Landscape Architect Articles

LASN August 2011 Outdoor Living: Outdoor Kitchen Design Made Easy08-19-11 | News

Outdoor Kitchen Design Made Easy

By Rob E. Wright, director of Sales and Marketing, Stone Age Manufacturing

With smaller spaces, designs that feature the key elements and forego specialty appliances will usually be more functional; however, if the client has a specific interest, such as a wood-fired pizza oven, you need to be careful to integrate these items as you would a ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Designing outdoor kitchens can be a daunting task for homeowners who know that they want a grill, countertops, storage space and appliances but are not sure how to turn that vision from concept to reality.

Installing modular kitchen components can make the job easier. Several factors should be considered when determining the layout of an outdoor kitchen island.

Smaller settings can be designed to incorporate all the elements of the classic kitchen work triangle and offer plenty of counter space for preparation or serving. The example here has a relatively small footprint, yet includes a grill, side burner, storage doors, sink, refrigerator and trash storage, in a highly functional layout.

Where to Begin
For landscape designers, the typical starting points would be determining the customer?EUR??,,????'?????<

This will usually require one or more client interviews, and you may find walking the planned area with the client and stepping off the project is helpful, as it may give them a better sense of how the kitchen and outdoor room will flow when completed. Once overall size and features have been determined, consider the locations of existing utilities (electric, water, sewer, storm water drainage, etc.), since relocation of utilities can be costly. With new construction, this is often straightforward, since the backyard and outdoor living areas have not been fully defined.

However, if an existing patio or other outdoor living elements are present, determining whether these can be reused and incorporated into the new design, or if they need to be removed and completely redone, is another factor to consider. The most important design consideration should be the flow of the outdoor living area. The outdoor area must flow with the home and tie the interior of the home with the exterior, so that the outdoor area is a natural extension of the indoor living space, not an afterthought that doesn?EUR??,,????'?????<

This layout features an island with access limited to one end, which obscures the less-glamorous working area behind the counter. The other side of the counter includes an overhang, which allows it to be used as an eating counter or a serving area for the main dining area in front of the island. The pergola ties the two elements together, and increases the feeling of a unified living spaced.

Go With the Flow
Outdoor living areas that flow well and feel like they belong with the home are easier and more enjoyable to use. This directly affects the design of the kitchen island, as this should be laid out to complement the natural flow of the other outdoor elements being incorporated into the setting.

Placement of items such as grills, pizza ovens, fireplaces or other components should be dictated by how the outdoor living area will flow, and is something that should be determined based on each client?EUR??,,????'?????<

The patio was increased by approximately 400 percent and designed so that the new elements tie into the main living area of the home through the two sets of glass doors. This provides the feeling of one continuous living space that naturally transitions from indoors to out. Access to the indoor kitchen from the side door, which is located adjacent to the entrance of the kitchen island work area, greatly enhances the usability of both kitchens when entertaining outdoors.

Adding Appliances
Appliance layout is often dictated by the size of the island and the number of appliances desired, but the number of appliances may also be a determining factor in the size of the island. Although the client may already have a list of appliances they want, it is best to interview them to get a sense of how they will most often use the island. This will help determine the best workflow and thus how to best place the appliances.

In many cases, fewer appliances with more counter space will function better than an island crowded with rarely used specialty appliances. Having plenty of storage access below the counter is almost always a positive thing.

High quality appliances and design elements should always be strongly recommended, as their better reliability will ensure the good reputation of the designer, just as surely as a cheap appliance that fails within a couple of years will damage that reputation.

Space Considerations
Smaller settings can be designed to incorporate all the elements of the classic kitchen work triangle, and also offer plenty of counter space for preparation or serving. The example here has a relatively small footprint, yet includes a grill, side burner, storage doors, sink, refrigerator and trash storage, in a highly functional layout.

With smaller settings, designs that feature the key elements and forego specialty appliances will usually be more functional; however, if the client has a specific interest, such as a wood-fired pizza oven, this may need to take precedence over the more traditional appliances.

Conclusion
A properly designed and installed outdoor kitchen and outdoor room are highly desirable additions to any home, and add considerable value to a property, while giving the homeowner a relaxing retreat from the cares of the day.

Careful design planning, attention to the wants, needs and desires of the homeowner and incorporation of high quality elements into their outdoor room designs will earn designers happy clients and handsome profits.