How to Create an Outdoor Kitchen Fit for a Michelin Star Chef Right at Home.
An outdoor kitchen is one of those additions to your home that instantly raises its value. It’s, however, not easy to pull off by yourself. You need a company that provides an outdoor kitchen service to install it for you. But first, decide what type of outdoor kitchen you’re looking for.
Do your research and talk to the contractor about your vision so they clearly know what you want. The size of your kitchen informs your layout plan, and you can choose between a U-shape, an L-shape, or a linear outdoor kitchen layout.
Don’t focus so much on aesthetics to the point of neglecting the functionality of your outdoor kitchen. Ensure you have your outdoor cooking units and the four zones, just like in an indoor kitchen. The four zones comprise the refrigeration area, the cooking area, the working space, and the storage room.
A lot of creativity and dedication are needed to create an outdoor kitchen. Always factor in your location, as the type of climate in the area is a significant influence. The outdoor kitchen ideas for cold climates may differ from those in hot climates. For instance, an outdoor kitchen in New England, which is primarily cold, should differ from the design for hot places like Texas. While a lot of work and creativity goes into it, when you hire experienced professionals, they’ll deliver just what you envisioned.
Have you ever been curious about how to create an outdoor kitchen for your home? Are you baffled by some of the challenges that come with installing a proper kitchen in an outdoor area? If you’ve ever asked yourself how to create an outdoor kitchen then it’s likely that you’re concerned about both function and aesthetic. And you’re certainly not alone in this. After all, were you aware of the fact that it was estimated that total U.S. home improvement expenditure amounted to about 394 billion U.S. dollars in the year 2018? Whether you’re planning on spending a lot of money or keeping your budget slim, it helps to be aware of some of the different methods and approaches you can take to build a high-quality outdoor kitchen at your home. Here are some ideas we’ve come up with on how to create an outdoor kitchen fit for a Michelin Star chef right at home.
Keep Up with Yard Work
Anyone asking themselves how to create an outdoor kitchen should begin by first inspecting the current state of their lawn and yard. After all, lawn maintenance is one of the most important aspects of preparing any site for construction or additions of any kind. For this reason, you should never skip the necessary steps required for proper lawn care just so you can skip ahead to begin construction on your outdoor kitchen. As it turns out, a strong foundation will make it much easier to pursue all those features you’ve been dreaming about once it’s time to install your outdoor kitchen.
So what kind of yard work do you need to keep up on? Well, in short, all of it. Make sure you’re taking care of the grass and shrubs, especially in areas where you plan to place an outdoor kitchen. If you need to get rid of piles of debris, leaves, or excess grass, then be sure to make arrangements to have this sorted out before you even think about how to create an outdoor kitchen. Furthermore, many people installing an outdoor kitchen find it to be a productive use of their time to hire a lawn maintenance service to take care of these issues for them. The right lawn maintenance service not only speeds up your production timeline in the majority of cases, but they can also have your outdoor areas looking better than they ever have before.
Consider Installing All Natural Stone Counters
When it comes time to begin construction of your outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to be prepared with the expectation that selecting your materials may take some significant time and effort. After all, just as with a standard indoor kitchen, you don’t want to rush through the material selection process only to end up with a kitchen that doesn’t represent your goals, vision, or stylistic aesthetic. Be sure to factor enough time in to sort through materials and choose those that really capture your intention. Otherwise, you may have to go back to the drawing board, still asking yourself how to create an outdoor kitchen that’s fit for a Michelin Star chef. No one wants that.
Of course, as with any kitchen, the countertops serve as one of the hallmark pieces that tie the rest of the design together. As such, it’s a good idea to consider installing natural stone countertops. These countertops are particularly applicable to outdoor kitchens for a number of reasons. First and foremost, natural stone countertops create a flowing organic feel for the rest of the outdoor kitchen. Because your kitchen is already situated within some level of nature in the outdoors, stone countertops extend the outdoor theme and create a natural, laid back feel throughout the kitchen. Furthermore, natural stone countertops also tend to be quite durable and robust. This is a factor that anyone wondering how to create an outdoor kitchen will want to consider no matter what fixture or accessory they may be considering. Even if you live in a climate that doesn’t get a lot of rain, snow, or hail, it’s important to remember that your outdoor kitchen will be tested by the elements at some point in time. For this reason, it’s productive to remember to buy materials that are prepared to withstand whatever nature might just happen to throw their way.
Select Durable Storage Options for Pots, Pans, and Other Equipment
As with your countertops, it’s crucial that you choose storage options that have some degree of durability. Sure, you may not need to go out and buy storage fixtures that can withstand a gunshot, but it doesn’t hurt to know that all of your outdoor kitchen equipment is safe from scavengers, weather patterns, and the other unpredictable encounters that come from the outside. It stands to reason then that you should always invest in high quality cabinets when figuring out how to create an outdoor kitchen. The right degree of quality and durability creates a storage environment that is both visually appealing and functional to the highest degree.
Of course, you still have many options within the framework of high-quality cabinets. Stainless steel cabinets are a common option for many outdoor kitchens. These cabinets are so popular for a few main reasons. To begin with, stainless steel cabinets offer the visual appeal of a metallic sheen, while still preventing rust from developing. This factor alone makes stainless steel popular for anyone looking to get a lot of high functioning years out of their outdoor kitchen cabinets. Secondly, stainless steel cabinets also play into the larger design scheme of certain elements of your kitchen. When you get a grill or any other type of appliance, it’s hard to find one that won’t match up with your stainless steel cabinets.
