Year-round Fun in Your Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen can be a wonderful year-round gathering space in almost any kind of weather. A well-outfitted kitchen setup provides the perfect spot for entertaining, socializing and just plain relaxing. And it’s not hard to make the vision a reality.

Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to share some ideas for creating the perfect outdoor kitchen at your home.
Key elements of a kitchen and entertaining area in your backyard

Here are four important considerations when planning an outdoor kitchen.

1. Space
2. Appliances and amenities
3. Seating
4. Weather

Let’s look at each one.

Space

Before you start ordering appliances or hiring an outdoor kitchen designer, consider how much space is available in your yard. If you need more space, could some trees, gardens or yard decorations be removed or placed elsewhere? Are fences, trees, shrubbery and the home a sufficient distance from where you want to place fire-based cooking appliances?
Get a good idea of your space, and then order the appliances and talk with a designer.

Appliances and Amenities

Your backyard cooking area can be as basic or as elaborate as you wish. For some folks, a simple grill and a few tables are all that’s needed. But maybe you prefer something that’s akin to a professional kitchen. Either way, you can have it the way you want it.

Here are some of the outdoor kitchen appliances and amenities to think about.

• BBQ grill
• Burner and griddle
• Standard and pizza oven
• Kamado grill/smoker
• Dry storage cabinets
• Refrigerator and cold-storage bins
• Food-prep counters
• Sinks
• Dishwasher
• Trash receptacles
• Wine rack
• Drink bar
• Blender, food processor, coffee maker and other useful appliances

With all the choices available, you’ll find it easy to customize your outdoor kitchen with the features and capabilities you want the most.

Seating and Eating

In your initial planning, you should think about how many people might be gathering in your outdoor living space. When you know the max number that’s likely, figure out where they’re going to sit.
You can add chairs, couches, bar stools and other types of seating that’s made to hold up in rain and sun. Also consider a main dining table or smaller tables scattered around like you’d see in a restaurant.

Weather

In Florida, the weather is never far from us, and we have to take it into account. One way to deal with seasonal heat is to install a few suspended ceiling fans to circulate the air, especially in the kitchen work spaces.

What about some removable tarp coverings for some or all of the outdoor kitchen/entertaining area? Festive, colorful tarps are great for blocking the sun’s rays and look fantastic while they’re doing it.

Permanent awnings can also be good choices: they’ll reduce the heat and protect everything when it rains.

Get the year-round outdoor kitchen of your dreams

Doodlebuggers specializes in helping our customers create the perfect outdoor kitchens and living spaces. We’ll build you exactly what you have in mind, from the most basic and functional to the most elaborate and dramatic.

Visit our showrooms for more great ideas:

In Pensacola: 7555 Highway 98 West, Suite A
In Destin: 36054 Emerald Coast Pkwy. #100

You can also give us a call or reach out through our simple contact form.