We’ll tell you most important (the grill), what you can’t skimp on (counter space), and how you can add strategic upgrades that best fit your style (outdoor refrigerators, anyone?).
The best part about living in California is the great outdoors. Californians can be found biking, swimming, skiing, surfing, hiking, and grilling, of course. Our beautiful weather makes grilling a year round activity. With all the great options for outdoor dining, seating, and cooking, why go inside at all?
The Grill, and/or Pizza Oven?!?
The grill is the most important part of an outdoor kitchen. This can be a built in or a stand-alone. You can go basic with a simple charcoal grill or sleek with a built-in. We love the Kalamazoo hybrid grill because it gives you the option of using gas, charcoal, or wood or all three together. Pizza ovens are also a popular option. There is nothing like fire to bring ambiance to an outdoor space. Whether you choose a built in pizza oven or countertop option like the Kalamazoo Gas Fired Pizza Oven(L2), you will use your pizza oven all the time and for more then just pizza.
Counter Space
Plan on at least 12 inches of counter space on either side of the grill and preferably 24 or more on one side. Prep areas are often forgotten or underestimated, but you need somewhere to set your platters of uncooked food, cooked food, marinade, etc. Why go inside to chop and prep when you can stay outside where the action is? Anything that that you have inside the house can be fabricated outside from water resistant materials: cabinets, drawers, countertops, etc. Stainless steel and natural stones like.
The Extras – Sinks and Refrigerators
If you have a garden, a sink will help you use more of your fresh fruits and vegetables without ever entering the house. The sink can either be contacted to the home’s water supply or fed from a hose. Refrigerators are perfect for storing cold drinks, dips, condiments, marinades and ice.
Don’t Forget! Lighting and Shade
Lighting and shade are often after thoughts, but they make the outdoor kitchen a comfortable area. You can’t grill if you can’t see and no one wants to stand in the burning sun. A simple solution would be a clip on light and umbrella or you can have a more elaborate built in pergola with lighting.
What brings it all together?
We have plenty of experience putting outdoor kitchens together. With many professional kitchen plans to choose from, we can help you customize your outdoor space.
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