Transforming Your Outdoor Kitchen

Here in Florida, our outdoor kitchens aren’t subject to the ravages of icy winters like kitchens in many other parts of the country. Still, we want to deal with the chilly weather we do get while keeping our kitchens – and social calendars – going full speed ahead.

Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to share a few tips for getting the most out of your outdoor kitchen during the winter.

Screens and awnings

Depending on how much outdoor entertaining you do, it might be an excellent move to add some retractable screens and awnings. These blocks will cut down on wind and provide a little insulation for your entertainment and cooking areas.

Some homeowners use screens and awnings just in the main seating areas; others install them above and around the entire space.

Prep for longer downtimes

If you’ll only be using your outdoor kitchen sporadically during the winter, make sure to remove perishable food items from food bins and storage areas. Also, whether you have screens and an awning or no covering, it’s a good idea to use properly fitted coverings over appliances and other items that you want to shield from the weather.

Lighting

Some tasteful lighting for your outdoor kitchen area will allow the fun to keep rolling along during the shorter days of winter. Consider:

• Suspended pendant lighting to cover some or all of the outdoor living space.
• Attached lighting on the home and permanent fixtures in the kitchen area.
• Specific task lighting for workstations and areas where guests mingle
• String lighting
• Wall scones and colored lamps
• Pathway lighting for safety to and from the house

Most lighting styles can be operated with dimmers and run on a timer. Get creative and light up your outdoor world.

Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits

A handsome outdoor fireplace or a cozy fire pit can make all the difference in how much you and your guests enjoy your outdoor kitchen and entertainment area.

Fireplaces can be custom-made or pre-built. Options include:

• Convenient gas or propane fuel that produces a beautiful flame and plenty of warmth.
• Traditional wood fireplace with its rustic beauty and pleasant aromas
• Brick, stone, concrete, and other attractive materials
• Large fireplaces for big areas; smaller fireplaces for intimate gathering spaces

The design choices in today’s fire pits will amaze you. The perfect centerpiece for hanging out and enjoying life, a fire pit is often an irresistible magnet for backyard parties and just relaxing after a long day.

Fire pits can be made of a wide range of materials and shapes. You can have a moveable or permanent version and a choice of gas or wood fuel.

Keep your outdoor kitchen alive all winter long!

Doodlebuggers specializes in the planning and building of spectacular outdoor kitchens for our Florida customers. If you can dream it, we can build it.

Reach an outdoor fireplace expert today at (850) 477-1151 in Pensacola, FL, or at (850) 243-0154 in the Destin, FL, area. You can also get in touch with our handy contact form.