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.
Outdoor kitchens are very custom because very home is different and every homeowner may have different ideas of exactly what they want. If there is a standard outdoor kitchen design, 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 a 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.
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 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 outdoor kitchen. 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.