Articles Collection

For those who design outdoor equipment kitchen professionally, the key is to combine sound landscape design principles with the best practices of indoor equipment kitchen design. For those who are new to outdoor kitchen design, following are a few tips to make the job a little easier and achieve better results.

1. Apply good kitchen design principles for functional zones of the kitchen.
* if you are not a commercial equipment kitchen design professional, be sure you partner with one or at least understand good kitchen design principles. Cold areas (refrigeration), hot areas (grills and cooktops), wet areas (sinks) and dry areas (prep counters and storage) must all work together effectively in proper proximity, with each allocated enough space. The national kitchen & bath association (nkba) is a good resource for kitchen planning guidelines and to find a professional.
2. Consider the relationship between the indoor kitchen and outdoor kitchen.
* how self-sufficient do you want the outdoor commercial equipment kitchen to be?
* how could they be used together when cooking or entertaining? What is the traffic pattern between them?
3. Select low-maintenance materials designed to withstand the rigors of an outdoor kitchen.
* high-quality stainless steel provides a sanitary surface, easily cleaned and corrosion-resistant in harsh environments.
* natural stone counters work well, but some require sealing on a regular basis. The densest granites, such as “absolute black” are among the least porous stones but may not be ideal for your design kitchen aesthetic.
* consider how hot counter materials may get under constant sunlight. Some materials stay naturally cooler than others, and it isn't always a light-versus-dark color issue. The best way to test is to leave a sample in the sun.
* counters and patio/decking material (especially near the grill and other cooking equipment) should be highly resistant to grease stains. Don’t be afraid to mix patio materials.

4. Compliment the design of the home.
* the outdoor kitchen design should compliment the architecture of the home and the landscape. Use compatible materials and incorporate subtle architectural details.
5. Plan the entire outdoor entertaining space as part of a single functional plan.
* dining areas, lounging areas, cooking areas and pool areas often coexist. Think of these as outdoor rooms and consider the flow of traffic between them as part of the design.
* try not to isolate the outdoor cook from the rest of the party. Create opportunities for interaction and conversation within the outdoor kitchen and between the outdoor kitchen and other areas.