Outdoor Kitchen Plans

Outdoor Kitchen Designs

Today the backyard is thought of as an actual extension of the house. It's no longer current to have just a nice gas grill on the deck or patio, today's homeowners have taken it a step farther and are now creating outdoor kitchens. No more running inside and outside carrying food back and forth to the grill. Homeowners are setting up complete kitchens outside.

These outdoor kitchens can be truly extraordinary spaces with high end granite countertops and aluminum appliances. They quickly become the focal point of outdoor design and the favorite gathering place of family and friends. The designs of outdoor kitchens can be anything from simply a barbecue grill and refrigerator to a fully custom built outdoor kitchen complete with cabinets, refrigerator/freezer, full sink, bar sink, a bar counter and a kitchen and grill island. The design of your outdoor kitchen will depend on the size of the area you have to work with and on your cooking and entertaining style.

If it's just the two of you, or if you don't do a lot of entertaining you can have a small outdoor kitchen. Some outdoor kitchens are a simple row of cabinets set against the back of a home. These cabinets can have an undercounter refrigerator and grill built in. For those with large backyards who like to entertain large crowds they'll want a bigger space. Some outdoor kitchens are built as extensions from the back of a home, some are built as free standing buildings, such as pool houses.

Cabinetry used in outdoor kitchen construction should be able to weather the elements. A lot are made from marine-grade polymers. These polymers are guaranteed not to warp, crack, split or deteriorate over time. Some homeowners install gas grills that have side burners. Some install both gas and charcoal grills and separate cook tops.

Building an outdoor kitchen can be done if you are one who is drawn to DIY projects. You can find free outdoor kitchen building plans online. There are many how to sites on the internet where you can learn about design ideas and accessories. Kitchen islands can be custom made or you can use pre- designed islands. Whichever you choose remember that you want your outdoor kitchen to be a minimal distance from your indoor kitchen as whatever is carried outside needs to go back inside. Keeping this in mind some outside kitchens are build right outside of the indoor kitchen, with elements like countertops, cabinets and appliances echoing the indoor kitchen choices.