DIY Outdoor Kitchen Design
An outdoor kitchen is very practical for entertaining or relaxing in the backyard. By planning the space well, it's easier to cook or serve drinks at a moment's notice for small or large groups. Since a grilling area and cook top are typically part of an outdoor kitchen, it's best to use nonflammable materials for safety. Metal framing, and bricks or stones, work well to construct an area that can include a refrigerator, sink, cabinets, drawers and other components. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Outdoor kitchen design books
- Backyard living magazines
- Websites featuring backyard cooking equipment
- Sketch pad
- Measuring tools
- Graph paper
Instructions
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Review outdoor entertaining books to get ideas for backyard kitchen designs. Look over magazines that feature outdoor kitchens as well. Gather ideas from websites that feature various equipment which can be purchased for outdoor kitchens. Sketch different ways to organize counter space, appliances, a cook top, grill and sink. Draw an L-shaped outdoor kitchen, curved bar counter space, or U-shaped kitchen for a patio or deck.
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Measure the space that can be allocated for the kitchen. Allow room for more than one cook and for access to the cook top area from more than one side if possible. Make it easy for the whole family to work in the outdoor kitchen space, cook together and easily assemble a food buffet. Think in terms of planning preparation for the types of foods to be cooked and for making preparation go faster with a good kitchen layout.
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Use graph paper to design the kitchen in detail. Sketch the metal framework that will be attached to the deck or concrete patio. Plan how each part of the framework will be secured to flooring. Use angle-iron or bolts to attach metal framework to concrete, for example. Design bricks or stones to cover the metal framing to form a large bar area that will hold a refrigerator and other cabinets. Create the design so the refrigerator can slide out of the space for repairs if needed.
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Place the sink with faucets near the cook top, heated with gas or electricity, and near the refrigerator. Use the triangle design of having the stove, refrigerator and sink close together just like in a standard kitchen. Plan to store charcoal, tubs for drinks, and other items needed for the kitchen behind cabinet doors. Purchase pre-made stainless steel drawers to install in the framework.
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Design the kitchen area to have a backsplash to hold small shelves for spices or serving utensils. Secure shelves to the backsplash with stainless steel screws, and do not use a different kind of metal as most metals are susceptible to rust.
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Tips & Warnings
Create the work top area approximately 36 inches high with a toe-kick space under the bottom of the counter area. Leave room in the counter space to place stainless steel pans for cutting up vegetables and other foods. Design the pans to be lifted out and washed easily.
Never build an extremely heavy outdoor kitchen on a wooden deck. Cover the counter space with exterior house siding versus bricks or stone, for example. Don't underestimate how heavy a large outdoor kitchen with brick or stone counters can be, and only choose to add these materials if the kitchen is constructed on a concrete slab at least eight inches deep.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Barbeque grilling mushroom and chicken wings image by Crisps85 from Fotolia.com
