Outdoor kitchens are about far more than cooking outside. Just like a covered patio or a pool, an outdoor kitchen deepens your home’s connection to the outside. But unlike those backyard spaces, outdoor kitchens are far more versatile, especially for entertaining guests.
How much more versatile? Here are five ways an outdoor kitchen creates unique, memorable experiences to share with your family and friends, year after year.
Grilling out can feel like a fragmented experience as guests spill in and out of the house eating, socializing, and switching activities. But outdoor kitchens turn cooking, dining, and lounging into a singular experience by bringing everyone together in one place.
For instance, hang TVs so guests have entertainment while you work the grill. Likewise, a bar with refrigerated drawers and a wine cooler means no one has to traipse back inside for a drink (nor run up your AC bill by continually going in and out).
When the dining is done, your friends and family continue enjoying the same space, especially if you anchor the dining area with a fire pit, outdoor fireplace, or pergola strung with lights.
The more you customize your outdoor kitchen to the uniqueness of your landscape, the more magnetic of a space it becomes.
Have a rustic backyard with trees and knolls? Make your outdoor kitchen feel like an organic part of the landscape by laying it out along the base of a small hill or ridge. Use stonework to define the space and accent your appliances. Let the trees form a natural open-air roof that lets the sun and stars filter through. You could even plant a small garden to pick fresh produce and herbs.
Alternatively, maybe you’d like an outdoor kitchen that feels like an extension of your pool. In that case, go for a more coastal design. Mix elements such as shiplap siding, large patio umbrellas, and ceiling fans to create a resort-like ambiance.
For many homeowners, an outdoor kitchen offers the grilling experience of their dreams. Design the space to support the way you grill. Plan out counter space for preparing, resting, and serving food. Put a fridge just below the counter so you have everything you need, right when you need it.
But grilling is just the beginning. Built-in smokers are also popular in outdoor kitchens, as are wood-fired pizza ovens and even rotisserie racks. And with the addition of a range hood, no heat or smoke will bother you or your guests.
Not only does an outdoor kitchen make preparing, grilling, and serving food easier, but it also streamlines cleanup, saving you the fuss of carrying dishes inside and out.
For example, with a built-in sink and dishwasher, you can immediately transition to cleaning dishes and utensils. It gets even easier if you have dedicated dining ware stocked and ready to go in your outdoor kitchen’s cabinets.
And don’t forget a built-in trash bin. It’s more sanitary and discreet than a freestanding bin.
For especially big gatherings, an outdoor kitchen creates even more space for entertaining. Even if you don’t fire up the grill, guests can still use your outdoor kitchen to have a drink, maybe sit by the fire, and enjoy relaxing conversation.
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 32 markets in 14 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 19,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends. Stop in today, be inspired and receive your no obligation price quote.