The popularity of outdoor kitchens in recent years has put adding one at the top of the list for home owners who are planning home improvement projects. If you live in a new home, particularly one in a warm climate, your house might have come with an outdoor kitchen already included. Or perhaps you paid the builder to stub out the plumbing and electrical so you can add the rest of the kitchen later. This has become very popular and there are entire neighborhoods of newer homes that have everything in place and are just waiting for the budget to allow the addition.
Even if you are living in an older home, don’t despair. There is no reason you cannot add an outdoor kitchen area to any home. If you do not have the plumbing and electric on place, or at least close by, it may cost you more than the same kitchen would cost someone who already had those things in place. It comes down to your budget, and your decision whether to scale down the project or wait until you can have everything you want.
When it comes to outdoor kitchen designs, pretty much anything goes. There is no such thing as a standard design, but if you had to say what most people consider a basic outdoor kitchen it would be include some arrangement of a grill, refrigerator, and sink. But if you are limited on 
space, there is nothing wrong with having just one or two of those items. This is your outdoor kitchen plan so there is no right or wrong. Some people go absolutely crazy and have things like kegerators, wine coolers, icemakers, and enough bar space for 10 stools. There is nothing wrong with that either. But most outdoor kitchen plans fall somewhere in between.
You have to not only look at your space and see what you can fit, you have to think about what you need and will actually use. How much of your view are you willing to have blocked, if any? Is your space under your roof line, or under a waterproof gazebo, or out in the open? What is the maximum budget for this project? these questions will get you heading in the right direction with your plans. Some people don’t even put a grill into their outdoor kitchen cabinet. Perhaps they just want a food service area or a sink to wash glasses. Remember, there is no right or wrong. Having said that, you might also want to consider what you are adding to the resale value of your home. A complete outdoor kitchen will add real value that you will get paid back when you sell your home. Something short of a complete outdoor kitchen may not give you back that value. If you are not planning on moving, this does not matter at all though so just go with what you want and don’t worry about future residents.