Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor Kitchen & Bar in Chicago
We all love to eat, and many of us enjoy cooking just as much! One of the biggest trends in landscaping today is the addition of outdoor kitchens to new or existing patio spaces. Using versatile, high-quality grills, refrigerators, sinks, built-in ice bins and even beer taps, the outdoor kitchen often matches or even exceeds the functionality of the one inside our homes. As with the inside, the outdoor kitchen also becomes a central gathering point for family and friends.
Outdoor kitchens can be designed and built in many different configurations, using materials that often mirror the kitchen inside the home. Countertops can be cut from limestone, granite or man-made materials. Kitchen styles include:
- Simple built-in grill.
- Grill and bar combination. These can be custom configured based on the space available. L-shaped kitchen and bars are very popular, but at times separating the two and creating a bar ‘island’ may prove more appropriate.
- Backsplashes can be added to enhance the aesthetics of the kitchen, block wind from the cooking space, and offer a space to install GFI outlets.
- Oversized footprints are sometimes needed to accommodate multiple appliances.
Construction of outdoor kitchens involves more than other landscape items. These structures must not move with our freeze/thaw cycles, which can result in broken countertops, gas or electric lines, or other issues. To prevent this, a strong concrete foundation anchored below the frost line is a must. Inside the structure, ample room is needed to install and maintain gas and electric lines. Usually, one GFI outlet is needed inside the structure for grill accessories, and often other outlets are installed on the outside of the kitchen for convenience when using blenders or other cooking tools.
If you are interested in adding an outdoor kitchen to your home please give us a call at 630.231.0069 to schedule a free consultation.
Our other projects: Fire Pits, Outdoor Fireplaces, Outdoor Lighting, Patios, Pergolas, Plants, Retaining Walls, Seat Walls, Water Features & Fountains.