Don’t Start an Outdoor Kitchen Project Without Reading These Important Tips
Tip 1: Do not go cheap on your built-in grill
If you are planning a built-in grill into your outdoor kitchen, make sure you are getting a grill that will last. Since a quality grill is a high ticket item, it is very tempting to conserve your budget by selecting a bargain grill. Getting a less expensive grill is not a bad idea, but opt for a cart model if you are planning to trim your grill budget. If your cart model grill fails, it is easy to find a replacement. With a built-in grill, you might not be able to get replacement parts if the company changes models, discontinues your grill, alters the chassis, or maybe even goes out of business! If you have built the grill into a custom outdoor kitchen flanked with granite or stone, it will be very expensive to modify your cabinet and countertop if your grill needs replacement. Beware, many of the pretty grills you see in big box retailers simply will not last more than a few years. These grills are usually priced accordingly, so there is nothing wrong with buying one, just do not build it into a structure. Researching a good grill is not difficult. Look for reviews on the internet, ask several different outdoor kitchen companies for recommendations, or better yet ask family and friends for their experience with different brands of grills. You will soon discover that some brands you have never heard of often make the best built in grills, while some very poor quality grills carry familiar name brands.
Tip 2: Separate your seating from your grill area
Here is an insider tip. Most outdoor kitchen companies make a majority of their money on grills and other appliances. While there is nothing wrong with a company earning a profit for their product, the natural byproduct of this fact is that outdoor living areas often feature outdoor kitchens that wind up looking like a shrine to a grill. It is true that food is often the center of a backyard party, the actual cooking appliance should not be the center of attention. It is hard to resist the urge to showcase your expensive grill, but ask yourself how many times guests form a semi circle around your oven or stove inside your house. Friends congregate around comfortable seating, around the television, or around where the food and drink are served, not usually where the food is being cooked. If you look at pictures of many barbecue grill islands, you will often see bar seating directly behind the grill. That is the worst seat in the house. Most grills are designed to vent heat and smoke out the back of the grill, exactly where some designers like to build a bar! Consider building your grilling area away from the main “hang out” area. Also, you may not even like grilling. There is no rule that your outdoor living space even has to include a grill!
Tip 3: Shade, shade, and more shade
If it is hot, your guests simply will not want to stay where there is no shade. This does not mean you have to kill your budget with an expensive gazebo. You can get a lot of shade from inexpensive patio umbrellas available at home improvement centers. Plus, umbrellas can usually be repositioned if the sun moves. Plan your seating around existing trees, or plant new trees to cover seating areas that get afternoon sun.
Tip 4: Create sound, movement, and visual interest
Incorporating lighting, water features, fire pits, and music will make your outdoor living area more inviting, particularly for evening events. If you host a party at night, nobody will want to sit around in the quiet dark of night. Guests will feel more comfortable enjoying the sight of lights, the sound of water moving with great music playing in the background. Some creativity in your planning will go a long way without costing you much money. Tiki torches are available for less than $15. Inexpensive portable speakers plugged into your mp3 player can bring the music outdoors. Do it yourself landscape lighting packages easily accent your landscaping and create pleasant ambient light. Even the dancing flames of strategically placed candles can help create the perfect atmosphere without breaking the bank. Whatever you select, do not expect your guests to enjoy a featureless area listening to the crickets chirping.
Tip 5: Consider maintenance
If you watch many of the popular home makeover shows, you have probably seen the team of designers swoop in and transform an ordinary backyard into something suited for the cover of a magazine. Do not get fooled by the wow factor alone. A brand new outdoor living area that looks great for the photo shoot may not hold up to the outdoor elements. On these makeover shows, you will often see an array of dr
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