Outdoor Kitchens
Why Have an Outdoor Kitchen?
Design Ideas
“People who love to eat are always the best people.”
– Julia Child
You probably love to BBQ. I even bet some of your best meals have been eaten outside in the summer and fall evenings.
Outdoor kitchens are one of the current top landscaping and home renovation trends because people want to take that feeling further. The design styles are endless and entirely personal, and when you really start to think of what they can bring to your home and lifestyle, they start to make a lot of sense.
Why Have an Outdoor Kitchen?
Outdoor kitchens are all about lifestyle. If you don’t love to grill and sit outside with family and friends, it’s probably not for you. If you love those things and want more of them in your life, then it’s time think about some of the other advantages:
Entertaining: Who doesn’t love a summer patio party? Whether it’s your reason for building or not, an outdoor kitchen will make you want to have more friends over, throw some steaks on, and mix up some margaritas. You’ll save money by eating out less and using your own backyard more.
Taste: Face it: grilled tastes better. The fat drips off meat, making it leaner, and ingredients taste fresher. Being able to prep all your materials outside, where you cook them, will keep the mess outdoors and make grilling that much easier.
Resale: Entertainment value aside, they have real ROI when it comes to resale. MSN Real Estate experts estimate that you can get your money back or more, should you decide to sell. Depending on how versatile and appealing your kitchen is to a broad pool of potential buyers, you could reap 100% or more your investment back.
Space: If you have a growing family, a small home, or both, an outdoor kitchen opens up a new frontier of living space. It will keep the family outdoors longer in the summer, where you can relax with a drink while the kids run off some energy.
Dig in with Alberta’s Best Gardening Blog for more outdoor landscaping ideas!
Design Ideas:
Once you decide you want one, you can start daydreaming and designing. Ideally, the design style you choose should be a mix of practical and beautiful. It should be something that blends into your existing backyard design, but also adds something you’ve been dreaming of.
Here are a few styles to get the ideas flowing:
Traditional: This is often the simplest and most budget-friendly choice. Imagine brick masonry, with a wooden pergola overhead to enclose it. If you want to integrate it closely with your indoor kitchen, to seamlessly move between spaces, match it with existing fireplace or foundation.
Contemporary: If you want an entertaining centerpiece that will keep guests buzzing, go for an energetic, modern chic design. Picture sleek lines, granite countertops, and polished wood. You can create a secluded oasis, tucked away from the rest of the yard, or a prime-time, poolside hub.
Rustic: If you want your outdoor kitchen to capture the “dinner party in Tuscany” vibe, this is your style. Gorgeous, rough-stone counters and earth-tone colours create a warm, inviting feel that will make your dinner guests relax and enjoy the wine. This is the perfect style for a pizza oven!
Sources:
Resale Values: https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/outdoor-kitchens-worth-investment
