Outdoor kitchens

Nataliesgramma · ‎03-28-2015

I see that this is very popular right now. Hubby is now talking about getting a new grill and using bricks to make it look built in on the corner of our patio. Yesterday he told me he also wants to add a bar.

We are retired and don't entertain alot.........I am dragging my feet with this idea...

Thoughts?

Iwantcoffee · ‎03-11-2010

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
I see that this is very popular right now. Hubby is now talking about getting a new grill and using bricks to make it look built in on the corner of our patio. Yesterday he told me he also wants to add a bar.

We are retired and don't entertain alot.........I am dragging my feet with this idea...

Thoughts?

My husband and I built a new deck a couple of summers ago. We bought a new grill but do not have a bar or outdoor kitchen. I have seen some amazing decks and outdoor kitchens on DIY network. I think that if it is something you and your husband would enjoy that is good reason to build it. I sure do enjoy ours.

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@NataliesgrammaI think an outdoor kitchen makes lots of sense for anyone who likes to entertain casually. There was a time in my life I would have loved one, to get the hear and mess out of my kitchen, to have the convenience right at hand near the pool.

I have friends with wonderful outdoor kitchens, but for me that time has passed, so I understand your reluctance.

teainlondon · ‎03-09-2010

I see all the ads with people grilling outside and sitting around a fire pit and bar, and I think that it would be fun. Then I snap back to reality and remember that is not possible since we live in the deep South.

Fighting mosquitoes, gnats, other flying bugs, four legged wilds, like squirrels, possums, or whatever shows up makes me know I would never spend the money for having someone build that space. So I have to be practidal and say, "No. This will not work where we live."

We are in a sub-division in the country, no street lights, even. I don't know anyone who has this type of thing. It would not work in our neighborhood.

If you live in a place where bugs and critters aren't a problem, and you have lots of friends to enjoy it with you, then it might be worth the money.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
I see that this is very popular right now. Hubby is now talking about getting a new grill and using bricks to make it look built in on the corner of our patio. Yesterday he told me he also wants to add a bar.

We are retired and don't entertain alot.........I am dragging my feet with this idea...

Thoughts?

@Nataliesgramma - Do you have a paver or slab patio? That will make a big difference in how you proceed. And, is your patio perfectly level? That will also make a difference. Would you build it at an interior or exterior corner? Depending on what the exterior of your house is finished with (brick or siding), you may not be able to keep your grill right in the corner close to the house, if the high heat might be a problem. You might find that building it down toward the middle of the patio would be better. But if you do that, will you be taking up prime space? I'm just throwing these things out there for you to consider. Ultimately the decision is yours and your husband's. It could be an easy project or it could turn into the project from h**l when you run into problems. We tore down our deck a few years ago and replaced it with a paver (Unilock) patio. I really love it. We did not enclose our grill in or make a bar. It's just one large area so we have he ability to arrange our patio furniture wherever we want from year to year and move the grill as needed (pull it out to a more open area when cooking and then tucking it back in its space when not in use). I think an outdoor kitchen could look very nice, but it would be a big expense, maybe larger than you anticipate, and if you don't really entertain it migh be an expensive project with little reward in return once the newness wears off.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

I think it would be great if you live where it is practical like California. Great weather most of the time etc. so it would get use. Here in Florida we have too much rain and not to mention parts could become flying debris during a hurricane. Plus snakes and geckos get into everything outside. On the other hand when you live where the weather is dry then you have fire risk.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

For us, it would be a waste of resources. We live in the country, with woods and a pond very close to the house. The bugs are pretty bad most of the time, when the weather is fit to be outside to use something like that in our climate. We find that eating outside is just more effort than it is worth. We have a small deck, and sit out there and the covered front porch quite often, but preparing food and serving it outside isn't something that happens much here.

That said, if one lived in the right climate, and enjoys spending time outside with food, then it would be great. I love to look at pictures of fancy outdoor decks, kitchens etc. but know they just wouldn't be practical for us.