SPECIAL SECTION: Spring Home Renovation Guide
for a weekend barbecue or a big family gathering, everyone loves
being outside.
Big or small, the basic principles of outdoor kitchen design remain
the same. Get started by understanding these basics:
Get the right heat—It all starts with the grill, which is the
centerpiece of the outdoor kitchen. Russ Faulk, chief designer and
head of product for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, suggests basing
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 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.
A current issue of
this magazine is also
9 Steps to a Better available
Backyard online.
Follow these simple steps for building
your dream escape—right in your own
backyard.
icmags.com
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
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