That’s why barbecues are so popular. There’s something the very spiritual act of communing with nature when getting the flavors of something that calls to our inner selves. This has spawned a few people to create their own custom outdoor kitchens, mostly located on their decks but sometimes nearer to their garden in the yard.
Building a high end outdoor kitchen is probably much simpler than you think if you have the time, money and are handy. However, if you aren’t handy and busy, tackling this on your own is intimidating.
If you have the ambition to try it yourself, remember the easiest way to start or decide on the best design that fits your needs: What you need to do is decide on where you build it, how you’re going to power it and if you have any specific types of cooking or uses for certain recipes; then everything else is easy.
Custom Outdoor Kitchen Ideas
1. All-in-One Grilling Station
If you want everything on one straight island, this All-in-One built in grill station is for you. Any outdoor kitchen must have this feature. Instead, think about a stainless steel grill of the highest quality that comes with multiple side burners so you can be simmering sauces as you grill.
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Go for a grill with rotisserie and an integrated temperature thermometer for cooking variety on top. You may also choose charcoal or gas grill depending on your taste.
2. Custom Grill Island with Pizza Oven
A wood fired pizza oven adds a lot of glamor to any outdoor kitchen. You can take advantage of your great outdoors and bake pizza, bread and other baked food outside. Select an oven with a large cooking surface, constructed from high quality material including an integrated thermometer for optimum versatility.
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If you’re having a craving for fresh pizza, bacon, eggs or hamburger, this machine can do it all for you! This island also stores, the garbage pull out, as well as a pantry. But, it also leaves plenty of counter space leftover for food prep.
3. Custom Outdoor Kitchen Sink
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Another useful addition to any outdoor kitchen would be an outdoor sink. And, you can easily use it for rinsing fruits and vegetables, washing the dishes and cleaning after cooking. A stainless steel sink, with built in drain and faucet is the easiest to clean. It can be a single or double sink single.
4. Outdoor Kitchen with a Refrigerator
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A built-in will keep your food and drinks nice and cool and close to reach. For a smaller outdoor kitchen, consider an under the counter refrigerator or a mini refrigerator, while a full size refrigerator will be snug in a roomier area. Opt for a refrigerator with built in freezer and with weather resistant finish.
5. Outdoor Bar
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An outdoor bar is the area for your guest to have some time to wind down and drink while you work on the food. For more convenience, you can even install a built in sink, wine cooler and ice maker. You can choose depending on the specifications, if you prefer a bar combined with a few chairs, or a standalone bar.
6. Outdoor Fireplaces
Including a fireplace will simply make your outdoor kitchen feel cosier, and more welcoming. This is an intimate setting, great for having get togethers. There are a few things to consider when choosing an outdoor fireplace, such as what type of fuel you want to use, because while one fuel type may make more sense for your landscape, another one may be more expensive or difficult to find that area.
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Having a wood burning fireplace in the kitchen brings a rustic and authentic to it. A gas fireplace, however, is convenient and easy to use. Besides, it would be wise to install a gas or wood-burning fireplace with a chimney through which the toxic fumes will flow.
7. Outdoor Speakers for Entertainment
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It’s no secret that adding a stereo to an outdoor kitchen is generally not a bad idea. One of the best ways to fill out time during the food process in the kitchen while for yourself and your visitors. Outdoor speakers that are Bluetooth enabled make the perfect choice because they are easy to connect your phone or other such devices to. If possible, you want speakers capable of surviving weather.
8. Custom Outdoor Kitchen with Built-in Seating
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One great way to include built-in seating in your outdoor kitchen is to make the most of the space by using it as a warm and welcoming place for guests. If you have an outdoor living area, bar, or fireplace add a built in bench for people to sit on. For aesthetics and comfort, you can customize the seating area with pillows, cushions, and other decorative touches.
Things To Consider Before Building a Custom Outdoor Kitchen
While building a custom outdoor kitchen may seem liberating, it requires tremendously careful planning and consideration of many factors. Thinking through these key factors will help you create an outdoor living space that is beautiful, functional and durable and will stand the test of time. Here are a few things you should consider out before beginning your project.
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1. Size and Layout of Your Outdoor Space
Before installing an outdoor kitchen, consider size and configuration of outdoor area. This will give you a good idea of the size and scale of your kitchen and where to put appliances and also other elements. Furthermore, when calculating your outdoor area measurement, think about how you want to use the space (dining, cooking, and entertaining).
2. Functionality and Design of Your Kitchen
Before building custom outdoor kitchens, you need to think about the functionality before going straight to the kitchen. Consider things such as the functionality, design concept, use of appliances, the look of the cabinets and countertop and the general design and the look. Think about how you want to utilize your outdoor kitchens and which appliances you really can’t live without — say, a fridge, built in grill, sink, or storage. Also consider the traffic flow through the outdoor space and how you will access your family members and outdoor kitchen guests.
3. Location to Build an Outdoor Kitchen
The obvious consideration is where to actually build it. To build it on a deck would be the best place to do it, because then the kitchen will be easy to clean, but make sure you put in several maps or something so it doesn’t get too slick, and you’ll also want to spray under the deck from time to time so the bugs won’t come around.
You can also build in your backyard but just be aware you will need to put a cement floor. The cement floor is easier to clean, and it’ll make the posts for the roof easier and much sturdier to add.
