It used to be that outdoor entertaining conjured up the familiar image of the picnic lunch at the park. You only needed a picnic basket, thermos, paper plates and plastic utensils.

Or if you wanted to be able to host an outdoor luncheon or dinner you would toss some items on a barbecue pit out in the backyard and flip burgers and hotdogs.

Cooking on a grill is a great way to entertain outdoors. However it is a nuisance to have to go back and forth from the kitchen to the patio. That is why outdoor kitchens have become more and more popular.

The outdoor kitchen can include stovetop-style burners, griddles, roasting spits, sinks, refrigerators, storage space for dishes and cooking gear, low counters for prep work, bar-height counters for guests, stereo systems and more.

Preparing and enjoying meals outdoors along with casual entertaining has in recent years really taken off as homeowners have come to see just how appealing these alfresco preparation areas can be. Having originated in the southwest, outdoor kitchens are now to be found all over the country.

So just what kinds of foods can be cooked outdoors? Actually any type of food that can be prepared in an indoor kitchen can be prepared in an outdoor kitchen.

Today’s outdoor kitchen designs can include such items as: sinks, cabinets, and cutting boards. They can be fully featured areas, which offering a covered bar and buffet area.

In planning your outdoor kitchen you will need to consider how much you will use your outdoor kitchen and whether it will be just a small part of your deck or patio or a fully functional outdoor kitchen.

Today, however outdoor kitchens have made entertaining more convenient as well as luxurious. Now you can have all the accoutrements of any indoor kitchen all year around no matter what part of the country you live in. Besides the outside grill, outdoor kitchens frequently include many features – the number depending on your budget Outdoor kitchens range in cost from about $3,000 to more than $30,000.The latest products on the market include luxury grills equipped with all the capabilities of stovetop cooking. Outdoor kitchen setups include kitchen islands, sinks, refrigerators, wet bars and dishwashers.

Outdoor Kitchen Design Factors

An outdoor kitchen design can include different components and styles and there are many factors in deciding on the right outdoor kitchen design. One of the factors is just how much space you have to work with. Will it just include a small grill island or will your outdoor kitchen be as big as your indoor kitchen? Will it be the place where you and your family will spend a considerable amount of time? It is important that for an outdoor kitchen to work you must be able to provide adequate seating and dining areas. If you want to be able to enjoy your outdoor kitchen when the weather turns cooler it is a good idea to also have an outdoor fireplace to keep everyone warm and toasty.

Custom or Prefab Grilling Islands

Next, you will need to determine whether you will want your grill to be freestanding or built into an outdoor grilling island. Custom grilling islands can help provide your outdoor kitchen with a more upscale look. Just like an indoor kitchen island, the outdoor grilling island includes masonry with cabinets. Many experts agree that custom masonry grilling islands can add tremendous value to your home. You can also go with a prefab grilling island.

These prefab islands come in a variety of configurations and exterior finishes. They cost less than more custom islands.
Building Materials For Your Outdoor Kitchen
You should select sturdy and durable materials that can stand up to climate changes. Many building experts agree that Polymer is the perfect material for the construction of outdoor kitchens. It can withstand outside elements and unlike wood, concrete or stucco it does not absorb moisture. Polymer is a solid material not a laminate or layered material and it will not warp, crack, or split. Countertops can be made from ceramic tile, granite, marble, slate and other natural stones.

Outdoor Lighting

Another area just as important is designing your outdoor kitchen is outdoor lighting. This can change and improve the overall feel of your outdoor kitchen. There are many types of lighting to choose from including: ambiance lighting that can include soft white lights or colored bulbs. Solar lights can be charged during the day and turn on automatically as it gets dark.

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When planning an outdoor kitchen design, choosing the right countertop is essential. After all, not all materials are appropriate for outdoor kitchen counters because they will be directly exposed to the potentially harsh outdoor elements.

