Colorful grills, premium pizza ovens make your outdoor kitchen the perfect hangout | Real Estate

For homeowners looking to spice up their backyard BBQ or sophisticated pizza party, the latest outdoor kitchen trends offer everything from warming drawers to smart high-tech cooking solutions and a rainbow of colors to customize any grill or drinks station. You'll find that we offer everything from.

Experts say the growing sophistication of outdoor chefs has fueled these innovations. In addition to traditional grills, homeowners are adding hot new items like stainless steel countertop pizza ovens, pellet smoker grills, and rotisseries to get the flavor they want from their outdoor oasis. Accessories such as grills that can be used to cook everything from pancakes to fried rice are also available, expanding the scope of outdoor cooking.

Gone are the days of plain black grills and everyday countertops, says Sue Bailey, a Huntsville, Alabama-based specialist with Middleby Residential. Middleby Residential focuses on luxury residential kitchen appliances and equipment for outdoor cooking enthusiasts.

“More and more homeowners are embracing outdoor living by moving beyond their backyard grilling area and building luxury outdoor kitchens that are an extension of their well-designed indoor kitchens,” said Bailey. say.

For example, Bailey points to the Lynx product line, whose design team collaborated with Sherwin-Williams and interior designers to create a collection of colorful outdoor kitchenware. Homeowners who prefer a neutral palette can choose colors like Desert Sage and Glacier. Those looking for a vibrant style can choose California Poppy, Pacific Blue, or Surf. These colors are available on Lynx grills, power burners, asado griddles, and warming drawer faceplates.

Jeremy Martin, owner and operator of Willow Gates Landscaping in Mounton, Pa., which has installed hundreds of outdoor kitchens over the past 20 years, says the sheer number of options available to homeowners makes the decision difficult. He says that being tired is a reality.

“It's important to design your kitchen to suit your lifestyle and culinary preferences. If you just want it to be eye candy and never use a fire, don't install a pizza oven,” says Martin. says.

Martin said he tells homeowners to think about how they will use the space. For example, you need to have enough counter area to prepare and serve food for parties ranging from two to her 20 people.

“For furniture, natural stone or maker stone veneers are popular, especially if they match the stone in your home,” Martin says. “Enclosed cabinets are also popular. These are usually aluminum or stainless steel and come in a variety of colors. PVC decking and other composite materials are a new trend, but they must be protected from hot appliances. ”

According to home improvement network and information company Angi, the average cost to install an outdoor kitchen ranges from $6,000 for a simple cooking area on an existing patio to up to $25,000 for a custom design.

The average is about $13,000 to $16,000 for a 300 square foot outdoor kitchen that includes prep, cooking and dining areas. Angi said materials and equipment make up the bulk of the budget.

There are many factors that drive prices up and down. Everything from countertop material to fancy grill setup can impact your budget by the thousands.

Experts say modular options are on the rise for homeowners who want functionality along with high-end design. The modular design also allows for new finishing options, such as enamelled metal in bright colors such as red, yellow, and blue.

“They primarily incorporate some equipment that requires plumbing, gas lines, and sometimes electricity,” says Raffi Friedman, CEO of Coastal Luxury Outdoors in Jacksonville, Florida. To tell. “Other elements such as counters, cabinets, and chairs are movable. This also protects the kitchen from the elements during the off-season and inclement weather.”

Homeowners need to think about how to operate popular appliances like pizza ovens, wine refrigerators, beverage centers with beer dispensers, and ice makers.

“If you're adding something like a sink, dishwasher, or freestanding ice maker to your outdoor kitchen, you may need a water connection,” says Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Appliances, part of the Neighborly Home Services franchise. says.

Neighborly Mr. Electric President Joe Worthington agrees. “If a homeowner has a refrigerator, an electric stove, uses something like an electric mixer, powering the outdoor kitchen is a must,” says Worthington.

The key, Simek and Worthington say, is to work with experts on plumbing, wiring and layout. For example, installation requires a licensed plumber to ensure all connections meet local building codes and regulations.

“It is important that all outdoor outlets have proper covers installed to protect them from the elements. ,” says Worthington.

While this may seem like an additional expense, the safety and results make it worth it, says Aaron Brundage, director of operations at System Pavers in Aurora, Colorado.

“If you have a sink near your grill, you'll wonder how you ever lived without one,” says Brundage.

Outdoor kitchens are the ideal place to incorporate eco-friendly touches into your space, experts say, with everything from recycled materials to all-electric grills to solar-powered lighting.

“Solar lighting can be installed in many different forms, from stake lights to string lights to lighting along the edge of your kitchen patio cover,” says Seamus Nally, CEO of TurboTenant in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Stainless steel is an ideal finish not only when homeowners want a monochromatic look, but also because it's easy to keep clean, says Joe Raboin, vice president of design for Oldcastle APG, an Atlanta building materials wholesaler. states.

“Stainless steel is not porous, so it is better resistant to germs and bacteria than other surfaces. After use, it can be easily wiped down with a disinfectant cleaner,” says Labouine. .

Mike Williams, vice president of sales and marketing for Kenyon, a Clinton, Conn.-based electric grill manufacturer, says environmentally conscious cooks are installing electric grills and induction cooktops in their outdoor kitchens.

Williams says these grills are more environmentally friendly than standard gas or propane grills because they are weather-resistant, rust-proof, and don't release smoke into the air.

“Electric grills are smokeless and flameless, so they're perfect for outdoor kitchens because you don't have to worry about excessive smoke or open flames,” says Williams. “Induction cooktops are energy efficient because they produce no flames, do not require the use of gas or propane, and because the cooktop only heats the cooktop, no heat is lost during transfer.”