Superior exteriors
Outdoor kitchens have evolved into much more than a grill and a sink
An outdoor kitchen can become the social hub of a home, much as indoor kitchens are favorite gathering places for family and friends.
“It’s a hot item,” said Scott Redmon, owner of Alfresco Living in Maitland, Fla. “And the outdoor kitchen is becoming a lot more than a grill and a sink in the corner of the porch. It’s a whole entertainment system.
“People have a higher expectation for their exterior spaces since HGTV came around.”
Outdoor kitchens are popular because they are fun to live with, says Russ Faulk, vice-president of product development at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet in Kalamazoo, Mich.
“Preparing a meal outdoors is not a chore, it’s an occasion, a reason to have friends over and enjoy the process,” he says.
In addition, an outdoor kitchen expands a home’s living space and adds to its value, Faulk says: “The return on your investment is comparable to an indoor kitchen redo.”
Since the economic downturn, “people have been unable to sell their homes, so they are starting to upgrade with better landscaping and outdoor kitchens, spending more time at home,” says Sue Fern, manager of the Florida chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
The built-in grill was the start of the outdoor-kitchen trend, says Faulk.
“Then came the sink, the refrigerator, a counter for food prep, cabinets for storage – pretty much what you’d have in an indoor kitchen,” he says.
As more equipment is added, outdoor “rooms” are becoming larger and more covered, Faulk says. Seating areas are added, along with outdoor TV sets, fire pits and water features.
The grill – fired by gas, wood or charcoal – is still the heart of the outdoor kitchen. Especially popular are hybrid grills, which can be switched from gas to wood or charcoal, depending on what is being cooked.
“There’s nothing like grilling fish over an oak fire,” Faulk says.
Pizza ovens are starting to threaten the grill’s reign as king of the outdoor kitchen. Oven designs range from large, wood-fired brick and clay ovens that take several hours to heat up, to compact countertop models fired by gas that are ready for baking pizzas in 20 minutes.
Also gaining popularity in outdoor kitchens are keg-tappers, wine chillers, ice makers and warming cabinets.
When designing an outdoor kitchen, be sure to look for low-maintenance equipment, Faulk says, “or you defeat the purpose of carefree outdoor cooking.”
Also, make sure any cabinetry is designed to keep the contents clean and dry in inclement weather; install good task and ambient lighting; and choose countertop material that is stain- and grease-resistant and stays cool in direct sunlight.
“Get countertop samples, leave them in the sun and see how hot they get,” Faulk advises. “Heat retention is not always related to color. Some light colors get hotter than some dark colors.
“Design the outdoor kitchen against the house to reduce the cost of getting utilities to the space,” he adds. “And buy the best grill you can afford.”
When designing an outdoor kitchen, “consider how the space will be used: as a personal refuge or a place to entertain and be social; as a place to cook and eat, or to drink and socialize,” says Eduardo Xol, exterior designer on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and celebrity designer for hayneedle.com.
And remember, he says, “Indoor-outdoor living helps balance the soul. It keeps you connected with nature and helps you become more aware of living green.”