10 Outdoor Kitchen Design Tips

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A properly designed outdoor kitchen can really bring your entertaining to the next level. A recent release from Houzz polled landscape professionals to share what the top design elements are and why. As summer season comes close to an end, it is a great time to consider some of these elements as you prepare for next year’s projects.

Top Quality Grill
Your grill is like ground zero for your outdoor kitchen. It all starts here so make sure you select a top-quality one and build around it. The better your grill, the less you will be limited to what you can prepare for yourself and your guests.

The Right Location
Most pros will suggest doing your outdoor kitchen in a convenient location to encourage ease of use. That most often means just outside the house. Running electrical and plumbing is typically easier in this spot, just be mindful of the grill location and its proximity to the house.

The Right Layout
The right layout should be a priority. An L shape typically will yield enough room for cooking, prep and entertaining. You should also consider how easy it is to get in and around just like an indoor kitchen.

The Right Materials
The elements will always have their effect on an outdoor kitchen even if it is covered. Select high quality materials such as counters that are sealed, smooth concrete or granite.

Stylish
While you consider your design, don’t forget the “fun” in function. Let your home’s personality on the inside trickle outside into your outdoor kitchen design. Keep a theme of colors, design and personality as it basically is another room of your house. Have fun with it!

Appliances
Once you have the essentials accounted for in your design, you can personalize it with more appliances. Pros recommend of course a refrigerator, but you can also consider things like smokers, warmer drawers, ice drawers, sinks or trash receptacles.

Lighting
This is an important one. Your typical outdoor lights won’t usually suffice for when you are cooking. You will want to make sure your cooking area is well illuminated so you can clearly see the progress of your food while you prepare it.

Shield From The Elements
Consider some essential protection against the elements to make things stay clean and comfortable. Perhaps it could be a canopy or use of screens to shield from the bright sun or rain. Or consider some overhead heaters to extend your season for when it gets cold.

Dining Area
Despite some designs accommodating counter bar seats, a formal table is always best for family entertaining. Just as you would do inside, having a table for comfortable seating right next to the kitchen is always best.

Garden
Go for a win/win and add an edible garden. Whether it is nearby in the ground or pots of herbs this can add some life and ambiance combined with the function of herbs to help you prepare the perfect meals!

Beth Dickerson

Boston, MA

Primary phone
(617) 510-8565
Email
[email protected]
Address
277 Dartmouth St. , 2nd Floor,
Boston, MA 02116

About The Author

One of Boston’s most reputable real estate brokers, Beth Dickerson has achieved more than $2 billion in sales and thousands of successful real estate transactions over her nearly thirty-year tenure. Beth has received national acclaim from the real estate industry and represents some of the most prestigious residents and properties across Massachusetts. Her enduring record as a top producer comes from the intuitive gift of sensing her clients’ needs. She has built a business that is referral-based at its core—a testament to her relationship-driven approach and penchant for exceeding expectations. It is this nuanced expertise that Beth leverages to guide many of her clients-turned-friends through some of the greatest milestones of their lives.

Beth was the proprietor of her own real estate company before joining the residential division of R. M. Bradley in 1993, where she was a top producer for more than a decade. In 2003, she founded her own boutique real estate firm, Dickerson Real Estate, before merging with Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in 2007. Today, Beth attributes her success to her comprehensive marketing and advertising strategies, exclusive contact network, and unparalleled insight into neighborhoods like Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the South End and Waterfront. With an understanding that no two clients are alike, she works with clients in all phases of life—from first-time buyers to luxury developers, seasoned sellers and beyond. Beth offers clients the resources to aggressively market their property locally, nationally and globally, and her attention to detail, drive and enthusiasm are unmatched.

Beth has appeared in prestigious media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Mansion Global, The Boston Globe, and Boston magazine, and was prominently featured as Greater Boston’s real estate expert on WCVB Chronicle in 2020. She has had the honor of serving as President of the Downtown Council of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. For over ten years, she has been a Co-Chair and Committee Member for the Massachusetts General Pediatric Hospital for Children’s Storybook Ball. She serves as a Board Member of the Community Music Center of Boston and a member for the Perkins School for the Blind, Emerald Necklace Park Conservancy, Justine Liff Luncheon, Youth Villages and the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, among dozens of other organizations throughout the Boston area.

A long-time resident of Boston’s Back Bay, Beth was an active member of the community as she raised her two children: she served as treasurer of the Clarendon Street Playground and was an avid supporter of the Hill House Community Center.