The Great Outdoors Series: Outdoor Kitchens
Sometimes all you really need is a very large grill! As I explain in this blog post, the grill is the Pièce de résistance of any backyard kitchen. Our trip to Argentina a few years ago included an excursion to the beautiful ranch of La Bamba de Areco where we had an amazing outdoor dining experience. This simple grill served everything!
Time to Cook
In my last blog post, I highlighted all of the outdoor design trends I’m seeing crop up in 2021. As a result of the pandemic, the trends I saw are focused on relaxation, wellness, and functionality.
For this post in my Great Outdoors Series, I’m focusing on the heart of the… backyard: Outdoor Kitchens! Read on to find out more about what is hot in the outdoor kitchen design world and how to create your own outdoor oasis.
All About Outdoor Kitchens
Everyone knows that when you are entertaining, all guests somehow end up gathering in the kitchen. This is definitely the case when we host parties at our home! If you enjoy hosting, having an adequate kitchen for your entertaining needs is important. So why not take the party outdoors?!
I designed the outdoor pavilion below for maximum entertaining with a full bar, dining and lounging areas and a beautiful fireplace. As you can see, the landscape designer did an amazing job on the pool and patio!
I love this covered bar area at this Long Island home. Perfect for sitting outside, watching the waves on a warm night even if there is a light drizzle. Notice the “no dog allowed” fencing in the foreground styming a break for freedom!
The Design
It might seem daunting to think about what to include in an outdoor kitchen but designing one begins like any other design: with a plan! Let me help you get your head around this critical step. To begin, I encourage you to start thinking about how you will be using this space; is it for you and your significant other, entertaining friends, entertaining families, or young adults? Thinking about the “Who” will get you started on the “What” to include in your outdoor space.
After determining your “Who,” be sure to consider what your goals and priorities are for the new living area you’re creating in your home. What activities do you envision happening here? Cooking and dining, wine tastings, playing games? Being realistic about your needs and wants will help bring your outdoor kitchen design to life and ensure it keeps you happy for many years to come!
You really need to do a double take to realize this kitchen and living area is outdoors! Source.
For the grill master this galley style kitchen is great. I love that the concrete shelving and countertop incorporate a green egg grill seamlessly! This kitchen style keeps the party out of the kitchen and is very efficient. Source.
Once you’ve created your list answering all of the questions above, it’s time to get down to brass tacks. A good way to start your outdoor kitchen planning is to think about your indoor kitchen. What do you like about it, what would you change if you could, and what do you wish you could add? Identifying all these things will help you determine what you want to incorporate into your outdoor space.
The Layout
As an NKBA Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer, I apply the guidelines in designing indoor kitchens to outdoor kitchen and entertaining spaces. Below are some graphics and references that I always keep handy when I begin a kitchen design--whether it’s indoors or out:
The Work Triangle - applies in outdoor kitchens just as it does in your home’s kitchen. The grill, a sink and refrigerator (usually an undercounter model) creates the work triangle. Source.
Countertop Space - allowing enough counter top space on either side of your sink and grill provides a good spot to set dirty dishes, hot plates, and utensils. Source.
Bar/Eating area - A confusing metric is how deep to make your bar top counter. This graphic is a great snapshot of standard countertop heights and how deep the seating area’s countertop should be. The depth of your countertop seating area is determined by the height of your countertop. Source.
Materials
Using the right materials and finishes will add years and pleasure to your outdoor kitchen. So, think about each layer of the kitchen as you work through your design.
Appliances
Grill
Generally, the grill is the pièce de résistance of an outdoor kitchen. There are as many options and opinions as there are outdoor chefs, but, again, I think a good place to start is to think about your indoor range and what you like or don’t like about it. Today’s grills are quite versatile! Depending on how much you want to spend and incorporate grilling into your weekly menus, there is a grill for you.
By the way, don’t limit yourself to a grill -- how about a green egg and/or a pizza oven?! These days it’s totally doable to incorporate both into an outdoor cooking zone.
A simple, functional outdoor kitchen on a minimalist patio. I love all of the green and the living wall in this example-- check out my past blog posts to learn more! Source here. What’s not to love about this outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven and a green egg!
This is a massive outdoor kitchen with a massive grill to boot! This design prioritizes cooking large meals for the whole family and offers lots of seating at the bar and at the neighboring dining table. Source.
Sink
A sink is a must -- even if it is one that is not plumbed and just runs into the ground. Not having a source of running water will quickly become inconvenient when you have dishes, glasses, cooking utensils, and hands to wash! You’ll also find the sink handy when you need to wipe down countertops.
