4 Essential Features Every Outdoor Kitchen Should Have in Lisle, IL

Outdoor kitchens in Lisle, IL are growing increasingly popular. Simply firing up the grill is a thing of the past. The modern outdoor kitchen allows homeowners to create a full dining experience, all while remaining outdoors. Here are four features that will make your outdoor kitchen a fully functional entertainment area:

Seating

Adequate seating in your outdoor kitchen can be the difference between an outdoor kitchen experience that invites community, and an isolated island to which the grill-master is confined. Seating allows guests and family to gather while the food is being prepared, provides room for outdoor dining, and creates a space to relax after the meal is finished. Whether you include a bar with barstools, built-in wall seating, or a large outdoor table for more formal dining, seating is an essential feature in any functional outdoor kitchen space. Your landscape architect will be able to advise you on what outdoor seating will work best for your space and will ensure that only the most durable materials are used. Additionally, your landscape architect will make sure that adequate shade and protection from rain is available wherever there is seating, to ensure that you and your guests can enjoy your outdoor kitchen even when the weather does not cooperate.

Workspace

The best outdoor kitchens have plenty of available workspace. There’s nothing worse than not having enough counter space. You’ll want enough workspace to make prepping, cooking, serving, and cleaning as easy as possible. To ensure this, a landscape contractor typically divides an outdoor kitchen into hot, dry, wet, and cold zones. The hot zone include cookers, grills and pizza ovens. The dry zone includes most of your counter workspace, cabinets, and storage space. The wet zone includes sinks and dishwashers and the cold zone contains fridges and beverage cooling appliances. This initial spatial gridding ensures that your workspace will be easy to use and efficient. When your contractor is planning the workspace, he or she will base the design on your needs and wants, to ensure that you get the most out of your outdoor kitchen.

Grill

A grill is the cornerstone of any outdoor kitchen. Because so many different kinds of grills are available today, it’s easy to let the imagination go wild. Whether you want a grill with the full gamut of bells and whistles, or a simple grill that’s easy to use, there’s a model out there for you. It’s important, however, to choose the right size, power, and type of grill that will best meet your needs, while fitting into the space available in your outdoor kitchen. Grill fueling methods include gas, charcoal, and wood pellets, and opinions vary wildly on what makes the best burger.

Lighting

An outdoor kitchen with professionally installed lighting maximizes the time you can spend in the space. A well-lit space can be used during the day or night. Additionally, thoughtfully and professionally installed lighting creates ambiance and a full dining experience on par with any restaurant. Lighting is also a way to accentuate particular features of the outdoor kitchen itself, or nearby landscape focal points. Dimmers are a useful lighting feature, as they allow the homeowner to customize brightness. A bright, safe, and efficient workspace can be had while seating areas are kept at a warm, soft glow.