Take Your Kitchen Outdoors
(Page 2 of 3)
May/June 2008
Letitia L. Star
“We not only grill meats, seafood and vegetables, but also pizza and breads,” Maneval says.
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People living on rural property have an advantage over urban dwellers when creating outdoor kitchens.
“You can build to overlook a forest, field or garden. The landscaping can be unbelievable,” says Don Johnson, HPBA’s director of market research. An outdoor kitchen can augment the square footage of usable living space. Although there are no guarantees, an outdoor kitchen might also increase your property’s resale value and its appeal to potential buyers.
Not your dad’s barbecue
Today’s outdoor kitchens are much more than a simple charcoal grill and a picnic table. Weather-resistant outdoor kitchens can include sinks, refrigerators, counters, stoves, high-tech grills, bars, keg coolers, shelving, cabinet space, fireplaces, tables, decorative tiles, lighting, torches and more. All are designed to withstand the elements.
Prices range from a couple hundred dollars (for a basic free-standing grill) to six-figure extravagance. Upscale outdoor kitchens can incorporate luxurious dining areas, fountains, swimming pools, whirlpools, statuary, flowered trellises, weatherproof artwork and etched-glass dividers.
Fire your imagination
Before building or expanding your outdoor kitchen, first carefully examine your own needs.
“What do you want from an outdoor kitchen? What are your cooking habits?” says Amanda Lecky, author of Outdoor Kitchens. Here are 10 considerations:
1. Lifestyle. How large is your family? How many people will you serve? How much will you cook outdoors? Once a week or on weekends? Every evening? Do you frequently entertain? How many people will be using the kitchen at once? Will you host catered events?
2. Dining. Will you eat outdoors? How much seating do you need?
3. Cuisine. What do you like to cook outdoors? Basic fare such as grilled hamburgers and hot dogs? Pizza? Or full gourmet meals? Do you want to smoke foods? Need a warming oven?
4. Beverages. Do you need a way to keep beverages cold? An ice maker? A coffee-maker? A full-service bar? Manufacturers offer many sizes of weather-proof refrigerators, freezers and ice makers.
5. Weather. Will you use your kitchen year-round? How many months? Do you need to protect your outdoor kitchen and dining areas from excessive winds, rain or the beating sun? Want to winterize your kitchen?
6. Space. What are the precise measurements of the space available? Where are the locations of existing trees, shrubs, pillars and other elements?
7. Location. Do you want your outdoor cooking facilities to be adjacent to your indoor kitchen? Near your patio or deck? Or free-standing? “It’s great to have an outdoor kitchen near your vegetable garden,” says Lecky.
8. Landscaping. What plantings or landscape features already exist? What do you want to add when building your outdoor kitchen?
9. Lighting. Proper lighting can provide cooking visibility and a relaxing mood for dining. Homeowner Deborah Maneval has weather-proof fiber optic lighting all around the grill and seating area. Other options include spotlights, torches, lanterns, pendants, low-voltage fixtures and candles. “Solar-powered fixtures are environmentally friendly and don’t require cables,” says Lecky.
10. Design. Styles that create atmosphere are traditional (including classical, Americana and country), as well as rustic, contemporary and exotic, Lecky says. “There are so many great weather-proof fabrics and furniture available for the outdoors,” she says. “The style can make a space warm and inviting.”