If you want to expand your outdoor living space by adding an outdoor kitchen, there are a lot of things to consider: the design configuration, the grill(s), the appliances, and finally, the storage. But just because we listed storage last doesn’t mean it should be an afterthought.
To truly enjoy your outdoor cooking experience, you’ll want to make outdoor kitchen storage a key part of the design process.
After choosing your kitchen design configuration, your next big choice is deciding on the right grill. We like Blaze Grills, and especially this 32” model. It’s a commercial-grade gas grill designed for the homeowner. With 4 LTE burners, an infrared rotisserie burner, a fast start every time, and a lifetime warranty, you can understand why so many of our clients choose this grill.
Once you’ve chosen your grill and side burners, think about your storage needs. If you want to avoid continually running back into the house for items, you want to set up your outdoor kitchen to store everything you need for grilling and entertaining, right at your fingertips.
You’ll want to opt for high-quality outdoor kitchen storage drawers that open and close smoothly. You don’t want to be wrestling with a drawer that goes off the tracks. There are specialty drawers for an amazing array of kitchen needs, including:
You may want also to consider some enclosed drawers that pull out once you’ve opened cabinet doors. This ensures dry goods items such as charcoal, wood pellets, and food items are completely protected from the elements.
While not technically for storage, access doors are important. Typically, they’re placed under your grill, and give you access to your propane tank, sink plumbing, and other utilities. You can have access doors that combine with storage drawers, or have them as separate units.
And if you decide to add an outdoor bar area to your outdoor kitchen design, you may want to consider overhead hanging storage for some of your glassware. This is easy to do if you opt for a covered outdoor kitchen design with a pavilion. This way, you leave the cabinet and drawer storage for storing things like a blender, bottle openers, corkscrews, etc.
Related Reading: Outdoor Bar Ideas for Your Backyard
If you’re planning on installing a new outdoor kitchen in 2023, we can help. We are now setting design consultation appointments for spring 2023. By setting up your consultation now, your project will get started as soon as the weather and ground conditions allow. We’ll listen to your needs and provide you with an outdoor kitchen design that fits your home and family, and exceeds your expectations.
Check out our Portfolio for examples of our work, and to gain inspiration. We work with homeowners throughout the Capital Region, including Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.
