For many people, the vision of a dream home involves a stunning exterior space with an outdoor kitchen and plenty of room to entertain or just relax and unwind. In this vision, a built-in grill is an especially popular choice for outdoor cooking.
As a home renovation project, constructing an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill might seem relatively basic or cut-and-dried. But there are several factors that homeowners and even some contractors often fail to think about when designing exterior spaces.
In this post, I’ll cover four frequently overlooked considerations that can help you create the most impactful and meaningful outdoor kitchen for your home.
Your Outdoor Kitchen Can Be Fully Enclosed
“Outdoor kitchen” doesn’t have to be 100% literal. Instead, the term can refer to any cooking space that is separate from your main kitchen and has a direct connection to the exterior of your home (most often the backyard). In this way, it’s possible for an “outdoor kitchen” to be partially or fully enclosed.
In general, there are three categories of outdoor kitchens:
- Fully outdoors and exposed to the elements. This type of outdoor kitchen is often built into an outdoor patio or courtyard or as part of a deck.
- Partially covered. This approach adds an overhang or other covering that offers shade and protection from the rain.
- Fully enclosed. This type of outdoor kitchen is built into a three- or four-season sunroom that is enclosed, temperature-controlled, and protected from wind and rain. In most cases, the windows and doors can open wide, making this a versatile indoor-outdoor space.
As an example, in this project, we built a three-season room featuring an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill as the centerpiece. The room includes a dining area and different seating options while letting in abundant natural light. It offers direct access to the house’s interior and to the backyard.
Because the room is fully protected from the elements, it prevents nasty weather from getting in the way of actually using the space. In the Ithaca area and the rest of upstate New York, this can dramatically increase the practicality and overall value of an outdoor kitchen.
Access to Your Main Kitchen Is Important
When designing your outdoor kitchen, you want to think about how easily you can access your main kitchen.
In most cases, your outdoor cooking area will be more compact than your main kitchen, which means less space for a big refrigerator or sink. But even if you have the space to build a huge outdoor kitchen, you’ll still likely find yourself making trips to your primary kitchen, whether to get condiments or take in dishes that need to be washed.
The goal should be to minimize the distance between your main kitchen and your outdoor kitchen. This makes outdoor cooking more convenient and reduces the risk of spills or stains in other rooms in your home.
You Still Want a Range Hood
Too many people overlook ventilation when planning an outdoor cooking space. A range hood is an absolute necessity if you have an enclosed outdoor kitchen, but it can be beneficial for a grill, flattop griddle, or any other cooking surface.
Having a range hood prevents steam and smoke from concentrating around your cooking space or bothering any guests nearby. It also helps keep the wind from drawing smoke into your house.
Gas Grills Offer Optimal Convenience
Firing up the briquettes for a charcoal grill has a certain cultural lore, evoking the traditional idea of the American outdoor grill party. But for the majority of outdoor kitchens, a gas grill is the better choice.
There’s a reason that gas grills are the best-selling models in the U.S. today. They offer incredible convenience, and they are easy to clean and maintain, enhancing their durability and longevity. With a gas grill, it’s easier to get the grill going, making it a viable option even on weeknights. As an added plus, with a gas grill, you don’t have to worry about your outdoor kitchen getting covered in soot or ash.
Most people opt for a propane gas grill, but when installing a permanent, built-in grill, you can consider hooking it up to a natural gas line. That comes at a higher price, but it also eliminates the need to keep propane tanks around.
When you shop for a gas grill, you’ll find hundreds of options, allowing you to find the right size and features for your space. High-quality materials such as stainless steel offer longevity and resistance to rust and corrosion in built-in grills. You can also look for add-ons like a warming tray, side burners, griddle adapters, and shelving to store grilling accessories.
Designing Your Space for Outdoor Cooking
Building an outdoor kitchen is a major step that can allow you and your family and friends to take advantage of your home’s outdoor space. Whether your ideal kitchen includes a built-in grill, a pizza oven, or a griddle (or all of the above), the right design can make it a reality.
But the right design for an outdoor cooking space isn’t just about the appliances and cooking surfaces. It also accounts for the surrounding spaces, including places for dining, relaxing, or making drinks. Great design also accounts for how the outdoor kitchen connects — both functionally and aesthetically — to your home and the rest of the exterior (including features like a pool or lakefront).
Upscale Remodeling is a design-build firm focused on custom remodeling projects, which means this type of integrated, tailored design is our specialty. We’ve been serving the Ithaca area for more than 30 years, and we take pride in our ability to adapt to every homeowner’s needs and the intricacies of their property, regardless of whether it’s a lake house or a historic home.
If you’re considering an outdoor kitchen or any other remodel, we invite you to read about our firm, check out our portfolio, and contact us today to schedule a consultation.
