Custom Outdoor Kitchen: Leave Nothing to Chance

As a person that likes to cook, but also to entertain more than just cook, having an outdoor kitchen was something that I’ve considered for a long time. I was imagining myself flipping burgers to the applause of my friends, or sipping wine while a pizza bakes on hot fire in the oven. Therefore I talked my husband into adding an outdoor kitchen in the backyard. We managed to do all this by building one of our own, since going this route can make for an outdoor cooking area that reflects one’s specific needs better.

How to Build an Outdoor Kitchen

Before we jumped on the bandwagon, I did a bit of research on this topic. Apparently, there are many aspects that need to be taken into consideration when building an outdoor kitchen on your own. First, you have to be aware of how much outdoor space you actually have at your disposal and then start planning the layout of the kitchen. Out in this direction, straight line kitchens are great for those that are tight on space, while U-shaped ones may work better for those who have more outdoor space at their disposal.

Also, there are many materials that can be used for the countertops, cabinets and the floor like brick, concrete, wood and stainless steel. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages that should be evaluated.

Next, in order to make the kitchen functional, you’ll need the right appliances. These need to be placed so that there is no contact between the hot and the cold zones. For instance, avoid placing a grill next to a refrigerator unit. That being said, as you may have already guessed, it turned out that building an outdoor kitchen is more complicated than I thought.

Luckily, there are many manufacturers that can make your dream kitchen become a reality by offering custom outdoor kitchen. This opens the opportunity for a plethora of styles, colours and configurations. These ready to build kitchens sets have everything you might need and are designed for quick and easy do-it-yourself assembly with basic tools. You can choose whether you want your custom outdoor kitchen to have a bar fridge to keep the drinks cold in the hot days, BBQ, sink, or maybe it’s important for you to have lots of storage space where you can keep all the pots and pans, in which case, you’ll need two or more storage units.

Moreover, you can choose between different gas types to fuel your BBQ, like propane or natural gas. Although quite similar, there are some differences between these two. While natural gas is cheaper, propane offers more than twice the energy of the natural gas, so it all comes down to your personal preferences.

By ordering a custom outdoor kitchen, you can still have the kitchen of your dreams that will cater to your needs, except, you’ll save time. When you leave things in the hands of professionals, you’ll also avoid some potential mistakes when designing your kitchen.

How Much Is an Outdoor Kitchen

When planning for an outdoor kitchen, it’s difficult to pinpoint how much exactly it will cost you. This will depend on its size, the materials you choose, the appliances, and of course how extravagant you want it to be. Usually, as is with most things you get what you pay for. The average price ranges somewhere between a few thousand dollars to more than $8000. On the higher end, you can exceed the average and spend over $30000.

I already mentioned that I like to use my outdoor area not just for cooking but also for entertaining. Therefore I also bought a TV (a modest option can cost you from $200 to $800), comfortable outdoor seating chairs that are waterproof, lights (a few candle lanterns combined with downlights) and a canopy to offer some shade – things that add to the initial cost.

Do Outdoor Kitchens Need to Be Covered

On a final note, it’s safe to say that bad weather is one of the worst enemies to outdoor kitchens. That is why many people wonder whether outdoor kitchens need to be covered. I personally believe that you should protect your investment and buy a cover. I have one from polyester fabric with zippers and it does a great job protecting my kitchen from the weather elements and dust when not in use.