How to Create a Great Outdoor Kitchen this Season

One idea to cheer yourself up considerably is to start thinking about and planning your outdoor barbecue parties. If you love great food and good company, then it’s time to start thinking about your “must have this summer” list and plan-of-action for your outdoor kitchen and bar.

Create an Outdoor Bar to Enjoy Nature

Think of your deck or patio as an extension to your house. Think of it as an “extra room” where you can enjoy warm, balmy days and pleasant evenings with family and friends. After spending so much of your time indoors during the winter, it’s only natural for outdoor decks or patios to become the best place for convivial social gatherings. We love these outdoor bar and kitchen ideas from DIY Network.

However, rather than simply filling up the space with chairs and tables and a modest grill, why not go all out and make it the favorite “room.” Yes, convert your deck or patio into a fully-functioning outdoor kitchen with all the comforts of a den.

Here are 4 outdoor kitchen ideas that go far beyond simply tossing hotdogs and hamburgers on a grill and eating at a wooden picnic table:

1. A Gas BBQ Grill

A built-in bbq gas grill is probably the first thing to think about when it comes to designing a great outdoor kitchen. Think about how many people usually come to your parties when you’re buying a grill. If you get something too small, then you won’t be able to cook all your meat, corn, and potatoes at the same time. It will be difficult to serve uniformly hot food to your family and visitors.

2. A Functional Outdoor Kitchen

There are three things that make a kitchen a functional place for culinary craft: electricity for appliances, plenty of countertop space for food preparation and placement, and refrigeration. There is no reason why you can’t have all three in your outdoor kitchen, too.

Electricity: It will make a huge difference to the quality of your small gatherings to have electricity to plug in your appliances. While you’re waiting for the food to cook on the grill, you could blend up smoothies or use a food processor for fresh salad dressing, meat sauces, and prepare quick and easy recipes. Instead of sitting around feeling hungry as the food heats up in the grill, you could be sampling drinks and appetizers.

Countertops: What’s the most frustrating thing about cooking in a small kitchen? It’s the lack of enough countertop space. So when planning your outdoor kitchen, be sure that you have enough countertop space for preparing your food and placing it after it’s cooked. Things will go a lot smoother if you’ve got all the counter space you need to stay organized.

Refrigeration: Imagine how convenient it will be to have a refrigerator under the countertop. This will save you the bother of running into your kitchen every time you need sauces and veggies. You’ll also be able to serve chilled cans of beer or bottles of wine.

3. A Full Outdoor Bar

If you tend to have many people at your fabulous outdoor parties, then a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine isn’t going to cut it. You need a wet bar to practice all your mixology skills. It will also make it much easier to have a sink for cleaning up glasses and dishes.

4. An Outdoor Kitchen with Brick Fireplace

If you really want to get cozy, then think about adding an outdoor brick fireplace. After you’ve enjoyed your drinks from the wet bar and eaten a delicious meal, everyone can lounge around the fireplace in comfortable chairs and enjoy the ambiance of firelight.

Naturally, the more area you have available, the more you can do to create a magnificent outdoor kitchen that everyone will love. However, these simple ideas will help you get off to a good start.

For more outdoor kitchen ideas on Stagetecture, visit our outdoor home archives.

Preparing your Family and Home with Spring Outdoor Patio Ideas

Outdoor Cooking means an Outdoor Kitchen Area

Don’t have an outdoor cooking spot on your patio? Sounds like the perfect spring project! A bar-be-cue is one of the most popular ways to relax and hang out during the spring and summer. A lot of focus is put on the grill, but there are a number of other outdoor kitchen features that make a huge difference.

For instance, outdoor kitchen cabinets help to tie the design together and provide storage space, but they also have to be durable enough to withstand the elements. Another consideration is whether you’re going to need plumbing and electric in place. If you want a sink or refrigerator this has to be planned out well in advance and can limit the location of the outdoor kitchen.

If you want a fully functional outdoor cooking area it will take almost as much planning as renovating the kitchen inside. Pay careful attention to the materials used and try to position the grilling area so that it’s in the shade.

Outdoor Party Ideas are Better at the Pool!

Is your home the hot spot for pool parties? Planning the perfect spring and summertime pool party begins will de-winterizing your pool and spa. Once the last cold snap is safely behind you the process can begin. Outdoor patio ideas can start near the house and end out near the pool! Check out these springtime activities.

De-winterizing the pool consists of three key steps:

• Removing the cover (you may want to remove as much debris as possible first).
• Removing the winterizing plugs and replacing them with the seasonal plugs.
• Reconnect the equipment – pump, filter, automatic cleaner and heater all have to be properly reconnected before the pool can be cleaned.

