Summer Kitchen Designs for A Cool and Ideal Outdoor

Imagine yourself cooking over an open fireplace without any electricity or air conditioning to cool the kitchen. Also imagine you reside in a place which has a tropical climate with high humidity. Eventually, the heat from the kitchen will heat up the entire house and it will be extremely uncomfortable to live in.

This was the scenario in early Colonial America. To get relief from the intense heat created by an open oven or fireplace in the kitchen, people began to build a separate kitchen outside the house to cook during summer. This type of outdoor kitchen was called summer kitchen and it helped in preventing overheating of the house.

Nowadays all our dwellings have electricity and we have fans and air conditioning. So we do not need a summer kitchen to avoid overheating the house. But there is a trend of constructing outdoor kitchens complete with sinks, a rustic grill and a dining area.

If you are fond of entertaining outdoors and want all the amenities for cooking a meal alfresco, then a summer kitchen is just what you need. It is chic and stylish and a great way to create a charming ambiance for an outdoor party. The essentials of summer kitchen design idea are mentioned ahead.

If you want to construct a summer kitchen in your home, you will need to know all about the design aesthetics and kitchen layout that goes into its making. A good summer kitchen layout will eliminate any need to run back and forth carrying things from the main kitchen. An L-shaped or U shaped countertop works well for an outdoor kitchen.

Divide the area of the summer kitchen into two parts; one for the actual cooking and prep and other for entertaining and dining. This helps to demarcate the two areas of the kitchen and have a more relaxed and easy ambiance.

Also, you need to make sure that your kitchen layout is such that the smoke from the grill does not blow in the direction of the dining area. The grill, sink and refrigerator should be placed close together so that you can prepare food and mix drinks easily.

A gas grill, a sink for washing up and a countertop made with natural material like slate, stone cladding and travertine are ideal for a summer kitchen. You can choose from a charcoal or gas grill or a portable or built-in one. Install drawers or cupboard underneath the countertop to store essential kitchen supplies.

The flooring for the summer kitchen should be made out of weather resistant and durable material. Some great material for flooring in an outdoor kitchen are concrete, tiles and natural stone.

The dining area should feature comfortable chairs and dining tale along with trendy chaise lounge. Decorate the dining area of the kitchen with throw pillows, colorful rugs and planters. If you want to create a rustic look, then opt for unfinished and unpolished wooden tables and benches in the dining area.

You can have wrought iron chairs and tables with a broad umbrella to protect you andguests from unexpected rain. Like indoor kitchen, an outdoor kitchen plan would benefit from a focal point. Create a focal point by having an impressive brick barbecue. You can have an outdoor fireplace for a cozy ambiance in winter.

Whether you set up a summer kitchen on your patio or overlooking the pool, you need to finalize a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. A summer kitchen that has all the elements of a regular kitchen will help you to entertain in style.

Add some decorative element in your summer kitchen like colorful suspended flowerpots and throw pillows, and see how guests rave about your entertaining style.