Do you dream of having an outdoor kitchen?
The recent popularity of outdoor kitchens is expected to continue being a hot trend. Not only are the warmer southern climates featuring a rise in outdoor kitchen growth, but the colder northern climates are too. They offer a good return on investment (ROI) should you decide to sell your home and they also provide you with an enjoyable and functional outdoor living space.
When it comes to creating your outdoor kitchen, the possibilities are endless! It can be large or small…from a simple “portable” or modular unit, i.e., a grill with countertop space on either side to a grand custom-designed, fully functional outdoor kitchen/living space complete with grill(s), refrigerators, freezers, sinks, counters, and lots and lots of storage space. They can be designed near pools, on patios, within gardens, or almost anywhere that you desire to have an enjoyable outdoor living space.
As you can see, while they may seem like a luxury, there really are no set rules for defining a space as an outdoor kitchen. With a little imagination and helpful resources and design guidelines such as this, you will find that no matter what type you may fancy, it is sure to become a central location for your family and your friends to gather while enjoying the great outdoors.
Following is a short and fun questionnaire to help you begin determining your outdoor kitchen design goals. The answers to these questions will help provide you with a brief introduction to outdoor kitchen options customized to your desires and requirements. Have fun and remember there are no right or wrong answers!
To complete the questionnaire, read the following five questions and choose the one option which most closely describes your outdoor living space and its overall function and purpose:
1. Where are you located?
a. In a very cold climate with long, harsh winters and fairly mild summers (such as Alaska, and upper North American states, etc.)
b. In a moderate climate with average rainfall and warm sunny days, and occasional or limited snowfall (such as mid-Atlantic areas, etc)
c. In a warm, mostly sunny and dry southern climate (note: little rainfall, low humidity, temperate climate throughout the year – such as Arizona, etc)
d. In a tropical, hot and humid southern climate (note: tropical storms or heavy rainfall, high humidity and temperature are common – such as coastal areas, South Florida, etc)
2. Generally, which best describes how you plan on using your outdoor kitchen?
a. Informally – mainly for small gatherings of family and friends (approximately 5-10 people).
b. Special Occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, etc. (up to 25 people).
c. Extra Large Gatherings – family reunions, large parties, etc (more than 25 people).
d. All of the above
3. How often do you plan on using your outdoor kitchen?
a. Only for special occasions or gatherings, i.e., a few times per year.
b. Several times a month.
c. One or two times a week.
d. All the time (three or more times a week).
4. How much outdoor space do you have available for your outdoor kitchen?
a. Very little space to accommodate much more than a grill with some limited counter space and possibly some seating.
b. A moderate amount – my ideal outdoor kitchen could contain a grill, a sink, some storage cabinets, counter space, and a small seating area.
c. A large amount – I can accommodate a grill, a sink, storage and prep areas, counter space, a larger seating area for a larger number of guests, and any other additional items I might wish to have such as a refrigerator, waste receptacle, pizza oven, etc.
d. The sky’s the limit – whatever I can dream I can accommodate!
