How to Design Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen

Once built, outdoor kitchens can quickly become the most used spaces at your home.

For those looking to upgrade, there are endless lists of appliances and materials you can use to create a dream outdoor kitchen that’s perfect for you and your family.

While this can feel overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be! To help you decide, we’ve made a simple guide to help you choose.

Where to start? Choosing the right appliances.

When picking appliances, think about what you’ll be using your kitchen for most. Do you want to prepare food indoors? Are you mostly going to host people inside or outside your home? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you decide.

Here are the ones to start with when planning:

For Food… 

• Grills & barbecues — A cornerstone of the outdoor kitchen. If you’re looking to do any cooking, this is a must-have. They come in all shapes and sizes, so knowing who you’re cooking for, how many and how often is important when choosing the right grill for you.
• Fridges — Keep food and drinks cool and ready for enjoyment at a moment’s notice. Outdoor fridges make everything easier — from food prep to grabbing a drink without going inside.
• Pizza ovens — Never go back to delivery or store-bought pizza again. Pizza ovens reach incredibly high temperatures but do so with low energy consumption because they rely on an open fire. Bring the pizzeria to your backyard with your very own pizza oven. Trust me, they’re worth the investment.
• Kamado grills — Combining a grill, smoker and oven, the Kamado grill is perfect for the home cook who thinks outside the box. Cook pizzas, bread, meats or vegetables all in one place. Of course, you can always opt for just a smoker to pair with your BBQ too.
• Warming stations — If you’re cooking a lot of food, warming stations — as the name suggests — will keep your food warm for longer and your guests happy. They often come in a drawer or drop-in buffet style.

For Drinks… 

• Ice makers — If you like having cocktails, an easily accessible icemaker is an absolute must. We recommend one made from stainless steel. 
• Wine coolers & kegerators — Elevate your outdoor kitchen with an outdoor bar! Keep your wine right where the party is with a wine cooler. Pour yourself a pint right from the tap installed on your counter with a kegerator. A kegerator is a fridge that will hold anywhere from one to three kegs of beer. This summer, bring the bar home.

Make sure you think about the details.

Once you’ve chosen appliances, make sure you’ve covered these other details too:

• Storage & cupboards — When it comes to outdoor spaces and food, you want to keep it neat and tidy. Selecting good, critter-proof storage will keep everything in its place, especially when you have company.
• Electrical units — Often neglected, having a few extra electrical sockets can make it easier to use smaller appliances — like a blender.
• Materials — Due to their durability, many of our customers choose brick, concrete and stone. When choosing material, think about price and aesthetic. Concrete is more affordable but stone is more contemporary and (many would say) more beautiful. 
• Add a roof! — The Lower Mainland experiences different weather within short periods of time. Adding a pergola or a roofed structure over your kitchen will give you lots of coverage regardless of the weather. Grill for longer, no matter what mother nature throws your way!

Designing an outdoor kitchen can be a lot of fun and doesn’t have to be overwhelming! When you work with our design team, we can help you create the perfect space for you and your family’s needs — staying within your budget so you can get to hosting those summer barbecues much faster! 

To get started, reach out to our team by phone or email or fill out our online form.