For this reason, many choose to install granite kitchen countertops in their outdoor kitchens.
There are many benefits associated with using granite kitchen countertops as opposed to other types of countertops. These include…
 Offering an exceptional degree of durability, which means in outdoor kitchen these countertops can withstand outdoor elements including rain, snow and ice
 Being very functional, allowing hot pots and items to be placed on them without concern for harming the stone
 Easy to clean with just a clean cloth and water

Granite kitchen countertops have a reputation for being costly. While they are more expensive than some manmade countertops, they are more durable and available in a wide range of prices. As such, nearly anyone with any budget can afford to include outdoor kitchen counters made of granite in their outdoor kitchen design.

Granite is an igneous rock, once molten and formed and cooled deep inside the earth. Some types of granite can look very similar to marble.

Granite is believed to be second only to diamonds in its hardness. Kitchen granite countertops are becoming increasingly popular because of this unbeatable toughness. Granite is a durable stone that requires little maintenance and can be highly polished or finished in a variety of ways.

Granite can be found all over the world. Granite is extremely durable and is the hardest of natural stones for kitchen granite countertops. Granite is composed of quartz and feldspar. It has a very dense grain, which makes it virtually impervious to stains, because it has very little porosity. It takes a highly polished finish and once polished it is completely resistant to liquids.

Granite is an attractive stone that adds color and warmth to any kitchen. Granite is an ideal natural stone material for kitchen countertops. It resists scratches, heat and acidic substances. It can also withstand the placing of hot pots and is a good surface for handling dough and confections. However granite kitchen countertops can stain. If you are using highly porous granites then they should be sealed.

Some other advantages to having a kitchen granite countertop are that they can be an affordable, beautiful choice for your kitchen countertops, the stone changes appearance in different light during the day. One thing you have to watch for is than each granite stone is unique. This can mean that the color in the granite can look different from one day to the next depending on the lighting situation. Lighting can cause a reflection in the granite making one color more dominant. So in picking a color it is a good idea to choose from actual slabs not samples

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Are you hoping to expand your home? Instead of considering an addition, give some thought to expanding your livable space – outdoors. More homes are moving towards creating outside spaces that function as an extension of the home, essentially outdoor rooms. These spaces include room for relaxing, entertaining, and cooking.

The first point of creating one of these outdoor rooms begins with outdoor kitchen planning. These kitchens are more than a mere area to barbeque; instead outdoor kitchens include a variety of appliances (refrigerators, sinks, and of course, grills), extensive countertops for food prep, and dining areas.

Some people start their preparations by consulting a kitchen design software package. While many software programs offer great details for traditional “indoor” kitchens, many are adding outdoor kitchen planning as one of their features.

Planning an outdoor kitchen isn’t that different from the equivalent indoor kitchen. You still need to plan space for countertops, plan for plumbing and cooking. A kitchen design software package can help you get started brainstorming. You’ll see some sample outdoor kitchens that you can adapt to your home.

When it comes to outdoor kitchen planning, you need to consider a few key factors:
 How much time do you spend outdoors?
 How much room do you have to devote to an outdoor kitchen?
 Do you cook extensively outdoors (or would you like to)?
 Do you like to entertain?
 How much money are you willing to spend?

The two most important factors will be space and money. If you aren’t willing to sacrifice much backyard space, you might have to consider a simple, installed gas grill with a small counter space. If you truly want to create an outdoor room, you have to be willing to devote about the same amount of space as you would to a room in your home. For extensive outdoor kitchen planning, you’ll need to consider the location of plumbing and gas lines. You may also need to consider creating overhangs or roofs to protect your appliances from the elements.

Your kitchen design software will help you plan an outdoor space that utilizes a good kitchen design – easy access between the grill, refrigerator, and sink. Once you have these elements in place, along with seating for you and your guests, you’ll have a brand new space you can enjoy, with all the conveniences of an indoor room. You’ll probably find you spend more time in your outdoor kitchen, than you ever spent in the indoor equivalent.

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