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Luxury backyard kitchens
Outdoor kitchens continue to be a backyard luxury that more homeowners are making a reality in their spaces. With more appliances being built to withstand our Canadian environments, any options that you have inside are now available outdoors too—plus a few extras. Smokers and barbecues have become a focal point for the outdoor kitchen, but there are some design tips that you should incorporate to make the most of your backyard investment.
When it comes to any kitchen, the same principles apply to function and flow in the space. Having lots of work surface and being able to move between the different areas within the kitchen is always going to impact the design. The challenge with an outdoor kitchen is the smoke. It is a lot tougher to control airflow outside so understanding which way the wind blows in your backyard is the very first thing you need to establish before you design the kitchen. Always try to keep the barbecue so that the smoke blows away from the working areas.
Plan to use long-lasting elements in your outdoor space, but be prepared for stains and weathering. Picking quartz and granite for the inside is a great way to include natural elements into a space. Unfortunately, these materials don’t survive our winters. Instead, we use wood and stone like concrete, natural flag and pavers to create counters and structures. The biggest challenge with these products is that they are permeable, which means the water will penetrate into them. It’s not a structural issue, but you need to be prepared to have increased wear-and-tear as a result.
Make sure to add seating around your outdoor kitchen. As the family griller, I want to be a part of the fun. They always say that the party always moves into the kitchen because it’s the heart of the house—the same thing happens in the backyard with the outdoor kitchen.
Like any indoor renovation, having a budget before you start the project is extremely important. The main difference with adding an outdoor space is that you are starting from scratch, which adds extra costs. A reasonable budget for a decent outdoor kitchen with a small outdoor fridge, a medium sized grill and countertops is around $10,000. Most of the kitchens I’ve been installing outdoors have also included a pergola and an island with a sink and plenty of seating for guests. The average cost is closer to $25,000, but with an expected return-on-investment of almost 100 per cent according to several online sources, adding this extra outdoor room is really paying off for homeowners. So instead of remodeling the inside this year, why not add a little luxury into your backyard?
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