WORKING SPACE
Designing an Outdoor Kitchen A
s the weather gets warmer and social life starts up again, the outdoors are getting a lot of love with barbecues and cozy dinners with friends, not to mention the occasional party. Having a well-designed outdoor space really adds to the environment and vibe of the gathering, and an outdoor cooking space tops it off to perfection. Here are 10 things to keep in mind when upgrading your outdoor kitchen this year. 1. Size and Location: It’s crucial to make sure the kitchen is in a functional space that won’t block the flow of an indoor-outdoor gathering. You want it to be close enough to the real kitchen that walking back and forth is not exhausting. It should also be close enough to the seating area so that whoever is cooking is not excluded from the festivities. Size matters 46 |
MOCHERS
BY: KAYLA GOLDSTEIN
as well, because where you place the kitchen will determine how big it can be — we don’t want to overpower a space or underwhelm it. Keep these factors in mind when deciding where the kitchen should go and how big it should be. This will help you make sure it complements the yard and event rather than complicates it. 2. Prepping Space: Once you’ve figured out the size and location and are designing the kitchen itself, make sure it has the key factors that make an outdoor kitchen amazing. The most important and yet most overlooked is prepping space. Many assume they would just prepare inside and bring the food out to cook, however this creates extra running around and less socializing. Make sure to create a clear counter space you can prep on so that you can stay with your guests in the sunshine.
3. Seating Space: Make sure to have an area where guests can lounge and an area where guests can eat. This can be one combined space or two separate areas, but either way it should be easily accessible and compliment the kitchen. Good quality, comfortable furniture that adds to the feeling of the space can completely change the mood of a dinner party. Make sure this space is close enough to the kitchen so that no one is isolated, but far enough that smoke doesn’t go in people's eyes. 4. Storage: When designing the kitchen, think about what you are going to be storing outside. Some like to keep all of their grilling tools outside, some like to keep cutlery and dishes on hand — it’s up to you and your personal tastes. Write down a list of all the items that you are going to be storing outside and factor it in when creating the floor plan www.mochers.com
