Finesse
alfresco cooking with an outdoor kitchen
island.
They're all about
convenience, proximity, and pizzazz!
So while you might resist the urge to install
that snazzy outdoor refrigerator, that wood-burning pizza oven, and
that coveted beer tap, an island in your outdoor kitchen is
indispensable.
That's because they serve 6 essential kitchen
functions:
Powerful heat
source Food prep
area Landing
zone Serving
space
Storage Return on investment
And if you already have a
patio or a deck and an outdoor dining set, you're more than
half way
there!
Think of them as souped up kitchen cabinets
with a cooktop, a counter and a twist.
They're so great, because they're
so versatile!
Everyone's idea of outdoor
kitchen islands is different.
It could mean an utterly modern, all-inclusive unit
with a powerful, professional, freestanding or built-in grill. This
same unit also contains an outdoor refrigerator, ice maker, warming
drawers, grill canopy hood, refreshment center and a serving
cart -- outstanding!
Or, it could mean snack bar, dining area, counter
space, landing zone, prep area -- that sort of thing.
Configuring the
Island
Here are a few basic layout options:
Single counter
Dual counters - gallery arrangement
L-shaped
U-shaped
G-shaped - rectangular or square
Curved
Arched
Circular
Here are locations and functions to think
about:
Against a wall of the house
In a courtyard
On a retaining wall
Edge of the patio
Edge of the deck
Freestanding
Raised bars
Table extensions
The work triangle is the most convenient configuration,
but it's not always possible. You won't always find an
outdoor kitchen
sink
in every alfresco kitchen. And you
can't create a triangle with one counter.
So create zones instead:
Hot zone for grills, burners, and pizza
ovens
Cold zone for refrigerators, coolers and ice
makers
Wet zone for sinks and beverage centers
Dry zone for a buffet, food prep, serving plates,
eating
Put the hot zone the farthest distance for safety and
comfort. Cold zones should be positioned where serving drinks is
convenient. Wet and dry zones should simplify food preparation.
And try to get some counter space in every zone.
Another consideration is weather.
And the idea is to get the look
and feel of an indoor cabinet by using noncombustible and
weatherproof
outdoor kitchen cabinet
materials.
Achieving this might be a tad more expensive, and adds
a layer of complexity to construction, but the end result is well
worth it.
If you're looking for a simple, low-cost alternative,
concrete block covered in a decorative stucco finish fits the bill
nicely. Or use decorative concrete blocks that don't need
finishing at all.
I'm all about simple, low-cost alternatives!
And if simple, low-cost alternative ideas appeal
to your inner do-it-yourself, here is a 3,000 foot view.
Install a concrete slab
Purchase all the soon-to-be built-in components,
including the grill.
Size your island to use full
widths of concrete block