Outdoor Living Space

Having decided to create your own personal ‘staycation’ spot in your back yard, it’s time to begin that design. Location for your outside kitchen is everything. Where do you want your kitchen, and how will people get to it?

What do you want for your kitchen? You can choose anything as simple as a tiki hut with a table, along with a gas or charcoal grill, and small refrigerator to something as complex as a full built in ‘seasonal’ porch that is your outdoor kitchen space, with a nice two-sided bar, a large gas grill, or perhaps a full built-in grill that has oven space included. The ideas for designing your outside kitchen are almost endless.

You want your outdoor kitchen to be as functional as your indoor kitchen, a place where you can welcome guests, and enjoy your event. Several things to consider before you begin your project would be the types of entertaining you will be doing. Will there be children actively enjoying the day? What about elderly family members or friends? With children and elderly, you want to avoid floors that are slippery.

You want flooring that is durable, and easy to keep clean. A wooden deck properly treated is a durable option, as is a tiled setting. Both can be easily hosed down or power washed as needed.

Consider your storage space. As in your inside kitchen, you want your out of doors to be just as functional. The location of your grill to your refrigerator and counter space is as important outside as it is inside.

When it comes to purchasing your appliances, you want to ensure that will make it through both rain and sun. Stainless steel or ceramic appliances work great for all weather conditions, are very durable, and require low maintenance.  If the style of your home is more on the rustic side, you can consider a natural store or composite façade to create a different look.

Here’s a few other tips when it comes to decision making for your outside kitchen:

To Roof or Not to Roof 

There are many options available to cover your patio/kitchen area. You may opt for a retractable awning, a thatched roof, umbrellas or other options to provide shade and cover in case of rain.

Outdoor Bar 

Bars can function as a dining area and add more space for serving food. They can also provide a nice transition between the serving area and cooking area.

With just a few basics for your outdoor kitchen, entertaining can become easy and functional. Having everything outside is a great way to keep all of your snacks and beverages handy while spending time at your swimming pool. No more wrapping up in your towel or waiting to dry off to grab your favorite snack for your outdoor & swimming pool activities.

If you’re ready to build your outdoor kitchen, give us a call, and one of our experts will help you design the right style just for you.

If you own a swimming pool there’s a good chance that you don’t want to have to tear yourself away from the fun to go into the house and cook meals, right? When you work with the swimming pool contractor and designers at Hawaiian Pool Builders you can discuss an outdoor kitchen space so you never have to leave the pool and its fun!

Cooking in an outdoor kitchen space instead of inside an overheated kitchen is an idea that many swimming pool owners are embracing as they find that their indoor living migrates to the outdoors during the summer and they want to extend the time spent out there.

If you have an outdoor kitchen constructed, here are some ideas on how to utilize the space:

• If you have a grill you can make pizza if you invest in a pizza stone. Imagine pizza without the oven!
• Invest in a set of mesh or perforated stainless steel pans; having a set of cooking supplies for the outdoor kitchen alleviates the need to rush back and forth from the house to prepare your meals. Stainless steel pans allow you to fry, roast and grill and most of these pans are dishwasher safe.
• Look for all in one grill roaster racks that will let you stack items you’re cooking such as potatoes or various fruits and veggies.
• A salt plate is a cooking platform that is placed directly on the grill and makes an ideal place to grill meat or seafood. It not only cooks evenly but imparts a unique flavor from the salt that is embedded in the plate itself.
• If hot dogs are more your style, look for a hot dog roller. This device lets you roast hot dogs or sausages evenly while leaving the prized grill marks.
• Look for flavor-imbued wood chips to enhance your grilled foods with subtle flavors.

Consider installing weather-proof outdoor cabinetry as an easy way to equip the outdoor kitchen with your cooking utensils as well as serving and plating items. A backyard swimming pool combined with a spa, outdoor kitchen and other relaxing features will make your summer that much more enjoyable.

Spring is knocking on our door in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, and that means the weather will soon be nice enough to spend more time outside. It may not be time to open your inground pool, but, if you enjoy time outside with your family or friends, you know how important it is to have outdoor furniture where everyone can sit, relax and enjoy each other’s company. If you have had your outdoor furniture for a few seasons, you may notice that it is getting dull and dingy. Before you spend a lot of money on new outdoor furniture, try these tips to spruce up the old. Continue Reading