Getting the most out of your outdoor living space means transferring some of your most cherished tasks to the outdoors. An outdoor kitchen enables you or another talented cook in your household to create memorable meals right from your backyard. The promise of one of these delicious meals will be sure to draw friends and family and offers up a chance to make some great memories. Before your landscape renovation you may be asking: What type of outdoor kitchen design would work best for a Huntington and Northport, NY, backyard? Here’s what you need to know.
The Island Design
One of the biggest trends in kitchen design during the last few decades has been the kitchen island. This open kitchen design translates well to an outdoor setting as it allows for the integration of the outdoor kitchen and surrounding landscape: With no walls separating you from the landscape, it’s a naturalistic design whether the outdoor kitchen is directly in the center of the action or tucked into a corner of the patio. The island design calls for a low vertical height in all (or most) parts of the outdoor kitchen in order to achieve this openness. Bar seating on the other side of the prep and cooking area will help your guests stay in the action.
Sheltered from the Elements
Although spending time outdoors is the goal, sometimes the weather doesn’t agree with what everyone wants to do. Provide a shelter for your outdoor kitchen that can interact well with the design, such as a pavilion. Pavilions utilize open walls with a rigid roof structure that protects from the majority of rain and snow. A pavilion would not only make perfect housing for an outdoor kitchen, but it would also serve as a great resting place for drying pool-goers and taking naps out of the intense sunlight. Add an outdoor fireplace along one side, and you have the makings of a perfect outdoor living space that blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living.
Centered Around Fire
Outdoor fireplaces are the way to go for warming up and gathering with loved ones. They’re even better when combined with a wood-fired pizza oven design on the outdoor kitchen side. The promise of a hot and bubbly pizza straight from your backyard will make your outdoor kitchen the go-to place for all of your friends.
A Rustic Patio
If you’re in a forested area, let the trees frame your outdoor kitchen and dining area. Use natural stone in the construction of the kitchen to make things feel more in tune with nature. This could be especially effective when you use wood fire to cook instead of natural gas. For a truly rustic feel, use dark wood, stone-textured pavers, and let nature do the talking.
Vertical Herb Garden
One of the biggest feelings of pride for culinary aficionados comes from growing their own food. A vertical herb garden provides an incredible opportunity to add some personal flourish to your food. This feature takes up very little space in your outdoor living area and can serve as a wonderful backdrop for the outdoor kitchen itself, proven even more useful when it’s placed against an unused wall (alternatively, it could provide privacy and seclusion to your outdoor kitchen) Beyond herbs, you could be inspired to start growing even more vegetables and fruits to make your meals even more delicious and fulfilling.
