As kitchens are the heart of the home, and the pandemic created a huge increase in outdoor living, it’s no surprise that outdoor kitchens remain one of the top design trends. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, outdoor kitchens will be the prominent design feature in the next three years.
Local experts provide some insight into design and functionality of outdoor kitchens.
What’s important in the design of a kitchen?
Pedro Lima, ASID, WRID, NCIDQ, President of the Wisconsin Chapter of American Society of Interior Designers: The design elements of an outdoor kitchen — cooking, refrigeration, plumbing, counter space — shouldn’t intervene with the rest of your patio. Knowing how you’ll use the space will help you plan the layout and choose the best appliances to fit.
Design your outdoor kitchen with existing materials on your home, such as brick, stucco or stone to integrate the indoors with the outdoors.
A well-lit outdoor kitchen is crucial for outdoor entertaining. Look for stylish lights that are conversation starters but are damp-rated, meaning that they can withstand the elements.
Consider storage for furniture and accent cushions and pillows to prevent mold from excess moisture.
What do homeowners need to know about adding an outdoor kitchen in a cold weather climate?
(Tom Ball, President, Ground Affects Landscaping): Homeowners should be aware that it takes quite a bit of preparation and construction for an outdoor kitchen. Proper planning is crucial, and the area would need to be set on concrete footings to prevent settling — frost going in and out of the ground from late fall through early spring can cause issues. Cost can add up quickly, but we can work with almost any budget. Also, there are many options that the structures can be constructed from; we typically will always use some type of decorative block to build them.
What’s trending in appliances?
(Tom Ball, President, Ground Affects Landscaping): Outdoor griddles have become a popular request.
What are the best materials to use for countertops?
(Tom Ball, President, Ground Affects Landscaping): We feel granite is the best countertop for an outdoor kitchen. It’s easy to clean, will hold up to any weather, and has many color options available to complement many brick/block materials. Other natural stone can be used as well, but would need to be sealed to prevent staining from spills. There are concrete brick tops with a full-nose edge that can be installed as well. MKE