Nothing makes dining outside easier than a fully equipped kitchen just steps from the house.
More than a basic barbecue grill, an outdoor kitchen may have a sink, refrigerator, wet bar, even a fireplace or pizza oven. And while a grill is still central to an outdoor cooking space, it's likely to come fitted out with side burners, a warming shelf, and a roasting spit or smoker.
"The outdoor kitchen has become an extension of the home's living space," says Paula Blanchfield, a landscape architect in San Mateo, California. "Today, homeowners want the same kinds of amenities outdoors as they're used to indoors." A custom design by an architect or landscape professional with the works—deluxe appliances plus weather-resistent cabinetry, stone countertops, lighting and plumbing—can run as high as $60,000. On a more modest scale, new prefabricated units combine grill, accessories, and storage in one.
DESIGN BASICS KITCHEN OUTDOOR
