By Hank Ozzy
There is nothing like having an extended outdoor kitchen. You can have your parties, welcome guests and friends, and enjoy family time under the open sky. Designing an outdoor kitchen, however, needs considerable planning, and your best bet is a professional company that knows about trends and can make ideal use of space. Here are some things to consider for your outdoor kitchen.
- Find the perfect grill. An outdoor kitchen is incomplete without the grill, and you will find a wide range of options. Look for built-in designs, and find more on the models that have more than three burners. It also depends on the amount of space you have. You can find great deals on grills for your outdoor kitchen from your design service and planner.
- Match it with your home. Exteriors of your home should feel like an extension of the interiors. While you can always go bold and bright, make sure that the outdoor kitchen has some connection with the house design and theme. Talk to your planner about how they can bring in nuance and subtlety in the design.
- Create space for seating. Don’t let the equipment and overall appliances of your outdoor kitchen to take up the entire space. You may want to create some room for seating close to the kitchen area, so that guests can dine as your serve the fresh, hot BBQ food.
- Watch out for floor space. You want to have enough room in the outdoor kitchen to move around and get your work done. Depending on the location and your existing space, you can add extra appliances like heaters, to make the area more comfortable, but don’t end up using the entire floor.
- Think of entertainment. Just like you need grills to cook, you also need space for an entertainment unit. If nothing else, you need to get a good set of speakers, so talk to your team about how to get the connections done and keep the space free of clutter.
Finally, decide on a budget. Many outdoor kitchen layouts are expensive, but worth considering for contemporary living. If you don’t have a big amount to spare, talk to your planner, and ask them to offer a custom design that works for your space but doesn’t compromise on the basic aspects and requirements. Get an estimate for everything before you get started, and set aside at least 20% for contingencies.
