Kitchen on the patio can be an outdoor oasis

By MARY G. PEPITONE UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE

LITTLE ROCK — For a growing number of homeowners, “eating out” means stepping onto their backyard patio or deck. The great outdoors has become the newest frontier for culinary construction, which can include everything, even the kitchen sink.

“Having an outdoor kitchen just fits the lifestyle of today’s American family,” says Stephen Melman, director of Economic Services with the National Association of Home Builders. According to the association’s 2007 “Home of the Future Study,” industry experts predict at least one out of every five new houses built by 2015 will have an outdoor kitchen.

“We’ve all heard the term ‘staycation,’ and an outdoor kitchen works for families who want to create a relaxing, fun atmosphere at home,” says Alan Zielinski, a certified kitchen designer through the National Kitchen and Bath Association and owner of Better Kitchens Inc. in Niles, Ill.

A residential outdoor kitchen doesn’t need to be high-tech to be highly treasured, Zielinski says. “A welldesigned outdoor kitchen takes a cook’s preferences into consideration,” he says. “It is a highly personalized space that isn’t just about barbecuing.”

An outdoor, alfresco or European-inspired summer kitchen is built with amenities often found in its indoor counterpart. Custom-built outdoor kitchens range in cost from around $5,000 to $50,000 and up, Zielinskisays. Essential components of an outdoor kitchen include a cooking source, a food preparation area, and a place to sit and eat.

A large natural gas or propane grill - not a charcoal kettle or hibachi - is most commonly installed. Grills can also come with cooking accouterments such as a rotisserie attachment and extra burners.

Custom-made outdoor kitchen cabinets can house a built-in grill, sink and refrigerator. Cabinets are most often made of stainless steel, which is smooth, durable and resistant to the elements.

The functional design of a kitchen island has also moved outside with prefabricated stations starting at $3,000 and up. Countertops set over cabinets or the kitchen island can serve as food preparation and eating areas.

By choosing durable work surfaces, custom-made outdoor kitchens have become counter-revolutionary. Sealed stone countertops - most often made of granite, slate and limestone - are smooth, easy to clean and naturally resistant to heat and stains. Engineered-stone - a manufactured stone surface composed of more than 90 percent quartz and high performance polymers - has all the benefits of stone but doesn’t require sealing.

Porcelain tile - glazed and unglazed - offers an array of patterns, colors and textures. Porcelain is nonporous with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5 percent.

Any appliances, countertops or cabinetry used in an outdoor kitchen must be able to withstand a wide range of temperatures. Standard indoor appliances are not rated for outdoor conditions and can prove hazardous outside. Be sure an outdoor appliance carries the UL (Underwriters Laboratory) seal approving it for outdoor use.

Zielinski says a water source is useful, but if it’s installed you must shut it off when temperatures go below freezing to avoid burst pipes.

“An outdoor kitchen can be the focal point of outside living,” Zielinski says. “Depending on the budget, some homeowners create an outdoor oasis, which can include a cabana, hot tub, pool and fireplace.” Some homeowners prefer a stone oven as the kitchen’s centerpiece.

For those homeowners who have the desire - but not the dollars - for a custom-made outdoor kitchen, Zielinski suggests buying a modular kitchen setup with cutting boards and an iceddown beverage center. As long as you have the grill, a homeowner can spend hundreds, as opposed to thousands, on outdoor kitchen carts found at their local hardware or builder’s warehouse stores.

The best part of having an outdoor kitchen is the cleanup, Melman says. “Folks hang out by the grill and kids can get a little messy, and it’s all OK,” he says. “If something gets dropped on the ground, all you have to do is hook up the hose.”

HomeStyle, Pages 41 on 10/24/2009