Appealing as stainless steel cabinets may be, you still have other options available to you. While many people would consider wood cabinets to be an awful option for an outdoor kitchen, they actually have some distinct benefits. For example, wood cabinets often offer even greater flexibility in terms of their design appeal and overall aesthetic. With so many different wood grains and textures available, there’s really not much of a limit to your own creativity when you’re figuring out how to create an outdoor kitchen. However, wood cabinets are also more vulnerable to outdoor elements such as weather conditions and contact with animals. As such, these cabinets tend to break down over time much faster than a stainless steel cabinet would. In any case, make sure you take the time to weigh your options before committing to any one cabinet decision too quickly.
Tend the Garden and Take Care of Your Landscaping
If you were having friends or family members over for dinner at your kitchen inside your home, you wouldn’t want the floors, walls, and surrounding rooms covered in filth and grime, would you? Of course not. So when it comes to learning how to create an outdoor kitchen, any homeowner would be wise to put some time and care into tending the surrounding environment. When you’re building a kitchen outdoors, this means taking care of your garden area and your landscaping.
Some homeowners are natural green thumbs and love taking care of their yards. Others, as you may know, find it far easier to hire some outside help. In either case, it’s important to put the right plans in place so that your garden and landscaping do not end up being neglected as you favor your outdoor kitchen. The good news is that you can always hire a high quality mulch service to lay the proper groundwork for your garden and your landscaping efforts. On a similar note, many small, relatively inexpensive landscaping investments can yield some terrific results in terms of look, feel, and ambiance alike.
To take the culinary appeal of your outdoor kitchen to the next level, you may want to consider expanding your garden. There’s nothing quite like being able to prepare foods outside right next to where they were grown and harvested. Even if you’re not a master gardener, you can start a small herb garden to be used for seasoning the various meals you plan to prepare outside in your kitchen. This kind of naturalistic touch can take any outdoor kitchen to the next level right away, both in terms of food quality and experiential sensations.
Consider Repaving Your Patio
On another note, don’t neglect the paved surfaces in your yard, either. Paving contractors worth their salt can provide you with a quick, accurate quote for repaving your outdoor patio and other paved surfaces meant for gathering. Taking care of this kind of work before delving in too deep and learning how to create an outdoor kitchen can save you lots of headaches down the road. It’s not optimal to put in your brand new outdoor kitchen, only to notice some glaring eyesores in the form of cracked, damaged, our outdated pavement on your patio.
Go Solar to Save Money
Solar energy is an excellent way to save money on your monthly utility bill. While some homeowners may be skeptical regarding the fees associated with getting a solar energy system installed in the first place, many of these fears are alleviated over time. Why is that? Well, with an efficient, modern solar energy system, the bulk of the installation costs are covered month by month in the form of a reduced utility bill. Furthermore, as solar energy systems become more popular among homeowners of all kinds, local utility companies have begun to offer payment incentives and credits for those who are looking to make the switch. When you combine these factors, it’s easy to see why so many people are changing their energy systems to solar energy. Of course, a solar energy system can also benefit you if you’re someone who is learning how to create an outdoor kitchen.
Of course the financial aspect of switching to solar energy helps with the costs associated with installing an outdoor kitchen. But, as stated before, the atmosphere created in your outdoor kitchen is as important as the functional aspects as well. A solar energy system can create a distinct visual attraction in your outdoor space, while also serving as an excellent conversation piece when you invite friends, coworkers, or family members over for a meal outside.
Don’t Let The World Rain on Your Parade
When you build a kitchen outside, you have to accept that sometimes bad weather is going to roll through. Even if you try to prevent it, your outdoor kitchen will be exposed to adverse weather at some point in time. But the good news is that there are several things you can do to mitigate any damage that’s caused by rain or any other form of weather.
Invest in gutter repair, first and foremost. Your gutters serve as your home’s first line of defense against all sorts of problems that can result from heavy rainfall. Without proper gutter function, your outdoor kitchen could be severely affected the next time a storm decides to roll through. It’s also a good idea to invest in tough covers for all your outdoor appliances and anything else valuable.
Keep it Exclusive
It’s safe to say that once you’ve figured out how to create an outdoor kitchen, you’ll be spending a lot more time with guests outside. As such, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re keeping things private. Alongside your new outdoor kitchen, you may also want to invest in some new backyard fences. Privacy is important both for everyone in your household, and everyone in the neighboring houses beside you and behind you.
The right fences can also create a new atmosphere. With the kitchen installed and some nice backyard fences, it’s not too hard to recreate a campground atmosphere in your own back yard. The right backyard fences can also serve to keep some animals out and promote further longevity for your outdoor kitchen.
Keep Purpose in Mind
Finally, when you’re executing your plans on your outdoor kitchen, don’t lose sight of your original purpose. Did you intend to create a new area to host friends and family? Are you looking to further enhance and strengthen the social fabric of your local community? Make sure you don’t get so distracted with all the bells and whistles of your outdoor kitchen that you forget the purpose. After all, even a single family brunch may be all that you need to justify the creation of your new outdoor kitchen. With the right mindset and approach, you’ll soon find that your outdoor kitchen adds a whole new dimension to your life.
While figuring out how to create an outdoor kitchen that offers the same quality as an indoor kitchen can certainly be a process beset with its own unique challenges, you’ll soon find that the rewards are well worth your time, money, and efforts. We hope these tips have helped you as you learn how to create an outdoor kitchen that’s fit for a Michelin Star chef right at home. Good luck and bon appetit!