How do you Design an Outdoor Kitchen?
The appeal of an outdoor kitchen is easy to understand: preparing food and dining with friends beneath a canopy surrounded by fresh air and sunshine sounds like a vacation, but right at your home. But doing a project incorrectly can be costly and disappointing, so hiring a professional experienced in landscape design and build should be your first step in bringing your outdoor kitchen plans to life. Secondly, find pictures of outdoor kitchens online to show to your design/build pro during your consultation, and think about the budget and scope of your project. What appliances and features are must-haves and can be accommodated by your outdoor space? Then, after the consultation, your design partner will measure your property and gather information about utilities and more. Combined with your input, they will come up with a few designs with estimated budget numbers for you to choose from. Finally, the fun begins and construction can start on your dream outdoor kitchen!
What Countertops Are Best for Outdoor Kitchens?
Countertops for outdoor kitchens are not unlike indoor kitchens in that they should be stain-resistant and easy to maintain, but the durability and resistance to weather are additional key considerations. Your landscape design and build professional will likely recommend natural stone, or granite as excellent choices for the countertops of your outdoor kitchen. Not only will these surfaces withstand the elements, but they are aesthetically pleasing as well.
What Material is used for Outdoor Kitchens?
In addition to helping you with your selection of countertops, your landscape design and build professional can recommend the most sturdy and weather-resistant materials to use for the covering, flooring, storage cabinets, and appliances of your outdoor kitchen. Not only that, but your pro will have an eye for choosing materials which flow seamlessly with the exterior of your home and gardens. Depending on your home’s construction, stucco, brick, and stone are good choices for hardscapes. Appliances made of stainless steel are both beautiful and practical for your outdoor kitchen. And for flooring, there are many options, including. concrete pavers and natural stones. our design partner will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each to make sure that your outdoor kitchen not only lasts for years but is the perfect complement to your beautiful home.
Do Outdoor Kitchens need to be covered?
Do Outdoor Kitchens need to be covered?Your dream outdoor kitchen is a significant landscape design and build project, and protecting it from the elements is paramount. A covering of some kind will extend the life of your outdoor kitchen considerably. A covering will also enable you, your family, and guests to eat outside more often without worrying about the blazing sun, blustery winds, or even rain chasing you indoors. Fortunately, you have many choices for coverings. Your design professional can discuss whether a canopy, gazebo, porch, pavilion or transition room is the right choice for your outdoor kitchen in terms of your space, budget, and entertainment goals.
Does an Outdoor Kitchen Increase the Value of My Home?
According to Inman.com, a news and education source for real estate professionals, adding an outdoor kitchen may have a 100 to 200 percent return on investment (ROI), which is higher than many other landscape design and build projects. Of course, the ROI of your outdoor kitchen can vary based on the part of the country you live in, the extent of your project, and many other factors. At the end of the day, adding an outdoor kitchen is a lovely way to kick your outdoor entertaining options up a notch, and it is a solid choice to increase the value of your home.
Do you Need a Permit for an Outdoor Kitchen?
The short answer to the question of whether you need a permit for an outdoor kitchen is: probably yes. Unless your landscape design and build project is extremely limited, you will likely need a permit. Outdoor kitchens often require a permit because they call for electrical or plumbing work to connect heat and water sources. Furthermore, changes to structure beyond mere repair typically require a permit. Your design/build professional can guide you about the need for permits when you review plans and options for your outdoor kitchen.
An outdoor kitchen is an exciting landscape design and build project which can transform your outdoor space into the ultimate entertainment oasis. Call Borst Landscape and Design today for a free consultation and to give you peace of mind as you make the first step towards a beautiful, durable, outdoor kitchen.