The Modern Outdoor Kitchen Is a Chef's Kiss in Brambleton, VA

Jul 15

If you love cooking, one of the single best improvements you can make is adding an outdoor kitchen customized to your cooking style to your landscape. A well-designed, well-outfitted outdoor kitchen in Brambleton, VA, is a joy to cook in, whether you’re preparing everyday meals for the family or entertaining a crowd.

A proper, modern outdoor kitchen is much more than a grill in the corner of your patio. It may employ cutting-edge technology and the design principles of a professional kitchen, or it could be a space reminiscent of a familiar indoor kitchen.

Planning the Perfect Outdoor Kitchen

Planning the perfect outdoor kitchen means taking the time to fine-tune your ideas so that you’re happy with the result.

1. Evaluate your preferences. What types of meals will you focus on most of the time? Are you a grill master, or do you prefer the deliciousness that comes from a masonry oven that can be the source of incredible pizzas, roasts, and baked goods? Do you entertain a lot? How many cooks will be in the space at once?

There are so many great outdoor kitchen ideas on the internet, but a great source for inspiration is your own kitchen. Think about the cooking triangle (fridge, cooktop, sink), the appliances you use the most, and the ones that are used only for holidays. Consider the amount of space you need to comfortably move around (as well as the available space on your patio). And consider the materials that you find pleasing whether it’s the look of natural stone, industrial concrete, or a mix of materials.

2. Choose the appliances you will need. Whether you prefer grilling, searing, sauteing, or baking, the appliances you choose for your outdoor kitchen should reflect your preferences. This, in turn, will help to inform the design of the cooking space. For example, a masonry wood-fired pizza oven will not only produce delicious foods, but can become an incredible focal point. But you may not need all the appliances in the world—why install appliances that take up precious real estate but will rarely see any action? Instead, narrow your choices to the appliances that make the most sense for you and build your dream outdoor kitchen around them.

What every outdoor kitchen “needs” is really up to you, but the basics can include a grill, refrigerator, sink, storage (including trash), and counter space. Outdoor-rated appliances that you may find useful include a flat-top griddle, pizza oven, power burner, kegerator or wine tap, ice maker, Kamado grill, or smoker.

3. Choose the design. Depending on the available space, your kitchen could be generously sized, or you may need to create a compact masterpiece that has all the bells and whistles but fits neatly into a smaller space. Depending on the available space and how many appliances you need, your outdoor kitchen could be a single counter, galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, or island bar (an island that does double-duty as a dining and cooking space with each activity on opposite sides of the island).

4. Add personality. Personalize your outdoor kitchen apart with unique touches that reflect who you are. These could be tiles reminiscent of favorite vacation spots, as well as special light fixtures and decorations.

5. Add modern materials. Modern design tends to focus on sleek lines, minimalist styling, and a blend of materials. The beauty is not in embellishments, but rather in the materials themselves: This is why it may be worth paring down your appliance choices so that you can be a little more extravagant with your materials choices, from the pavers that are underfoot to the walls, countertops, and even a pavilion to shelter the cooking and dining space.