Trends in kitchen design – both indoor and outdoor – are always changing. These days, homeowners interested in creating an outdoor kitchen hope to combine outside convenience with all of the classic kitchen requirements (space for food prep, cooking, storage, serving, and dining). They also seek a stylish design that fits the décor of their home and melds well with their outdoor landscaping. Luckily, as new appliances, storage units, and designs become available, the options are virtually unlimited
Designers interviewed by
K+BB Online note that the demand for outdoor kitchens is likely to continue, and possibly increase, as 2011 progresses. Homeowners install outdoor kitchens for a variety of reasons. Some hope to increase the value of their home. But many homeowners who plan to stay where they are have been inspired by the trend toward doing more home cooking, or by popular new cooking shows. Many men, especially, enjoy the tradition of grilling outdoors, and one sure way to thrill the family grill master is to create a space where family and friends can dine outdoors.
If you plan on creating an outdoor kitchen, some pros suggest that your landscape architect and kitchen designer work together to design the space. You want the built design to flow seamlessly, if possible, into natural areas. Today’s outdoor kitchen is, of course, much more than a grill and a picnic table. So it will benefit both you and any designers involved to be aware of the many options available for cooking appliances, outdoor dining furniture, cabinetry, lighting, and entertainment products, and how they can merge physically and visually with the landscape that surrounds them.
When it comes to the “must-have” outdoor kitchen items of 2011, some pros predict that a pizza oven (like this Wood-fired Pizza & Smoker Double Oven w/Storage Cart from Sole Gourmet) will be high on the list. Another must-have is a heat source that will extend the outdoor cooking season, such as the infrared outdoor patio heater offered by Lynx. Why go to all of that trouble to create a beautiful outdoor kitchen, after all, if you can only use it for a few months of the year?
The centerpiece of the outdoor kitchen is usually the grill, so both homeowners and designers should be aware of the numerous types of grills available. One of the premium gas grills offered by Viking is an excellent possibility, and there are a number of other strong choices. The professional designers in our showrooms will be happy to discuss available grills when you stop by for a visit.
KitchenKool.com predicts that more outdoor kitchens will be built in a sheltered space, not only to increase their accessibility in less-than-perfect weather, but also to shield users from the hot sun during the summer months. But even with a sheltering roof or awning, it’s important that outdoor appliances, furnishings, and storage areas are able to stand up to a variety of weather conditions. We will be happy to discuss the best materials for a variety of weather conditions with you.
What about specific outdoor kitchen designs? Are there any that are particularly hot this year? AK Complete Home Renovations of Atlanta notes that a very popular design uses modular cabinets inside a three-sided stone surround. The blog at GraniteTransformations.com, meanwhile, offers some fun photos of creative and appealing designs, including a wooded sit-down-and-dine outdoor space reminiscent of a log cabin, a festive Tiki-hut style grill with a bar seating area, and a more classic stone island with grill, storage, and seating built closer to the home, on a tiled patio.
No matter what stage you’re at in the process of planning of your outdoor kitchen, visit the showrooms at Atherton Appliance & Kitchens and BSC Culinary so we can offer professional advice and a wide range of choices for your space. We look forward to working with you!
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