Are you looking forward to the days of having friends over and enjoying a meal together in your backyard? Or trying out some new recipes on your BBQ or in your pizza oven? With the summer coming, we’re going to be spending more time outside and less time isolated in the house. Is your yard and patio summer ready?
Spring is a perfect time to begin upgrading your outdoor kitchen and patio. A well-designed outdoor kitchen will become the focal point for your family’s outdoor activities. It not only extends your indoor and outdoor living space, but also helps decrease your summer energy bill!
Ready to make your patio more functional? A Rock Solid expert will listen to your vision and analyze your property before developing a plan that will turn your dreams into reality. Currently, we’re staying committed to your safety, so, the initial steps of this process will be done over the phone.
Tips To Consider When Designing The Perfect Outdoor Kitchen
Ultimately, your outdoor kitchen design will center around your cooking needs, budget and available space. In our experience, there are three main tips to consider when designing your space.
Tip 1: Determine your functionality — what is your dream or vision for the space?
If you look online at all the various options and styles of outdoor kitchens available, it can be overwhelming. So, your starting point is to determine what’s your main function for this space. This will help you figure out what is essential for your kitchen and what is a bonus feature.
Here are few questions to ask yourself to help narrow down your vision:
- What is your ideal mood? Entertaining with drinks at your bar or a relaxing, cozy dining experience?
- Do you want a fully functional kitchen with a fridge and outdoor stove or a simple grill and countertop?
- What is your cooking style? Do you prefer hamburgers, fire-roasted pizza or smoked ribs?
- Do you want your patio covered for use in all weather or some shade?
- What access do you need to your yard?
- What will be the focal point — a table setting or relaxed seating around a firepit?
Tip 2: Identify the correct amount of space in your ideal location
Location, Location, Location! You’ve probably heard this saying with regards to selling and buy real estate, but the same can be said for your outdoor kitchen. Preferably, build your patio west or south facing for the best sun exposure, but other factors to consider are distance from your house and access to electricity or gas line.
“Also, consider the size of your space. Building a patio that is too small is the number one design flaw that we come across,” says Jeff, Rock Solid’s Landscape Manager.
The dimensions and possible configurations of your outdoor furniture, bar, or fireplace should be taken into consideration during your planning. Think about your indoor kitchen space and size. Do you wish it was bigger? Don’t make the same mistake when planning your outdoor kitchen.
Often the space is built too small for budget reasons. If budget is a factor, we suggest developing a master plan and building in stages. Laying the proper groundwork for your outdoor kitchen makes the overall design more affordable in the long run.
Tip 3: Landscape Lighting!
You won’t be able to enjoy your space without the right lighting! The ideal landscape lighting also sets the right mood for your outdoor kitchen.
In order to enjoy your space in the evening, consider adding LED track lighting on your countertops or a bright task lights above your grill. Pendant lighting above a bar adds a finished look to your design. If your patio is built away from your home, use path lights to outline your walkways. Finally, to make your landscape design standout, use directional lights to highlight a tree or shrub.
Rock Solid’s five step design process will make your dream outdoor kitchen a reality. Schedule a chat with a Rock Solid specialist to start developing the right plan for your outdoor space.