While you’re opening the pool and getting the pumps fired back up survey the area for safety issues. Anytime water is involved safety has to be the focus. Look for cracks around the pool, make sure ladders and hand railings are tightly secured and check the condition of your lifesaver.

Take Time Off and Enjoy Family Road Trips

Family road trips and spring go hand-in-hand. While the kids are out of school and the weather is fine it’s the perfect time to see a bit of the countryside and create some memories. The biggest decision is where you’ll go. It’s best to get this nailed down ASAP so you have at least a few months to plan a route, line up hotels and decide what attractions you want to see along the way.

If you plan to rent a van, RV or camper for your family road trip now is the time to start weighing your options. Waiting until mid-Spring or later will limit what’s available.

Springtime Family Activities:

One of the time-honored traditions of spring and summer is relaxing by a bonfire and cooking up a few smores. Of course, safety is the top priority of this summertime activity.

Before you invite guests over check the local burn bans. During periods of drought, bonfires are strictly prohibited, even on private property. If there’s no burn ban in place you still may need to get a permit and there are still precautions to take to build a safe bonfire.

• Find an area that’s at least 50 feet from structures and wood areas.
• Clear away brush and debris.
• Keep the bonfire to five foot by five foot.
• Only use dry wood that has no treatment or coating.
• It’s okay to use lighter fluid but keep the container far away from the fire.
• Keep a hose or bucket of water nearby, just in case.
• Once the bonfire is done douse the entire area with water.

For more outdoor patio ideas this spring look to our outdoor archives

This summer how about spending more time entertaining your family, guests and of course, you! One way to take advantage of your great backyard is to design a beautiful summer kitchen. Whether you plan on grilling, keeping food warm, preparing your food, and keeping it cold – a summer kitchen enables you to bring your culinary and entertaining activities outdoors.  If you’ve been thinking of ways to make your outdoor home more enjoyable

Image via: Mark Scott Associates

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Now, imagine a well-designed kitchen that fits the summer season. This idea will definitely inspire you to cook more and even better. With everything at stake in the outcome of your food, you don’t have to settle for anything less. A perfect summer design for your kitchen is a great project. To help you out with your plan, here are some important tips when designing your summer kitchen:

Consider the climate

Since it’s summer time, your kitchen should be able to sustain the heat from inside and out. You have to consider proper ventilation so that the circulation of air will be good. Also, consider the insulation of your roofing. You may opt to have wider windows so you can open them if the temperature in getting higher. Another good idea to neutralize the summer heat is to use a natural wood as materials for your summer kitchen.

Image via: Dean Herald-Rolling Stone Landscapes

Assess your furniture

Kitchen furniture can make or break your desired summer kitchen. These furnishings play a vital role in making the best kitchen for summer and any other seasons. Your furniture must complement with your floor plan. Kitchen furniture can include seating area, accessories, and side amenities like carts, tables, and any elements that could effect how the cook moves throughout the summer kitchen preparation area. Look to a layout that enables the cook and guests to be far enough from one another to not distract the other party. Consider having a kitchen design professional to layout your summer kitchen if you have questions.

Image via: Lynx Professional Grills

Invest in the quality of materials

You have to think of long term and not just for one season. Bear in mind that summer will not last for a year. Another season will come and the cycle will keep on going. Therefore, the materials you have chosen will be essential in the long run. These materials should be in high quality and can sustain in a changing environment.

On top of it all, you have to plan it properly before implementing. It is very important to think about every aspect of your plan and see if it is your ideal summer kitchen design.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/how-to-design-the-perfect-outdoor-summer-kitchen/feed/ 0 52029 https://stagetecture.com/jamie-duries-outdoor-kitchen-inspired-by-nature-by-electrolux/ https://stagetecture.com/jamie-duries-outdoor-kitchen-inspired-by-nature-by-electrolux/#respond Mon, 16 May 2011 09:25:41 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=14978 Entry #524, May 16, 2011

I’m always intrigued by designers who pair up with brands and manufacturers to bring innovation and beautiful products to the design world. Jamie Durie from HGTV’s – The Outdoor Room, has paired up with Electrolux to bring an innovative and gorgeous outdoor kitchen line to your home.

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Electrolux has launched the Outdoor Kitchen, a design collaboration with landscape designer Jamie Durie. The new addition to the Electrolux premium outdoor collection is designed to complement modern outdoor entertaining areas and features the Electrolux Integrated Barbecue and the new Electrolux Integrated Burner.

The Outdoor Kitchen joins the ranks of other successful Electrolux collaborations such as the Electrolux Jeppe Utzon Barbecue. With as much emphasis on form as function, the Outdoor Kitchen is an impressive addition to the Electrolux outdoor entertaining portfolio.

