The Top 3 Outdoor Kitchen Design Mistakes

1. Insufficient Prep Area
   The single most common design mistake we see that makes day-to-day use of the outdoor kitchen more difficult is a shortage of counter space. Whether the homeowner is laying out plates to transfer food from the grill to serve or juggling tools, platters and sauces, the cook always seems to run out of room to work. A good design will allow enough counter for prepping food, serving food and keeping cooking supplies handy.
2. Absentee Landing Zones
   While the most frequent design flaw is a lack of overall counter space, the second most common mistake is leaving out landing zones. The grill and the sink, in particular, need counter space available to the left and the right to sit things down while working.
3. Insufficient Light
   Without ceilings or walls, lighting an outdoor kitchen can be a challenge. A good design will provide enough task lighting that the kitchen can be used at night, and the cook can easily tell when a steak should come off the grill.

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet publishes a number of resources for outdoor kitchen design professionals, including our 10 Tips for Better Outdoor Kitchen Design and our more detailed Outdoor Kitchen Design Guide. The design guide includes specific recommendations for counter space, seating clearances, knee space and storage to help designers create more usable outdoor kitchens.

Webinar: Building a Successful Outdoor Kitchen Design Practice

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet presents a one-hour webinar on Thursday, February 12, 2009 hosted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). This webinar qualifies for one NKBA education hour and .10 CEU.

Building a Successful Outdoor Kitchen Design Practice
February 12, 20092:00 PM Eastern
Registration fee: $99 for NKBA members;
$125 for non-members

Outdoor kitchens are one of the few remaining areas of consumer capital spending, in part because homeowners who have the resources are now focusing on improving their existing homes rather than selling them.

Learn how to develop distinctive services and promote your business through more effective marketing and public relations.

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet regularly teaches outdoor kitchen-related courses to a variety of professional organizations, including kitchen designers and landscape design professionals. Learn more about the services provided to outdoor kitchen design professionals.

Plumbing for an Outdoor Kitchen Sink

Can you imagine an indoor kitchen without a sink? Of course not. That is why most outdoor kitchens designed today include one.

It seems, however, a lot more decisions come with the outdoor sink than the indoor one. Does it need hot water? Where will it drain? How will it be winterized?

Plumbing for an outdoor kitchen sink is similar to other utilities for the outdoor kitchen, it is less expensive to do if the outdoor kitchen is located next to the house. If the outdoor kitchen is against a wall of the home, the plumbing can frequently be run through the exterior basement (above ground) wall and into the kitchen. If not, then the plumbing will require more work. Following are some of the options and considerations...


Hot and Cold
Many outdoor kitchens do not need hot water, and it can be less expensive to run just cold water plumbing. If hot water is desired, compare the cost of an in line (or on-demand) water heater to the cost of running the hot water lines.

Winterizing
If the outdoor kitchen is in a frost zone, any plumbing will need to be winterized before it freezes. The plumber working on the project will design the system and should train the homeowners on the winter shut down and spring opening procedures. Typically, a shut off valve is located inside the home so that the water to the kitchen can be turned off. On the kitchen-side of the valve, but still inside the house, a drain is placed so that water in the lines can be removed. In some situations, pressurized air is used to ensure all water is removed from the pipes and plumbing fixtures. This procedure is similar to that which is used on automated sprinkler systems.

Waste Water
What do you do with the waste water? That is a bigger question, and there are a lot of options.

If you tie the sink into the home's waste water system, you should be free to use a garbage disposal in the sink, and use the sink much as you would an indoor kitchen sink.

Probably the most common solution to a remotely-located outdoor kitchen is to drain the sink into a French drain or a dry well. This will also limit the use of the sink somewhat. You won't want to put food down the sink because of the risk the French drain or dry well will begin to smell.

If these first two approaches are not options, the simplest solution, and the one chosen more often that we might guess, is to drain straight into a bucket under the sink. Emptying the bucket (or forgetting to) can be messy, and it limits the use of the sink, but it can work.

The most green solution is to recycle the waste water (which is considered "gray" water) for use in the garden. This can be done via the "bucket method," or the sink can drain into an irrigation reservoir.

Choosing the Sink and Faucet
One of the most common questions we get at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet is which faucet or sink to choose.

For the sink, stainless steel is the default choice. It is the most durable and hygienic solution. Just about any high-quality stainless steel sink will do the job outdoors, but make sure it is at least 304-grade stainless steel. Other popular options include solid copper or solid bronze sinks. These will patina over time, so be sure the homeowner is comfortable with the earthy or rustic look. Avoid copper or bronze sink "finishes."

