Ready for a crash course in outdoor kitchen
cabinets?
Because
it's time to dream up what your fresh-air kitchen will look like,
feel like, and be like.
Great looking
outdoor cabinets make all the difference.
They add style, boost
convenience and function, and tie together the entire
outdoor kitchen theme.
What's on your wish
list -- teak or stainless steel -- built-in or
portable?
Not sure yet?
Then jump-start your
imagination with The Guide To Outdoor Kitchen
Cabinets.
We'll have your outdoor
kitchen behaving like an indoor kitchen in no
time!
An outdoor
kitchen cabinet isn't just for storage.
They also anchor your
outdoor kitchen appliances. And they're structural support for your
outdoor kitchen island,
sink, and countertops.
Portable or
Built-In
No doubt about it!
Built-in outdoor kitchen cabinets are top-of-the-line,
alfresco deluxe!
But they're not the
only way to get a high-end look.
Whether you choose
built-in or portable, every outdoor kitchen only has 3
basic components:
Grill
Work
space
Storage
Portable Outdoor Kitchen
Cabinets
Portable is the
operative word for a lot of us to realize our outdoor
kitchen dreams.
No worries! There's
good news!
Outdoor kitchens are
a growth industry. So "the industry" is making
more affordable alternatives available than ever before.
And I'm all about affordable alternatives.
There are lots of
benefits to keeping it basic.
Beer taps and
recessed stainless steel paper towel holders are both
good options. But if you keep it basic, you can get an
uptown look with downtown dollars.
Think grilling carts,
bar carts, potting benches, and wood or plastic storage
benches along with a stainless steel kitchen cabinet or
two.
Even a stainless
steel worktable with a rack at the bottom can be used to
store your outdoor kitchen essentials.
In fact, you can turn
all sorts of things into outdoor kitchen
storage.
An old bucket filled
with ice becomes temporary storage as an alfresco
beverage cooler.
Or a teak cooler with
lid doubles as a bench or small side table during the
party. And when the party's over, spill out the ice,
wipe it down, and fill it with whatever you need to
store outside.
Or you can dedicate a
space inside the house to store only those items you use
outdoors.
Built-in Outdoor Kitchen
Cabinets
Portable is fabulous.
But if you want a setup with all the bells and whistles,
then by all means, upgrade!
If you can dream it,
you can have it. And the more ambitious your outdoor
kitchen dreams, the more functional your outdoor cook
zone should be.
You want the
convenience of having cooking utensils, ingredients and
such close at hand.
You'd never settle
for limited, inconvenient storage indoors. So why settle
for it outdoors?
Your outdoor setup
demands all the indoor amenities.
Built-in outdoor
kitchen cabinets range from off-the-shelf, to
ready-to-assemble, to completely
customized.
They come in
stainless steel, polymer, mahogany, teak, ipe, cedar and
redwood. Here are some particulars for your
consideration:
Ready-made
grilling islands
Built on steel
frames
Available with
exterior finishes
Counter top
options
Appliance
options
Doors come
standard
Ready-made
modular cabinets
Stainless steel
options
Marine-grade
polymer options
Connected with
filler panels
Counter top
extra
Doors come
standard
Modular Framing
Systems
Steel or anodized
aluminum
Screw-connected
cabinet modules
Concrete backer
board attached to frame
Custom exterior
finish
Custom Wood
Frames
Customized
Built on
site
Concrete backer
board attached to frame
Custom exterior
finish
Masonry
Frames
Customized
Concrete block
construction
Custom exterior
finish
Built-In
Cabinetry
There's lots of variety
in cabinet types.
Specialty stores will
carry a limited number of options.
And not every
landscape architect, designer, or builder will know the
finer details of all the options out there.
A builder will
be familiar with custom wood framing.
Landscape
architects and designers will surely be comfortable with
masonry construction and modular systems.
And home centers
and specialty stores will likely be limited to
ready-made grilling islands or modular units.
So here's
a quick rundown on all your built-in outdoor kitchen
cabinets.
Ready-Made Grilling Island -
$
Lightweight materials
Quick
and easy installation
Limited to manufacturer's designs
Ready-Modular Cabinets -
$$
Design
flexibility
Lots
of storage
Indoor
kitchen look
Indoor
kitchen style
Modular Framing Systems -
$$-$$$
Design
flexibility
Custom
finish & counter
Lots
of storage
Non-flammable
Custom Wood Frames -
$$-$$$
Customization
Design
flexibility
Lots
of storage
Flammable frame
Custom Masonry Frames
$$-$$$
Durability
Alfresco kitchen look
Non-flammable
Difficult to design storage
Exterior Cabinet
Finishes
Location,
budget, and taste will all be deciding factors in what
exterior cabinet finishes you choose. Get what moves
you!
Natural Stone - $$-$$$
Durable
Natural
Non-flammable
Engineered Stone - $$
Looks
natural
Non-flammable
Brick Outdoor Kitchen
- $
Traditional
Durable
Non-flammable
Porcelain Tile - $
Lots
of colors, sizes, and styles
Blends
with architecture
Durable
Non-flammable
Stucco - $
Lots
of colors options
Clean
simple finish
Polymer - $
Durable
Lots
of color options
Stainless Steel - $$$
Durable
Contemporary look
Non-flammable
Wood - $-$$
Cedar,
redwood, mahogany, teak, ipe
Flammable
Cabinet Doors &
Hardware
Unless you
choose a ready-made grilling island or a modular unit,
you'll also need cabinet doors -- either purchased
separately or custom built.
Many drop-in
grills have matching powder-coated steel
doors.
Whether you choose teak, cedar, or mahogany
doors, make sure they have rustproof
fasteners.
Easy
Outdoor Decor 
