4 Tips for Planning an Outdoor Kitchen With All the Bells and Whistles in the Redmond and Issaquah, WA, Areas
When planning an outdoor kitchen in the Redmond and Issaquah, WA, areas, there are many considerations that go into creating your idea of the perfect space. From the building material to the extra bells and whistles, here are some tips for planning a beautiful and functional outdoor kitchen.
Carefully Select Building Materials
An outdoor kitchen will become an extension of your home as it gives you the ability to extend your entertaining to the beautiful outdoors. This kitchen can complement your home decor or be the statement piece of your backyard space, depending on the materials used. There are a variety of materials that can be used to fit your style, including natural stone and wall blocks that resemble stone.
To create a seamless addition to the rest of your home, you could choose similar materials that complement in color and texture. Or, for a statement piece that will wow your guests, use contrasting colors to better define your outdoor living space and make your outdoor kitchen feel like its own “room.” Your landscape contractor can guide you in what materials work best for your fun outdoor kitchen extras.
Extend Your Usage to All Seasons
Even with all the bells and whistles that are possible, outdoor kitchens can be limited in use by the elements. Keeping in mind the hot sun, chilly evenings, and soaking rainstorms, you could incorporate extra additions to maximize your time outdoors, such as a shade structure and a fire feature.
A fire pit provides warmth and soothing lighting for guests while a favorite meal is whipped up when the days get shorter and colder. A pergola can provide protection from the sun during a family cookout, ensuring that your guests don’t need to go inside to cool down. For even more functionality, a retractable shade can be installed on the pergola for additional sun protection or to give your guests a reprieve from the rain.
Consider the Type of Cooking You’ll Be Doing
The beauty of an outdoor kitchen is the variety of options for cooking appliances. A gas or charcoal grill is often considered an essential addition to any outdoor kitchen. When selecting a grill, consider how big your gatherings will be and how much cooking will be done to ensure the grill is big enough to handle all the action.
There are other great cooking options sure to wow your guests with your ingenuity and variety of dishes. A wood fire or gas pizza oven will make your outdoor kitchen a fan favorite among families. The addition of a smoker will give you even more diversity in feeding guests. Including a griddle or fryer will make your outdoor kitchen the perfect spot for breakfast, especially when sitting around the outdoor fire pit on a crisp morning.
Incorporate Entertainment
One of the most popular additions to an outdoor kitchen is a refrigerator. Whether a place to store prepped food or cooling down beverages, you and your guests will appreciate not having to make the trek back to the indoor kitchen to gather your items.
Outdoor audio systems are also common additions to modern outdoor kitchens. This system can be controlled by your phone, to provide guests with some lovely background noise to accompany the conversation.
