Few summer pleasures are as much fun as a cookout. The smell of grilling food is mouth-watering, everything tastes great and it’s hard not to have a good time – that is, unless you’re the harried host running back and forth between the grill and the kitchen for the chicken and steak, forks and knives, beer and wine, and ketchup and mustard. And when everybody’s done, all the leftovers must be lugged back inside.
Your solution? An outdoor kitchen! These structures can help you slow down and spend more time with family and friends by putting all the ingredients for outdoor dining close at hand.
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Outdoor kitchens can be as simple as a storage cabinet for cooking gear or as ambitious as a full kitchen with grill, refrigerator, sink and eating area. Either way, your yard will gain an outside “room” that’s a natural gathering spot. Here are the three types of you may consider:
A smart choice for small spaces that multitask—as cookout central one day and a garden hub the next. Start with a portable charcoal or gas grill fitted with heavy cast-iron or stainless-steel grates and an easy-to-clean grease trap. For storage and counter space, add a rolling cart with shelves. To avoid serving burgers tartare, buy a clip-on grill light.
An all-in-one option for folks with more square footage and cash to spend. The basic setup (shown) typically includes a stucco-clad 5-foot island with tile counter, drop-in gas grill, and access doors for a propane tank. Extras, including granite counters, a refrigerator, and LED lighting, are ordered a la carte. DIYers can get cooking with a prefab island on delivery day.
A built-in-place kitchen, whether crafted by a pro or a handy homeowner, offers integrated appliances, storage, and counter space, as well as the most flexibility in terms of matching the kitchen’s materials and style to its surroundings. A larger layout, extensive lighting, in-ground utilities, and a pergola-style roof add convenience but also raise the price.
Some towns don’t require one for prefab grill islands. But to eliminate any guesswork—and ensure that your project won’t trigger a tax hike—opt for a movable kitchen with a rolling grill, a cart, and an outdoor extension cord for electricity.
Electric, water and natural-gas lines usually are brought to the outdoor kitchen from the service in the house. Besides providing power for the kitchen lights and refrigerator, electric outlets should be included in plans for the cooking and dining areas. (Outdoor outlets require ground-fault circuit interrupters.)
Check local codes for regulations on burying electric cable and gas lines. In many areas, the two must be buried in separate trenches, though some areas require only that the two be separated. Ask your building inspector to explain what’s needed.
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Here’s how to ensure your new cook center won’t endanger you—or your home:
Grill: Position it at least 10 feet from combustible materials, such as wood siding, deck rails, and tree branches, and build in storage for a fire extinguisher.
Gas: Check the line for leaks. Mix 1 part dish soap to 2 parts water. Brush the solution on the hose and connector fittings. Turn on the gas, but don’t light the grill. If new bubbles form, you have a leak. Tighten the fittings; if that fails, replace the hose and fittings.
Electric: GFCI outlets are required; it’s also good to put the kitchen on its own circuit, one that’s easily accessible via the control panel in your house. Use only extension cords, fans, and lights that have Underwriters Laboratories (UL) outdoor ratings, because they stand up to UV exposure and extreme temperatures.
Be sure the style you choose will matches your lifestyle and will accommodate everything you want the kitchen to hold (especially the grill!) Here are some typical styles to consider:
A masonry base in the form of mortared brick and stone is classic. To tie it in with the house, choose a material and design, such as this running-bond brick pattern, that echoes your foundation walls or chimney.
The style is characterized by sleek lines and polished finishes, such as granite and stainless steel. Here, ipe boards running in horizontal bands give dimension to the kitchen while also blending it with the wooded backdrop.
Texture and matte finishes impart a lived-in look. Here, stucco on the built-in base is tinted to mimic terra-cotta and to harmonize with the tones of a rough-stone counter. Earthy colors blend with the surrounding plantings.
Related: More Outdoor Kitchen Ideas
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The side of the house can be an ideal location for an outdoor kitchen. There’s no need to excavate trenches for gas and electricity lines, and the house itself provides some shelter for the appliances. And when yard space is at a premium, an open space along the wall of the house might be the only spot available for a permanent kitchen.B
Here are three reasons to build your outdoor kitchen close to your home:
To create a good-looking and efficient kitchen, follow these rules of thumb:
They’re not necessities, but they make cookouts more enjoyable
A cedar or pressure-treated wood pavilion runs $5 to $15 per square foot. A slatted or lattice roof offers ventilation, but for more coverage, top with clear acrylic or galvanized metal.
For a kitchen off the house, a simple-to-retrofit option is an awning, from about $500 for an 8-foot-wide manually operated model.
For a movable kitchen, get a sturdy and versatile cantilever style with fiberglass ribs and a 50-pound base to withstand wind; $200 to $300 for both. For a built-in kitchen, consider adding a hole in the counter through which to slip the umbrella post.
Provide task lighting, such as a clip-on grill light or a standing lamp, for cooking and work areas. Ambient illumination at seating areas, in the form of all-weather string lights or rechargeable LED tea lights, will set the mood. And, for safety, consider spots or solar-powered stakes along paths leading to your open-air kitchen, riser lights for deck stairs, and an overhead lantern where you enter the house.
When temperatures get near freezing, you may need to close up shop for the winter. Here’s how:
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens
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