SPECIAL SECTION: Spring Home Renovation Guide
your selection on the cook you aspire to
be, not the kind you are now. Remember
that there are no uniform depths, heights
or widths when it comes to grills, so future
upgrades can be a challenge.
More homeowners are also expanding
their cooking capabilities with specialized
products offering different types of heat.
Smokers, pizza ovens and charcoal or wood-
fired grills are options to keep in mind as
they can enhance the outdoor cooking
experience.
Assess the space—Think about how
you envision the relationship between your
indoor and outdoor kitchens. If they are
relatively close together, an outdoor kitchen
can utilize the indoor kitchen’s capabilities,
such as prep space and storage. Conversely,
a fully independent outdoor kitchen
with refrigeration, warming cabinets and
cabinetry is more self-reliant, but will
require more space and connections for gas,
water and electricity.
In the zone—You’ll get the most out
of your outdoor kitchen when you have
different functional zones designated. Plot
out where you will position four key zones,
wet, cold, hot and dry, to make prepping,
cooking, serving and cleaning much easier.
The cold zone should be next to the wet
zone. This will simplify moving food from
the refrigerator (cold zone) to the sink (wet
zone) to wash and get ready for grilling in
the hot zone.
Also plan for uninterrupted counter
space or landing areas for placing platters
and utensils while cooking. Grills should
Photo courtesy of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet.
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have at least 24 inches to one side and 12
inches to the other. Sinks should have 18
inches on both sides for room to wash food
or place dirty dishes.
Be sure to dedicate enough space for
each zone and think about the relationships
among them for cooking and serving
activities.
Left outside—Being outdoors means
your refrigeration and cabinetry will need to
be equipped to handle the elements.
When considering refrigeration for an
outdoor kitchen, Faulk stresses food-safe
rated options. With these products, meats
won’t go bad and drinks will stay cold, even
when it’s above 95 degrees outside.
Cabinetry should be equipped to handle
rain and protect the items inside. Weather-
tight cabinets have seamless rain gutters
around the door and drawer openings to
help divert water.
By incorporating the right design
principles, an outdoor kitchen can be the
place where you and your guests enjoy
delicious meals for years to come.
9 Steps to a Better
Backyard
Follow these simple steps
for building your dream
escape—right in your own
backyard.
Enlist an expert. Much like you
might consult an interior designer, deck
contractors can help make your dream
outdoor space become a reality. Unless you
plan to build the deck yourself, the first
item on your to-do list should be hiring a
contractor. When researching contractors,
look for someone who specializes in
decks—conduct interviews, review
portfolios and gather references.
Make low-maintenance a high priority.
Everyone wants to spend time outdoors, but
no one wants to spend that time sanding,
staining or replacing worn-out wooden deck
boards. For enduring beauty with minimal
upkeep, consider high-performance
composite decking that resists fading,
staining, scratching and mold—and won’t
rot, warp, crack or splinter.
Factor in function. Plan your
outdoor space to align with how you’ll
use it, whether that will be for relaxing,
entertaining, dining alfresco, etc. Consider
all-weather cabinetry and outdoor storage
for added convenience. Additionally, think