4. Materials and Finishes
When building your outdoor kitchen, the materials and finishes you choose matter most for both looks and durability. Select weather proofing materials for the cabinets and countertops like steel, concrete and stone etc. Pick finishes that are easy to maintain and clean too, besides that. Additionally, let’s talk about the color and texture of the materials to ensure that they work well with the appearance of your outdoor living area and house.
5. Utilities and Infrastructure
Installing utilities and infrastructure (gas and water) is essential to your outdoor kitchen performing at its best and to ensuring safety. Be sure to consult a licensed professional for installing and verifying that your utilities are installed to the code. Make sure your premium appliances can tap into basic utility sources such as water and drainage lines for your sink and gas lines for your grill.
6. How to Safely Run Electricity
If you are building a high end outdoor kitchen, you will need to power the equipment. First way, the obvious, is using a series of extension cords; it’s easy but could get dangerous. It would be installed with some wiring, wiring that would go under the deck and tie into your house. It’s not possible without the actual electrician, but it would prevent any problems. If you use a cement floor, you can build the outlets into the floor and save yourself a little possibility for issues.
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You don’t need to run the power of the main house, you can use solar to run the outdoor kitchen, or an actual generator. Planning needs to consider these options seriously because both must be allowed for in the plans: for example, generators need to be insulated against sound, as well as allowing for their fuel supply.
7. Weather Conditions
When you design and build your dream outdoor kitchen you should consider the weather conditions at your location. If you live in a harsh weather area, your outdoor kitchens should be built to withstand the elements. If you live in a rainy area, say, you’ll want to make sure that your outdoor kitchen has adequate drainage and that it’s waterproofed. If you live in a hot climate make sure to create a shade structure or covering to help shade yourself and your guests from the sun.
8. Budget
There’s a lot that goes into building a custom outdoor kitchen project, and as you’ve probably figured out – most of the time, it’s costly. Set a limit to your spending, and decide what is the priority you spend on. If your budget doesn’t allow you to build the whole thing at once, consider building your outdoor kitchen in phases — starting with essential features and adding any features you can afford later on.
How Do You Plan to Use Your Outdoor Kitchen?
What you will be cooking is something you should allow for. Obviously barbecue is, if you manage to fully gear the kitchen for a barbecue, which runs the gauntlet from the tools and materials needed to cook, to space for the ingredients. A grill is easy enough to power and if you remember to make it large enough it can manage lots of stuff and pots at once. You can even set up a fire pit, although it’s recommended to have it on the edge of the area, it is a great place to cook spit roasted food, hot dogs and marshmallows.
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When it comes down to it, building a high end outdoor kitchen can be a ton of fun and leave you with many options. Having a nice wide variety of shelving for whatever ingredients and tools you’ll have, a decent cutting area with extra work surface to make most of your time outside, or even a decent cooler or refrigerator for items that need to be kept cool like meat or alcohol. The bottom line is that you can have some fun making it; then you’ll have plenty of use for it for years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Outdoor Kitchens
1. Is It Worth It to Build an Outdoor Kitchen?
The decision to build an outdoor kitchen depends on individual needs and preferences. Before building an outdoor kitchen space, keep this in mind.
Do you enjoy cooking and entertaining outdoors? If you’re an outdoor fun lover and enjoy hosting barbecues and outdoor parties, then having an outdoor kitchen is a good investment to make.
Think about the climate conditions in which you live. In a colder climate or shorter outdoor season, the outdoor kitchen won’t be worthwhile, while someone in a place where the outdoors is basically a year round affair, it’s definitely worth it. You should also think about whether or not you are ready to put the time and effort into keeping your outdoor kitchen.
2. How Much Does It Cost to Build a Custom Outdoor Kitchen?
A custom grill island with a pizza oven.
The price of building a custom grill island with a pizza oven depends on the size of the island, the materials used, the site, the complexity of the design and local labor prices.
A simple grill island with a pizza oven will set you back as little as $8,000 all the way up to $15,000. That would include high quality built in grills, countertops, pizza oven and storage space. By contrast, constructing a custom grill island with a pizza oven can be as much as $20,000 or more, if you are looking at a larger, more intricate design.
3. Can I Build My Own Outdoor Kitchen?
You can build an outdoor kitchen if you’re good with tools. Building an outdoor kitchen requires the know how to build, the knowledge to run plumbing and wiring. An outdoor kitchen might be a project that is rewarding and cost effective if you have prior experience in do it yourself projects and home renovations.
While building a custom outdoor kitchen can be a lot of fun, it certainly isn’t easy or fast work. If you are not confident in your experience to accomplish the project or you don’t have the right skills we suggest you to hire a professional contractor who will ensure that project would be done right and safely.
4. Is It Cheaper to Build My Own Outdoor Kitchen?
Whether you’re custom building an outdoor kitchen or some of the components, the DIY route will help you save money. If you are experienced with construction, plumbing and electric you can save money by building your outdoor kitchen yourself. Doing it yourself is also a double bonus as you save money on labor and supplies.
While hiring an expert contractor can guarantee that your custom outdoor kitchen is installed correctly and in adherence with regulations. Contractors are more than simply fixing problems that pop up when building—advise on how a project should bead and the materials used, for example. While it might cost more upfront to hire a contractor, they are well worth the money as they save you precious time, providing you with peace of mind.