For the faucet, you can choose a solid stainless steel unit, but those are pretty uncommon. The most frequent solution is a solid brass faucet with a PVD (physical vapor deposition) finish. A wide variety of finishes are appropriate as long as they are created with the PVD process. Avoid faucets with lightweight or integral plastic parts, and beware rubberized buttons that can degrade with UV exposure. Ceramic disk valves are generally considered best for outdoors.


So, there is no reason to be afraid of including a sink in the outdoor kitchen. Just be sure the homeowner knows what to do to winterize it, and make sure the plumber makes it as easy as possible to do.

Ten Tips for Better Outdoor Kitchen Design

For those who design outdoor kitchens professionally, the key is to combine sound landscape design principles with the best practices of indoor kitchen design. For those who are new to outdoor kitchen design, following are a few tips to make the job a little easier and achieve better results.

1. Apply good kitchen design principles for functional zones of the kitchen.
If you are not a kitchen design professional, be sure you partner with one or at least understand good kitchen design principles. Cold areas (refrigeration), hot areas (grills and cooktops), wet areas (sinks) and dry areas (prep counters and storage) must all work together effectively in proper proximity, with each allocated enough space. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a good resource for kitchen planning guidelines and to find a professional.


2. Consider the relationship between the indoor kitchen and outdoor kitchen.
How self-sufficient do you want the outdoor kitchen to be?

How could they be used together when cooking or entertaining? What is the traffic pattern between them?


3. Select low-maintenance materials designed to withstand the rigors of an outdoor kitchen.
High-quality stainless steel provides a sanitary surface, easily cleaned and corrosion-resistant in harsh environments.

Natural stone counters work well, but some require sealing on a regular basis. The densest granites, such as “absolute black” are among the least porous stones but may not be ideal for your design aesthetic.

Consider how hot counter materials may get under constant sunlight. Some materials stay naturally cooler than others, and it isn't always a light-versus-dark color issue. The best way to test is to leave a sample in the sun.

Counters and patio/decking material (especially near the grill and other cooking equipment) should be highly resistant to grease stains. Don’t be afraid to mix patio materials.

4. Compliment the design of the home.

The outdoor kitchen design should compliment the architecture of the home and the landscape.

Use compatible materials and incorporate subtle architectural details.

5. Plan the entire outdoor entertaining space as part of a single functional plan.

Dining areas, lounging areas, cooking areas and pool areas often coexist. Think of these as outdoor rooms and consider the flow of traffic between them as part of the design.

Try not to isolate the outdoor cook from the rest of the party. Create opportunities for interaction and conversation within the outdoor kitchen and between the outdoor kitchen and other areas.

6. Plan for utilities.

The location of the outdoor kitchen and the equipment within the kitchen can greatly affect the installation or placement of the necessary gas, water and electrical supply.

7. Extend the outdoor entertaining season with heaters, shade and rain shelter.

Shade from pergolas and awnings in both the cooking and dining areas can make a big difference to the homeowner’s enjoyment of the space.

Appropriate rain shelter for the outdoor kitchen can help keep the cook dry and comfortable even if the guests migrate indoors. Do not, however put a combustible ceiling or awning above an outdoor grill. If necessary, use an outdoor-rated ventilation hood.

Natural gas patio heaters can be used effectively under eaves and pergolas. Radiant heat under the patio and counter tops have been used in outdoor kitchens where money is no object, and portable propane patio heaters are a good solution for more modest budgets.

Fireplaces and hearths are perhaps the most attractive option for adding heat to an outdoor entertaining area.

8. Incorporate music and other entertainment.

There are many options for high-quality outdoor speaker systems. Incorporate music into your design so the homeowner doesn't face the design challenge of adding it later.

Video monitors and televisions can also be successfully incorporated into the outdoor entertaining areas if appropriately sheltered from the elements. In addition to shelter, not all equipment delivers a good picture in bright sunlight conditions. Consider this as part of the specification process.

9. Provide ample lighting.

Providing adequate task lighting in an outdoor kitchen can be quite a challenge, but it is necessary to keep the kitchen working after dark.

Ambient lighting and lighting for the dining area are also critical to the success of an outdoor living space design.

Safety lighting on paths and steps is a must.

10. Most importantly, understand the user’s needs and the equipment available.

How does the user cook inside? Outside? Do they do their own cooking, at parties or hire a chef?

How many people and how often do they entertain? Does the outdoor kitchen need to be as comfortable for a family of four to use as it is for a group of 40?

Is the user a gourmet “grill master” or an occasional griller? Do they prefer charcoal or gas, or do they sometimes prefer each type on different occasions? Is a hybrid grill the right solution or would two grills be a better choice?

What other equipment is needed for refrigeration, wood smoking or pizza-making?

By addressing each of these topics, you can create outdoor cooking and entertaining areas that deliver great experiences year after year.

These tips and more are available in the outdoor kitchens section of the Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet website.