| An outdoor kitchen is a wonderful way to make | | | | prepared to hire an electrician to handle the |
| the backyard a more appealing place to entertain. | | | | wiring?--Do you like to smoke meat or dehydrate |
| Why spend your parties stuck inside, preparing | | | | jerky? Rotisserie ovens, dehydrators, and meat |
| food in your regular kitchen, when you can be | | | | smokers are good choices for outdoor kitchens, |
| outside, chatting with your guests, serving drinks, | | | | since the long cook times can make the smells |
| grilling hamburgers, and even making pizzas | | | | overpowering indoors. Outdoors, no one is going |
| without ever leaving the part? If you have a | | | | to mind.--Do you want to entertain right by the |
| backyard swimming pool or spa, an outdoor | | | | house or would a detached island be better, |
| kitchen is a perfect addition. And if you're thinking | | | | perhaps as a poolside bar? Take note that the |
| about selling your home one day, a well-built | | | | farther away your outdoor kitchen is from |
| backyard entertaining area can only increase the | | | | existing electrical and water lines, the more |
| value of your home. Today, dedicated outdoor | | | | expensive it will be to install.--What's the climate |
| living spaces are growing more and more popular | | | | like where you live? Will you need to have a roof |
| with homeowners (and more potential home | | | | over your kitchen? If you don't want to install a |
| buyers are putting them on their want lists).There | | | | roof, you'll need to order special waterproof |
| are all sorts of features you can build into an | | | | appliances, which can cost more.--Where do the |
| outdoor kitchen. Examples include fire pits, pizza | | | | prevailing winds come from in your yard? You |
| ovens, refrigerators, ice makers, granite | | | | don't want to have your food and wrappers being |
| countertops, deluxe gas barbecues, trash | | | | blown away all the time. If possible, maybe you |
| compacters, wok burners, and gas or electric | | | | can build up a wall or use an existing wall to |
| stoves. Basically, anything you can do indoors you | | | | protect the area.As you can see, there are quite |
| can do outdoors these days. The only limits are | | | | a few things to consider. Outdoor kitchens can be |
| your creativity and your budget.Before you run | | | | simple or very complex. Either way, a well |
| down to the home improvement store and | | | | thought outdoor kitchen can be a wonderful |
| charge up a big order, stop to think about what | | | | addition to a home.Hopefully, these questions have |
| you want in your outdoor kitchen. Here are some | | | | given you an idea of some of the decisions you |
| of the questions you should ask while you're still in | | | | should make before you actually start spending |
| the planning stages:--Do you want to be able to | | | | money on your new kitchen. As with all home |
| cook complete meals, or will a charcoal or gas | | | | improvement projects, it's a good idea to spend a |
| barbecue suffice?--Is your food preparation area | | | | lot of time planning before you actually break |
| going to include a sink? If so, you'll have to run a | | | | ground.For more ideas, visit the author's home |
| water line to your outdoor kitchen.--Do you want | | | | improvement blog. You may also find useful |
| a refrigerator, ice maker, or other appliances that | | | | information at this outdoor living site. |
| will require electricity be run to them? Are you | | | | |