When it comes to outdoor kitchen design, the important things are your space, your style and function needs, and your budget. That may sound like the list of important things for any design, but it is especially true when it comes to outdoor kitchen designs. Outdoor kitchens are to some degree a luxury item.  You don’t have to have one in your home and you can live happily ever after for many years. But the addition of one creates a unique place outside your home where you can entertain and enjoy friends and family. It also adds real value to your home, and creates separation in terms of features and quality when it comes time to sell the home. If you think about this project in terms of planning and building one of the most creative outdoor kitchens you can, you will go a long way towards adding even more value to your home.

Having said all of that, let’s talk about how to design outdoor kitchens, or outdoor bbq islands as they are called in some parts of the country. Back to that short list we go. How much space do you have? If you can only fit a small cabinet and a grill, the design phase can quickly enter the detailed stage when you choose things like granite, tile, paint color, etc. But if you have a good sized space that is large enough to present some options on the shape and dimensions of the area, things can be more complicated. If you have a creative mind, you can experiment with different layouts on your own. The best way to do this is with blue painters tape. You can tape out different layouts on the floor and see how you like the way they look and feel. Think about things like the entry way to the kitchen, if there is one. An entry way is formed when part of the kitchen comes close to the home, a screened area, or even itself if the design is a wrap around layout. It might make sense to bring in an outdoor kitchen contractor at this point, even if you feel like you are a long way from a final plan. The contractor can help you understand the mechanics of why some layouts might not work and others will, or they may have enough experience to give you suggestions on designs that you have not thought of yet. This kind of assistance is normally free of charge, mostly because the goal of the contractor is to get your business. This does not mean you should abuse the contractor with repeated visits. Schedule a consultation and get their advice, then call them back when you are ready for them to develop a proposal for your outdoors kitchen design.

Once you have the general layout firmed up, you can move onto the function of outdoor kitchen islands. In this case that means you need to decide what outdoor kitchen appliances. Built in grills are included in most outdoor kitchens. Grills come on many sizes with many different options and accessories. In most cases, people use quality stainless steel appliances in their outdoor kitchen, and the price range of a stainless steel bbq can be anywhere from $1000 to $5000 or more. Other things to consider are the addition of a sink, wine cooler, ice maker, or any number of things. When considering all designs, keep in kind that some companies that make grills also make entire islands that serve as outdoor kitchens. Fire Magic grills is one of the companies that does this, and this is a way to kee overall cost down on your project.

Once you have developed your “wish list” for this project, and you know they can fit into both your outdoors kitchen designs and your budget, you can move onto the last phase, or the style phase. This is when you decide on granite vs tile, and things like paint color, any grout colors you might need, and other finishing touches. These things impact your budget too, but these are mostly style choices and preferences.

Approach this project in an organized manner, and while it may frustrate you at times, you will come out the other side a very happy home owner.

If you are planning an outdoor kitchen, you may be stressing about things like budget, contractor selection, and the layout of the kitchen. If you go into the project with a good plan, you can avoid most of the stress involved and stay focused on the end result; your new outdoor kitchen! Think about things as simple as the existing light at one given location compared to another.  Nearby patio umbrella lights probably do not give you enough light to cook by, but a nearby sconce might. or you might have to think about adding some light and incorporate that into your plan.

Many people decide they need or want an outdoor kitchen, then they throw themselves into thinking about how big they want the outdoor kitchen to be and all the different appliances they want to have. Then they get a few estimates and are shocked at the price, even though they had no way of knowing what the price should be! If you just do some homework both in the design area as well as learning what outdoor appliances cost, the outdoor kitchen plans will come together much more smoothly.

When you call outdoor kitchen contractors to get their design ideas and prices for the job, you may find yourself telling them you want a cabinet of such and such a length, with a grill and refrigerator. Then you ask how much that will cost. Of course, the contractor will have no way of giving you a price since you gave him so little information. For example, will the counter tops be tile, granite, or some other solid surface? What size and quality grill do you want, and what features do you want it to have? You want a refrigerator, but what kind do you want? The prices vary greatly depending on how you answer all of these questions. For that reason, know what you want before you call contractors to give you prices. By doing this you will know if their price is fair, and at the same time you will not be wasting anyone’s time.

It makes the most sense to examine your space when developing outdoor kitchen ideas. There is no sense creating a wish list of outdoor appliances and then realizing you do not have room for them. You probably already know where you want to put the outdoor kitchen. But have you through the location through? Is electric available at the location, and if not, how far to bring it into the kitchen area. Think through the same thing with any plumbing needs. If you want a sink and there is no plumbing at the kitchen location, try to learn about your plumbing options from a plumber prior to having the outdoor kitchen contractor price them. Getting water, and particularly a drain into the area can be very expensive, expensive enough to have you rethink whether you really want that sink. But it does not cost anything to find out your options.

OK, so you have a location in mind. Now you have to figure out how much cabinet space you have, then determine if the appliances you want will fit. For example, let’s say you have a 12 foot length of cabinet space available. You want a grill, side burner, refrigerator, and sink. Grills vary in size from 27 inches to 60 inches. Most people are fine with something in the 27 inch to 36 inch range. Only consider going larger than this if you do a LOT of entertaining. Let’s say you want a 36 inch grill. A standard side burner is 12 inches wide, most outdoor refrigerators are 24 inches wide, and you can allow 20 inches for the sink. You have almost 8 feet worth of equipment width in a 12 foot length so even when you allow a bit of room between appliances you still have plenty of space.

