Planning For An Outdoor Kitchen
The #1 benefit of having an outdoor kitchen is that it’s a great way to entertain! Your friends and family can gather socially as you grill and roast rather than going out to a restaurant or ordering takeout. But outdoor kitchens are much more than an outdoor place to cook. You can build up your landscape design around a kitchen with patio furniture, heat lamps, lighting, and landscaping pavers to create a comfortable and beautiful outdoor paradise.
Outdoor kitchens are also a great investment and add a boost of value to your home – they have a high rate of return on investment when compared to other home improvement projects.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE STARTING THE PROJECT
1. WHERE SHOULD I PLACE MY OUTDOOR KITCHEN?
Will your outdoor kitchen be near the house or far away? Outdoor kitchens near the house can usually get by with fewer appliances. The sides of the house provide these kitchens with a wind barrier, and an overhang roof can be added. The proximity to the house usually makes it simple to run utilities to the outdoor kitchen.
However, being close to the house can limit the kitchen’s design. Placing the outdoor kitchen away from the house gives you complete freedom in the design, size, and layout.
2. WHAT WILL I COOK IN MY OUTDOOR KITCHEN?
It is important to consider the kinds of foods you and your guests like to cook and eat. For example, a wood-fired pizza oven is a very popular choice for outdoor kitchens. But if you’re not a pizza fan, it might make sense for you to invest in a larger grill top or add a side burner.
3. HOW MUCH PREP WORK WILL I DO OUTSIDE?
Every outdoor kitchen needs counter space – the question is how much. Do you plan to do most of your prep work in the house and then carry your food outside? If you want to prep your food near the cooking site, you will need to plan for extra counter space outdoors as well as an outdoor sink. You may also want to consider adding a dishwasher, so you don’t have to carry dirty dishes into the house.
4. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL USE THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN AND WHERE WILL THEY DINE?
If cooking is a family experience and you want to dine ‘al fresco,’ you’ll need more space to move around plus additional serving and seating areas. A traditional fire ring, grand island bar, or personal pizza oven may be just the place to hold your congregation. Visit Pioneer’s outdoor living kits for more ideas.
LIGHTING TO MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR KITCHEN SPARKLE
If you live in a warm climate or want to enjoy your outdoor kitchen to the fullest during the warmer months of the year, you will probably dine outdoors at night in addition to other times of day. For this purpose, you will need to install durable and beautiful lighting.
Consider installing lighting in the floor, overhead lights hung from a pergola, or wall sconces built into a privacy wall made of pavers.
PIONEER PAVERS ARE DURABLE, CUSTOMIZABLE, AND COST EFFECTIVE
Pioneer Patio Pavers work very well as they are durable, gorgeous, and come in a variety of colors and textures.
Once you have picked your location, measure the area of the space and calculate the square footage. Then, take pictures of the space. Put your ideas for the shape, size, and location of the space to paper through drawings or graphic renderings.
Next, select your flooring. Pioneer offers as wide variety of beautiful pavers in different shapes and finishes, so you can choose pavers that are exactly to your liking.
Install the pavers first, before any other element of your outdoor kitchen. These will serve as the foundation for your outdoor space.
Pioneer also sells outdoor living kits with many features, such as fountains, fire pits, and more to complement your outdoor kitchen.
OUTDOOR KITCHEN APPLIANCES BRINGS GOURMET COOKING OUTDOORS
Your are not limited to just grilling and BBQ in an outdoor kitchen, though both are very popular and delicious! With the correct outdoor kitchen appliances you can cook, bake, grill, saute, and prepare any type of dish you can think of. For example, the outdoor pizza oven sold by Pioneer is great for wood-fired pizza, desserts, and more.
OUTDOOR PAVERS IN ARIZONA AND COLORADO
Designing an outdoor kitchen requires expertise in many areas such as proper layout and knowing what materials will withstand the test of weather and time. Contact your local Pioneer Landscape Centers location to help you create the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.