The outdoor kitchen is becoming the social hub of many homes, much as the indoor kitchen is the favorite gathering place for family and friends. The trend is especially strong in areas where the climate favors outdoor living almost year-round.
"The outdoor kitchen is becoming a lot more than a grill and a sink in the corner of the porch. It's a whole entertainment system," said Scott Redmon, owner of Alfresco Living in Maitland, Fla. "People have a higher expectation for their exterior spaces since HGTV came around."
Outdoor kitchens are popular because they are fun to live with, said Russ Faulk of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet in Kalamazoo, Mich.
"They add to the quality of life for the homeowner," Faulk said. "Preparing a meal outdoors is not a chore: It's an occasion, a reason to have friends over and enjoy the process."
An outdoor kitchen also expands a home's living space and adds to its value, he said. "The return on your investment is comparable to an indoor kitchen redo."
Since the economic downturn, "people have been unable to sell their homes, so they are starting to upgrade with better landscaping and outdoor kitchens, spending more time at home," said Sue Fern, manager of Florida's American Society of Landscape Architects chapter.
The built-in grill was the start of the outdoor-kitchen trend, Faulk said.
"Then came the sink, the refrigerator, a counter for food prep, cabinets for storage - pretty much what you'd have in an indoor kitchen," he said.
Newest ways to cook
As more equipment is added, outdoor rooms are becoming larger and more covered, he said. Seating areas are added, along with outdoor TV sets, fire pits and water features.
The grill - fired by gas, wood or charcoal - is still the heart of the outdoor kitchen. Especially popular are hybrid grills, which can be switched from gas to wood or charcoal, depending on what is being cooked, Faulk said. "There's nothing like grilling fish over an oak fire."
Pizza ovens are starting to threaten the grill's reign as king of the outdoor kitchen. Oven designs range from large, wood-fired brick and clay ovens that take several hours to heat up, to compact countertop models fired by gas that are ready for baking pizzas in 20 minutes. Also gaining popularity in outdoor kitchens are keg-tappers, wine chillers, ice makers and warming cabinets.
When designing an outdoor kitchen, be sure to look for low-maintenance equipment, Faulk said, "or you defeat the purpose of carefree outdoor cooking."
Also, make sure cabinetry is designed to keep the contents clean and dry in inclement weather. Install good task and ambient lighting and choose counter-top material that is stain- and grease-resistant and stays cool in the sun.
"Get countertop samples, leave them in the sun and see how hot they get," Faulk said. "Heat-retention is not always related to color. Some light colors get hotter than some dark colors."
Revamp on a budget
He also offers these cost-cutting tips: Design the outdoor kitchen against the house to reduce the cost of getting utilities to the space. And buy the best grill you can afford.
When designing an outdoor kitchen, "Consider how the space will be used: as a personal refuge or a place to entertain and be social; as a place to cook and eat, or to drink and socialize," said Eduardo Xol, exterior designer on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and celebrity designer for hayneedle.com.
"Indoor-outdoor living helps balance the soul," Xol said. "It keeps you connected with nature and helps you become more aware of living green."