Now, how much will this outdoor kitchen cost? Again, let’s look at the equipment. The grill price will depend on the brand and features of the grill. If you want a grill with lights and a rotisserie it will be more expensive than one without those things. But an even bigger factor is the brand because the brand will determine the level of quality. You want a grill made from 304 stainless steel. This is a type of stainless steel that will not rust. It is more expensive, but most brands will come with a lifetime warranty against rust. So, depending on those things mentioned already, this grill will cost you anywhere from $1200 to $4000. That is a wide range, so it definitely pays to do your homework.

Next comes the refrigerator. A stainless steel refrigerator that is UL approved for outdoor use will range from $1300 to $3000, again depending on brand. I see no reason to purchase the higher level when it comes to outdoor rated refrigerators. The warranties are all pretty much the same, and they are all stainless steel wrapped and will not rust. My suggestion is to save money here and spend a bit more on the grill.

The double burner will cost somewhere in the $400 to $1000 range, again depending on brand. One quirk of these is the less expensive brands tend to have very little adjustment in their flame levels. They tend to have high, even when you put them on low. This can get frustrating when you are trying to simmer something.

Finally, the cost of the sink and faucet will be relatively small compared to the rest of the equipment. Figure $300, give or take a little.

OK, so now you have a good idea of what your equipment will cost, right? Um, wrong. Combined, these 4 outdoor appliances can cost you anywhere from $3200 to $8300! That is a huge variance. This is why you have to do your own homework. Only you can decide what level of appliance and what price point you are comfortable with, so you should have a good understanding of these things prior to calling in contractors.

Once you decide on the appliance package, you can start to get some prices for completed outdoor kitchens. Call in at least 3 contractors and let them draw and propose the project. be sure you are comparing apples to apples. Are the cabinets constructed similarly? There is a big difference between concrete cabinetry and wooden cabinetry. ine will last a lifetime while the other may only last  couple of years. Also be sure they are pricing the same kinds of appliances. You have already seen the huge price differences in outdoor appliances, so the only fair way to compare overall pricing is to take this into account.

Be sure to get references. Any contractor who cannot or will not provide them is not someone you want to deal with. Ask to go see a completed project or two. Past customers are a good contractor’s best source of advertising. And finally, don’t discount your gut feeling about the contractor as an individual. Some people are just easier to talk to and deal with and that is worth some amount of money, even if they are at a higher price point. But again, only you can decide just how much that is worth.

Once you finally have your design,you can begin to get into color schemes and other, more style related things. Some people like to match the pool tile, while others like to match the patio chair cushions. it is a very personal process, so take your time. Some people love the look of outdoor stainless steel cabinets, while others prefer the look of stone or stucco.

If you follow these steps and stay disciplined in your approach, you can take the stress out of all phases of your outdoor kitchen project. When it is finished, you will be able to truly enjoy it with no nagging questions about whether you handled it the right way. Instead, you can send out the invitations to your neighbors for the inaugural party at your new outdoor kitchen!

Many people who want an outdoor kitchen just love the idea of it, but in reality they do not know what they want or what their space can actually accommodate. Outdoor kitchen contractors generally are in business to do nothing but design and build outdoor kitchens, so they are a good resource for getting help when you decide to start your planning. If you are planning to build your own outdoor kitchen you might still want to talk to some local contractors to make sure you have not forgotten anything in your outdoor kitchen plans. They can also give you some insight on what to expect when thinking about how to build an outdoor kitchen. While a do it yourself outdoor kitchen is not a project for everyone, if you are handy you can create your owne outdoor space and probably save some money in the process.

Outdoor kitchens are very custom because every home is different and every homeowner may have different ideas of exactly what they want. If there is a standard in outdoors kitchen designs, it is probably a straight cabinet that golds a grill, sink, and refrigerator. But that is where the standard design ends. In any given house the area for the outdoor kitchen might be under one of the many types of patio covers, or it might be an open air area. If it is under cover, the grill might need a vent hood over it. In two identical homes, one might add the vent hood and one might not. This kind of decision usually comes down to budget. A typical vent hood, including all the labor and materials is a little over a $2000 accessory to your outdoor kitchen.

Many people want an outdoor kitchen bar area, but not all of them have the room for a bar. And, once again, not all of them have the money for a bar in their budget. The bigger the bar the larger the price tag because there is more of everything including granite or tile or whatever the counter top is, along with more of whatever the material is the cabinet is being built from. If you are considering a bar, but don’t know how many chairs you can fit into a given bar area, the general rule is between 2 and 2 1/2 feet per bar stool, so keep that in mind when making your outdoor bar plans.

Another thing that is sometimes a hard decision thinking through your outdoor kitchen designs is whether to install a sink in the outdoor kitchen. If there are not water sources and a drain at the outdoor kitchen site, the decision becomes easy. Don’t install a sink. It can cost into the thousands of dollars to get water and especially a drain to the outdoor kitchen site. Very few people are willing to spend thousands of dollars just to have a sink in their outdoor kitchen.

In the end, outdoor kitchen plans are a pretty simple process. It does make sense to listen to as many outdoor patio kitchen ideas as you can, but in the end you have to assess the space you have available and make a list of the things you want in your custom outdoor kitchens. Then begin to do the math and see if those things will all fit into your space. If they do, you are on your way. If they do not, explore another location, if one is available.  If you are in a colder climate, consider adding a patio heater near the outdoor kitchen site. Sometimes there is a way to use your garden lighting to enhance your outdoor kitchen area. If you are restricted to a certain space and cannot fit everything in your outdoor kitchen that you want, then it comes down to compromise. Compromising with yourself is better than having to go through that process with other people.