budget friendly and durable.
Masonry Cabinets
A metal or cinderblock frame is covered in brick, stucco, or decorative stone, which makes this extremely weather resistant.
Wooden Cabinets
Wooden cabinets are available in a wide range of budgets. However, they aren’t weather resistant, so they will fade and break down over time.
Stainless Steel
These cabinets look like metal, but they don’t corrode. Stainless steel will show fingerprints and becomes hot to the touch when the sun shines on it.
Polymer Cabinets
This synthetic material closely resembles plastic, which makes it weather resistant and easy to clean. However, it comes in limited colors.
Your outdoor kitchen is as versatile as you want it to be. If you can dream it, there are outdoor kitchen design ideas to make it happen. To make your outdoor kitchen dreams come true, contact Archadeck.