Title: Designing an outdoor kitchen
The hottest trend in gardening and home décor is the outdoor kitchen. While the outdoor kitchen was once limited to only warmer climates homeowners across the country are taking the plunge and adding outdoor kitchens that they can use no matter what the weather is. While a seasonal outdoor kitchen requires some more in-depth planning (for heating and weather issues) real estate agents across the country report that buyers are looking for that outdoor entertaining space and having an outdoor kitchen is all the more desirable. So if you are just dreaming of an outdoor kitchen or are in the planning stages here is what you need to consider when designing an outdoor kitchen-
|
|
- Consider how you entertain-Do you like to have small, intimate dinner parties outside or do you prefer having the whole gang (and more) over for a barbeque? It is important to be realistic about how you really entertain because it will in large part determine what you put in your outdoor kitchen. If you mostly like to grill for family and few friends then a medium sized grill will do most of the time. For the larger parties you can rent or borrow additional grills to accommodate a larger crowd. Use this same reasoning to determine how much seating you need on a typical basis, covering from the weather (either hot or cold) and what other features you want to put into your outdoor kitchen.
- Consider how far away your outdoor kitchen will be from your indoor kitchen-Most homeowners who put in an outdoor kitchen find that they often spend more time cooking outdoors rather then in. So if your indoor kitchen is not located close by or with easy access to your outdoor kitchen you will want to have plenty of space available for the things you will need to cook with. Cabinets for dishes, cooking pans and utensils prevent the cook (and his helpers) from having to run indoors constantly for one more thing. In addition an outdoor refrigerator will allow you to store sauces and other condiments you want to use while cooking as well as being a beverage chiller.
- Consider putting in a sink or not-It is important to keep in mind that while having a sink outdoors can be a real benefit the plumbing will be one of your biggest costs. Your plumber will need to attach to the plumbing on your house which can be costly. However once again if your outdoor kitchen is going to be located at a distance from your indoor kitchen you may feel that this is must have.
- Consider your budget-Simple outdoor kitchens (built in grills etc) can begin for as little as a couple of thousand dollars and shoot up dramatically from there depending on the extras you want to include. Refrigerators, warming drawers and even outdoor dishwashers are all extras that can be added to your outdoor kitchen and added to the price. Additional storage cabinets and expensive finishes will also add to the final price of your outdoor kitchen. While no one argues that an outdoor kitchen is not a luxury be sure that you only include the features that you can really afford.
- Consider what protection you will need-If you live in a year round sunny climate you may not feel that you need a pergola or covering over your outdoor kitchen but keep in mind that the grill is extra hot when temperatures are climbing. If your outdoor kitchen will only be used seasonally you will need to consult with someone in your area that is familiar with your weather and can help you determine what type of covering will be needed for your outdoor kitchen when it is not in use.
- Consider the resale-Even if you think that you will be in your house forever it can be vitally important to do some research about how well homes with outdoor kitchens sell in your area. You should also keep in mind that even if you are putting in an outdoor kitchen just for you, you may not get back all of your money should you have to sell your home. Check with a local real estate agent for details pertaining to your area.
