Are you stoked to go outside and fire up your built-in stainless-steel grill with natural gas hookup surrounded by plenty of counter space and a built-in fridge? Or do you instantly start to stress out like “Oh man that grill is so nasty and old. I’ll have to roll it out – hopefully the wind doesn’t take it out again. And I bet we’re out of propane. It always just burns everything. I hate grilling out!” If you’re more like the second – maybe it’s time to start designing an outdoor grilling setup you’ll actually enjoy using.
Just like your indoor kitchen, a well-designed outdoor grilling space will be the center of attention and attract the party. People flock to the kitchen. It’s science! As soon as you fire up the grill, you’re bound to have company. Imagine friends and family gathered around the grill island or sitting at the bar while you carry on a conversation and cook a wonderful meal. It’s the perfect setting for creating memories year after year.
Also, just like your indoor kitchen, your outdoor kitchen should be thoughtfully designed with attention to function and form. Consider the flow from inside to outside, the position of the island, the size and orientation, appliance locations, lighting, electrical outlets, and finishes are all part of the design process.
First consider where you want your grilling space. We recommend keeping it close to your inside kitchen when possible since you’ll be bringing food and other items out from there. Then think about how you’ll use the outdoor kitchen. Do you love to cook? Or do you cook a little, but really love to entertain? This is going to help your designer figure out how to setup your space. An L shaped grill station with a bar is great for entertaining and provides a lot of space for appliances.
Grill Stations - Hyde Park and Bellbrook
Dial in your grill setup beyond the grill. Make this thing super functional. Add counter space so you can prep food and serve off of the grill without leaving the grill. Add a sink so that you can rinse your hands while cooking meat. It’s nice to have some cabinets and drawers to stash grilling supplies and utensils. Don’t forget to add a built-in hideaway trash can so you can keep your space neat and tidy. You’re always going to want a cold drink close by so consider adding a refrigerator or an ice chest at a minimum. Bottom line, don’t skimp on the basic appliances. You will regret it.
Once your layout and appliance selections are complete, it’s time to think finishes. There are a ton of options. Need to match the brick or stone on your house? Easy. There are ample natural stone, cultured stone and segmental block options available. You can easily achieve modern, contemporary or traditional looks by selecting the right finish. There are also quite a few options available for the counter tops – granite, cast in place concrete, natural stone. Selection all depends on your taste, budget and setting.
We often hear from homeowners that they don’t think they can have an outdoor kitchen or grill station because they already have a deck or patio. This typically is not the case. In most cases it’s actually practical to add an outdoor grill station to an existing deck or patio. By using light weight framing construction and modifying the base, we can make it work.
If you’re ready to get out there and really enjoy grilling outside this year, give us a call and let us help you create the outdoor kitchen setup you can be proud of. J Squared offers 3D outdoor kitchen and grilling designs so you can fully understand your outdoor kitchen and how it will flow with your outdoor living space. We also install outdoor kitchens and grill stations. We’d love to help you!