Spring is here in College Station and Bryan. Summer is just around the corner! Everyone already wants to spend more time enjoying the outdoors! It’s a perfect time to start planning and building your outdoor kitchen.
A great outdoor kitchen is at least a couple of notches above a beautiful patio furniture set and your portable barbecue grill. We all love that picnic feel, but if you are going to spend your evenings entertaining or just relaxing and enjoying the cooler evening temperatures outside, you may want more amenities. Plus, an outdoor kitchen is a great way to keep your home cooler by avoiding the use of your oven and other appliances inside.
You can start your unique outdoor kitchen by placing a grill into stonework and creating custom-built counter-tops on either side. This style gives you easy-to-navigate areas for food preparation, cooking, and serving.
Next, you can add lights so that you won’t be limited to enjoying your outdoor kitchen during daylight hours. You may either choose to run electricity or install battery- or solar-powered lights. Since you want to enjoy the natural light as much as possible, you need enough light to be able to prepare, cook, and serve safely. If you choose to run electricity to your outdoor kitchen, you can also add a small refrigerator to keep your favorite beverages and condiments handy.
Here are a few other ideas:
Shade
For shade during the summer, you can build your kitchen under an existing covered porch, add a pergola, or buy a large patio umbrella.
Water
Adding a water line to your outdoor kitchen will allow you to install a small sink for food preparation and clean up.
Fireplace
Add a fireplace or portable fire pit if you want to keep using your great outdoor space when the weather turns cold or to add a little ambiance for the adults and a way to make s’mores with the kids!
Gas
A gas line will allow you the option of barbeque fuels, and adding a small cooktop or oven can stretch your outdoor culinary choices even further.
The possibilities for an outdoor kitchen are endless! It depends on the frequency that you intend to use your kitchen and your budget. The key is to make it comfortable and enjoy our spring and summer climate here in Bryan and College Station.
