3 Design Ideas for Outdoor Kitchens

Contemporary outdoor kitchens are a far cry from a stand-alone grill - featuring amenities that you would normally find in an indoor kitchen (weatherproofed, of course). These amenities make the space much more convenient, even if the cooking area is located in a spot remote from the home (for example, if you have a pavilion situated overlooking a spectacular view). To inspire this summer’s culinary adventures with friends and family, here are 3 design ideas for outdoor kitchens in 2021.

3 Design Ideas for Outdoor Kitchens in 2021 | U shaped outdoor kitchen

A Basic Outdoor Kitchen

If occasional grilling along with a quick stir-fry sums up your outdoor cooking, your kitchen could include a conventional gas or charcoal grill - or alternatively, a kamado grill (an egg-shaped ceramic grill) - along with a two-burner cooktop where you can sauté veggies, and a mini-fridge that holds the basics. Building a stone island around your grill makes the kitchen a focal point on the patio and helps integrate it into the overall design.

One of the most important elements of an outdoor kitchen is the work space. Always be sure to have plenty of elbow room as you prep food. One great solution is to design an L-shaped kitchen where the main cooking elements are on one side, the other is a countertop that can double as bar seating. At a minimum, each “leg” of the L should be at least 10’. This can be challenging to position on a smaller patio. If that’s the case, opt for a straight outdoor kitchen and sacrifice the bar seating.

An extended (straight) kitchen island without bar seating will give you plenty of counter space to prep food on, and because there is no bar seating, you can place the island along the perimeter of the patio, where it won’t take up too much space. In terms of size, plan for 10 linear feet at a minimum for a straight kitchen.

U-Shaped Outdoor Kitchen

Bring the full professional kitchen experience outside with a kitchen that boasts a kamado grill, wood-fired pizza oven, smoker, four-burner cooktop, griddle, and a conventional grill. And that’s just for starters. Granite countertops, stainless steel dishwasher and fridge, a full size as well as a bar sink, wine cooler, beer tap, full bar, and plenty of storage round out an outdoor kitchen that is completely self-sufficient. If it is sheltered under a pavilion - with an outdoor fireplace along one wall and several ceiling fans to disperse hot air - you’ve got a space you can entertain in throughout most of the year.

This type of kitchen is usually U-shaped, and quite large because of the number of cooking elements as well as work space which can double as bar seating. At a minimum, for a one-cook outdoor kitchen with minimal amenities, you want a minimum central width of 5'. For a chef-quality outdoor kitchen it is recommended that this zone is closer to 8' to accommodate two cooks as well as longer countertops to accommodate numerous cooking elements.

For a one-person U-shaped outdoor kitchen, you’ll need about 81 square feet plus space behind one side to accommodate bar seating. For a chef-quality outdoor kitchen you will need approximately 124 square feet plus space behind one side for bar seating. These are minimum sizes.

Galley-Style Outdoor Kitchen

Another great option is a galley-style outdoor kitchen. Along the outer perimeter of the patio (or along the house if you are installing this type of kitchen on a covered porch), an extended island could house certain cooking elements such as a grill (or kamado grill), wood-fired pizza oven, and sink. The other island could feature a sink as well as under-counter appliances, along with generous bar seating. In terms of space, you don’t save anything over a U-shaped kitchen; it does have a sleeker, more modern look with exits on both ends, which can be more comfortable for multiple cooks.

This design is also an opportunity to make a statement by using different materials on each island: for example, granite countertops set on a natural stone-clad island that houses your cooking elements and a full marble bar on the other island (recommended for installation in sheltered areas only).

Final Thoughts

The key to success is to work with the space you have, and carefully consider your cooking style. A minimalist approach is a good starting point: selecting only the cooking elements that you will actually use on a regular basis, and investing in higher quality materials.