Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor kitchens are becoming more and more popular--being most popular where the weather is nice year round. Building an outdoor kitchen adds value to your home and extends your living space. It also helps reduce the stress and time consuming process of getting ready for an outdoor event or meal.

You and your guests want to feel comfortable while dining and relaxing outdoors. Keep in mind that you can plan for both rain and shine entertaining. When planning your outdoor kitchen, consider using the expertise of a Landscape Architect, a Kitchen Designer, and a Contractor. If you are planning to add an indoor/outdoor sunroom or the like, you will need an Architect; otherwise a Landscape Architect can often create a gazebo, trellis, or similar outdoor objects.

Storage cabinets, sinks, refrigerators, cooking appliances, countertop surfaces, lighting, power requirements, sound systems, eating and entertaining areas, and traffic flow should all be considered for the planning and layout of your patio and outdoor kitchen. Some appliance manufacturers include models specifically for outdoor use such as grills, refrigerators, and icemakers. In addition, gas patio heaters are available to extend the outdoor cooking season in colder weather (see Dynamic Cooking Systems (DCS) and General Electric (GE) in our Resource Index). To read more about outdoor kitchens, link to "Outdoor Kitchens".