Time spent in your backyard with friends and family can lead to some of the best memories. As the summer days turn into evenings, everyone will undoubtedly need some refreshing drinks and delicious food, and the outdoor kitchen is the way to keep the party outdoors. Consider these five outdoor kitchen designs to meet the needs of an entertaining-centric home in Southampton, NY.
A Central Dining Space
Any outdoor kitchen becomes a central feature of a backyard; it elevates al fresco cooking and dining beyond the simple grill on the patio to a comprehensive entertaining space. An L-shaped kitchen with a central dining space, for instance, would keep everyone in on the action. This table can be intimate and set at counter height for small gatherings. Or, if you frequently host large get-togethers, the dining table can extend outward from the boundaries of the outdoor kitchen.
An Outdoor Fireplace
There are few better companions for an outdoor kitchen than an outdoor fireplace. This large masonry structure is primarily designed to bring warmth and light to an outdoor living space. Even better, an outdoor fireplace can enhance your cooking abilities. Combine your outdoor fireplace with a wood-fired pizza oven by adding a separate chamber. This efficient use of space will also keep your loved ones warm and entertained as they wait for delicious pizza and more. An outdoor fireplace on one end of an L-shaped kitchen will create a great-room feel outdoors.
A Bar Counter
Not every backyard is blessed with a lot of space. For more compact outdoor kitchens where a separate dining table is not practical, consider converting one side of the structure to include a bar counter. This works well in an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen. Such an area will serve as the place for several people to sit and interact with the cook while drinks and meals are prepared.
A Farm-to-Table Design
Embrace the farm-to-table movement by growing your own culinary herbs and vegetables. The outdoor kitchen could be the perfect home for all sorts of plants, both edible and ornamental. Convert some of the boundary areas of your outdoor kitchen to include a series of raised masonry planters designed for growing vegetables at a much more convenient height than in-ground gardening. Masonry planters are also attractive, and can be filled with seasonal and holiday decorations once the growing season has passed. A vertical herb garden is a great way to create interest and make it convenient to add freshly harvested herbs to each meal. This dynamic gardening will bring incredible beauty to your outdoor living space.
The Island Kitchen
Placing an outdoor kitchen in the center of your outdoor living space helps to make the space feel open and welcoming. The perfect outdoor kitchen design for an open space such as this could be the kitchen island. All elements of your island kitchen can be situated at counter level or under the counter for a sleek minimalist look; and on the other side, an elevated bar gives everyone front row seats to the action. This is a wonderful design suitable for larger patios that have plenty of space all around for easy traffic flow and seating.
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