Jamie, a strong advocate of the ‘Outdoor Room’, shares the Electrolux passion to redefine outdoor entertaining.

“Australia has had a long standing love affair with outdoor entertaining, so it was important to redefine that space in respect to modern demands when designing The Outdoor Kitchen. We wanted something that would stylistically push the parameters of outdoor design and alfresco luxury whilst still keeping in harmony with garden elements,” says Jamie.

The Outdoor Kitchen is a distinctive, custom-design to fit any outdoor space and evolves organically and grows alongside the garden. Its distinctive form offers a unique outdoor cooking and entertaining area that is environmentally friendly and a testament to increasingly sophisticated outdoor areas.

As an active supporter for preserving natural surroundings and the environmental future, Jamie is also passionate about the environmental aspect of the design. The Outdoor Kitchen is both sustainable and timeless, selecting clever eco-friendly materials and having greenery and plant life as an integral part of the design.

All images courtesy of Electrolux

“The Outdoor Kitchen is an engineered green entertaining area, designed to meet contemporary life, it is not just a piece of furniture or a utilitarian space, it’s an outdoor area designed to draw people out of their houses and into their gardens, where they seem to want to spend their leisure time these days,” says Jamie.

For more outdoor entertaining  ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

The countdown until Father’s Day is fast approaching, and instead of getting Dad a tie, how about a gas grill? What Dad doesn’t love grilling and relaxing during the summer months?  In the past, I had a post on summer kitchens inspiration.

Today, guest blogger Joseph Freenor from CFT411 – Cabinet and Furniture and Information, shares with us some manufacturer’s of some great grill and outdoor living areas.

Ah, the road not taken! I look at the yard I made for my wife and me over much too long a period of time, some nine years, actually, and I think about all that went into it and such. And pleased as I am with the outcome, I cannot help thinking at times that I wish I had begun this blog site before the yard, because if I had, the outcome would have been much different. One of the things I most wish I had, now that I can no longer obtain such a thing without completely starting over, is an actual outdoor kitchen. But if I were to do such a thing I would now want to ensure that there would be no maintenance at all required for the finished product. And anything I had in the way of an outdoor kitchen would have to have, as its main focal point, a barbecue, because if you can’t barbecue outdoors, well, what’s the point, really? But with that set of objectives I can now tell you about another company I have come across in my drooling stage. No, no, it’s not what you think; it’s not age that causes the drooling; it’s looking at all of these concepts for outdoor kitchens, especially those from the subject of today’s blog.

Napoleon is a company that got their start manufacturing wood burning stoves in Barrie, Ontario, Canada in 1976. Since then they have

greatly expanded their line of products to include luxurious Gourmet Gas Grills, exclusive Infra-red grilling experience and some of North America’s most advanced state-of-the-art technology.

One of the things just about any manufacturer of barbecues will emphasize is whatever device he may have to increase the heat of the grilling. For a long time I thought that was essentially a bunch of hype until I got my first grill capable of higher heats. Prior to that moment, my wife was always the moving factor when it came to barbecuing. “Drag out the barbecue,” she’d beg, “it’ll be good,” and for her it was, but not for me so much. Then, as I say, we got a better, hotter grill, and since then all I do all winter is yearn for barbecue time. It is just astounding how juicy and tender that meat can be when it’s grilled properly.

I bring that up because this whole idea of a hotter barbecue is a technology that

continues to advance. And now we come to Napoleon’s exclusive high

intensity ceramic infrared burner capable of providing over 28,000 BTUs and 1,800 degrees of heat to keep in all the juices and flavors. They also make their grills in professional restaurant style with three heavy duty stainless steel tube burners, stainless steel infrared rear rotisserie burner, wood chip smoker tray and electronic ignition. So, these babies pretty much have it all.

Well, almost. What they really needed is some kind of outdoor kitchen in which to put them, and with that we can talk about Napoleon Oasis Modular Island, which is designed to personalize the outdoor living space. Note I said living space, not cooking space, because man, if I had this baby in my yard, that’s pretty much where I would be living in the summer months! There are four different island configurations, all of which feature stainless steel doors and drawers, powder coated galvanized steel, and quick adjustment leveling feet on each modular unit. They have just about everything a body could ever want for an outdoor kitchen, including a refrigerator cabinet, full cabinets, garbage dispenser, paper towel and utility cabinets, and variety of drawer units. All cabinets are 35″ tall and 24″ deep, so we are definitely not talking toys now! Man, you get a yard filled with these bad boys, and your summer is made!

For more grilling outdoors ideas on Stagetecture, click here.