Making heart of the home an extension of living space
Get cooking in the sunshine this summer with an outdoor kitchen
If the return of summer means a return to al fresco dining, you're in good company. Eating outdoors has a decidedly casual vibe so many of us love. But more and more homeowners are kicking things up a notch with outdoor kitchens that allow them to remain part of the action and perhaps even impress guests with their culinary skills.
“For the luxury homeowner, the days of a free-standing cart barbecue simply don't cut it as an outdoor kitchen has become the final frontier of any renovation project,” says Daniel Albo, president of Outeriors, Outdoor Kitchens & Cabinetry in Vaughan.
An outdoor kitchen extends a home's entertaining space, and as that space becomes increasingly valuable amid the pandemic, it's no surprise COVID-19 has “dramatically increased” demand for outdoor kitchens.
“It provides an entertaining environment for gathering which simply wasn't available over the last year with indoor social gathering bans,” Albo says.
The most critical components of an outdoor kitchen include the proper size grill, a beverage fridge, trash disposal bin, ample countertop space for preparations and serving, and a sink when possible.
Complex outdoor kitchens also feature side burners, which serve as an outdoor gas range, power burners to boil a large volume of water for cooking corn and lobster, and pizza ovens.
There is lots to consider when designing an outdoor kitchen and selecting finishes. Dark colours often are harder to maintain and keep clean because airborne contaminants like dust, pollen and hard water are visible on darker surfaces. “Darker surfaces also absorb more heat from the sun and can be hot to the touch if open to above,” Albo says. “Earth-tone colours are typically easier to keep looking great.”
He finds just as many clients use their outdoor kitchens year-round as those who fire them up seasonally. Outeriors has built large poolside kitchens that are used only in the spring, summer and fall.
It has also created simple kitchens with just a grill and a few side cabinets that are located closer to the home and used year-round.
“Many people have gone the smaller outdoor kitchen route as a free-standing grill alternative to increase the curb appeal for their backyard landscape (because) free-standing cart barbecues often look like a messy afterthought,” Albo says.
Outdoor kitchen products continue to evolve and are engineered for outdoor environments — no mean feat when you consider Canadian winters.
“Traditionally, outdoor kitchens have been made from bulky stone or wooden structures that require multiple trades to construct,” he says.
“At Outeriors, we have moved away from these traditional building materials and developed a line of outdoor-rated cabinetry made from powder-coated marine grade aluminum, stainless steel and composite resin materials, which allow a user to have the same cooking experience outside as they do inside,” says Albo.
“Our cabinets not only provide the same utility and function as an interior kitchen, we also have many door styles, finishes and colours to complement any home architecture style, from traditional shaker-style doors to more contemporary slab doors with recessed handle pulls.”
How much should you budget for an outdoor kitchen?
That depends on the scope of your project and factors like size and quantity and quality of appliances selected.
“In general, the starting price point for a complete kitchen can start at $15,000 and go all the way up to $95,000, with the average coming in at the $20,000 to $30,000 mark,” says Albo.