Blog | Outdoor Kitchens, what do you need or want?

The popularity of outdoor kitchens has steadily increased over the last five years. Many of our clients are asking for outdoor kitchen designs with their pool plans. Some are as simple as a structure with a grill to structures with a grill, refrigerator, ice maker, side burner, warming drawer, storage drawers, storage doors, electrical outlets, sinks, ice buckets, kegerators etc.

For your kitchen think about how you will use it and what you need vs. what you want. Location is important also. Which way will it face vs. which way the prevailing wind blows. You don't  want the smoke blowing in your face every time you grill. How far is your outdoor kitchen away from your in-door kitchen. You will need to bring food out to the outdoor kitchen from inside. You don't want it to be a 50 yard walk. In thinking about the design where will people eat the food you are preparing? Do you want to incorporate a bar area? This way you can visit with company while you prepare the food.

What material do you want the structure to be made out of? Stone, brick, block with stucco? What type of counter top do you want? Tile, granite, poured concrete, flagstone? There is a wide variation in costs vs. materials used in construction of these kitchens.

How about a covered structure over your kitchen or a shade arbor or an umbrella? Do you want to stand out in the sun in August and grill or do you want to be in the shade. How about a misting system around the top of you arbor or covered structure? These systems can have the effect of lowering the outside temperature by 20-30 degrees!

These are just a few things to keep in mind when thinking about an outdoor kitchen. Your pool professional or landscape designer can be of great help.