This sink does triple duty with an ice cooler, condiment trays and bottle holders. Source.
Refrigerator
An outdoor refrigerator may not be needed if your outdoor kitchen is near the entrance to your home’s kitchen. However, much like having an outdoor sink, not having a refrigerator becomes tedious when you have to continually bring out condiments, prepared foods and drinks… not to mention all that foot traffic going through your kitchen! I personally think a small, undercounter refrigerator -- and if you can swing it, an undercounter ice maker -- is worth its weight in gold when entertaining outdoors.
For all these appliances -- refrigerator, sink, and range -- stainless steel is your best friend. This also goes for your outdoor faucets that your guests will be using as they help clean up! ;)
Speaking of friends, I find Bar Keepers Friend keeps stainless steel looking great. Not an ad, we genuinely love this product! When choosing stainless steel, look for a gauge between 16 and 18. The lower the gauge number the better the stainless steel is for durability. As your stainless steel is going outside to face the elements, the more durable the better!
A nice undercounter fridge doesn’t take up too much space and provides you with so much convenience when entertaining outdoors. Source.
Counter tops
Durable counters are necessary, and, in my experience, stone or tile countertops have the most staying power. In an outdoor kitchen you can really get creative with the countertop pattern.
Another great under counter fridge! I also love the stone countertop and tiling around the side. So unique and something that really only works in an outdoor kitchen! Source.
Cabinetry
While you likely won’t have as many cabinets in your outdoor kitchen as you do inside, it’s still important to have a few drawers and cabinets handy for your exclusively-outdoor cooking tools. I have found that teak is the best wood to use for outdoor kitchen cabinetry. For coastal homes, it’s imperative that you get marine-grade cabinetry!
The teak cabinets in this outdoor kitchen look great with the beautiful light colored stone countertops. I love how they created a second countertop for cookware between the undercounter refrigerator and the warming drawer. The openness of this kitchen is so appealing; however, I hope there are some umbrellas around for the cook when it rains! Source.
These cafe-style polymer kitchen cabinets are perfect for this diner-inspired outdoor kitchen. Because the cabinets are a composite they won’t rust or warp and are a perfect choice for the outdoors. Source.
Lighting
In outdoor spaces, lighting is its own design category. One look I love is stringing bistro lighting across an outdoor patio or dining area. It creates such a festive al fresco dining experience!
Bistro lighting added such a magical touch to our son’s outdoor wedding. Truly al fresco dining on a grand scale!
There are many options when it comes to outdoor lighting. Pendant lighting and ceiling fans which incorporate lighting all contribute to lighting up your space.
A stately tree creates a beautiful statement for hanging lanterns! This eclectic set of lanterns were part of the outdoor dining area at the beautiful Ojai Valley Inn in California. We read that the oak tree is 200 years old and the lanterns reflect the Spanish Revival design of the 1920’s (also the Art Deco period!) when the inn was established.
Sconces on your house, your outdoor pavilion or placed strategically on a post or wall add another touch of detail (and light!) to outdoor ambiance.
The lighting in my pavilion design includes bar pendants, wall sconces tucked on either side of the stone fireplace, and a ceiling fan/light combination.
These nautical looking sconces are a perfect choice for an outdoor kitchen and dining area that looks over the water. Source.
Other considerations in outdoor lighting are using the right bulb. Choose LED for their long life! Lighting materials include aluminum (the least expensive but most corrosive material), stainless steel (a great material for longevity but requires annual maintenance… refer back to Bar Keeper’s Friend!!!), and brass. Brass is best and is a great option for coastal environments (think of all the brass on ocean vessels!), it is non-corrosive, but is more expensive. Brass is a great finish for the long haul of your outdoor kitchen. Copper is often a finish layer on a brass fixture and used to create a weathered patina.
If you want to really dig deep into outdoor lighting, I thought this blog post had so much great information on the specifics of all kinds of outdoor lights.
Salt is a very corrosive material so when you are planning an outdoor space on the coast, you need to pay special attention to the finishes and choose the least corrosive material. There is a man-made composite called Vivex. Maxim Lighting’s website says it is a “non-corrosive, UV resistent proprietary finish”. I’ve found it to be a great material for coastal applications.
Over time, everything will corrode. But, replacing fixtures and appliances after twelve years is more palatable than after three or four years!
Let’s Get Started
If you’re ready to start designing your outdoor kitchen but aren’t sure where to start, connect with me! I’d love to chat about your space and the dreams you have for your outdoor entertaining space.
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