At James River Construction (JRC)
Dining al fresco has long been one of the first luxuries of spring.
As soon as the weather begins to warm, many of us find ourselves using any excuse to enjoy a drink on the porch or dinner on the patio. This is the time of year that our outdoor living spaces become our primary living spaces.
Over the last several years, bringing the indoors out has gone even further. Rather than just having a place to eat in the backyard, homeowners are now embracing fully functional outdoor kitchens that put the old gas or charcoal grill to shame.
Having an outdoor kitchen can make enjoying meals outside a lot more convenient. Especially when entertaining a crowd, it’s nice to not have to move back and forth between the indoors and outdoors when preparing food or drinks. And outdoor kitchens can be as simple or complex as you’d like. From built-in grilling stations to full blown refrigerators and running water, there are a myriad of ways to take your culinary pursuits outside.
Here are a few things to consider or inspire you as you plan your outdoor cooking and dining space.
GO WITH THE FLOW
The first step in planning your outdoor dining and cooking areas is to consider the flow of activities. You’ll want the cooking or serving areas to be convenient to both the house and kitchen as well as the dining or lounging areas. A bar top around the cooking area allows for socializing while you cook as well as extra seating when needed.
While these areas should be convenient to each other, it’s also nice to have some space to differentiate each area’s purpose. You may want people to be able to gather around a firepit with their drinks without the sound of a grill in their ear. Likewise, as the grillmaster, you may want some separation from would-be backseat grillers giving tips on when to flip the burgers.
This outdoor living space is divided into zones – all of which are still easily accessible to each other. A bar top seating area also houses outdoor refrigerated storage for drinks. A covered arbor defines a seating area complete with outdoor TV. The raised beds delineate the kitchen garden while also separating the relaxing areas from the basketball court.
TAKE COVER
You don’t have to have your grill out in the open where rain and bad weather can prevent you from cooking up a storm. Installing your outdoor kitchen under a covered porch can be possible and safe if done correctly. For this outdoor kitchen, the grill is installed up against a fireproof brick wall. An industrial hood removes smoke from the covered space reducing soot as well. The brick surround creates a rustic but highly functional year-round cooking area.
RETAINING WALL DOUBLE DUTY
This built-in grill and cooking area fits easily into a brick retaining wall that helps create a dining room space outdoors. The different texture on the flooring of the dining space separates it from the play area, the yard and the porch’s living area. In this case, the outdoor kitchen helps create separation for outdoor “rooms.”
EVERYTHING BUT THE GRILL
If you aren’t able to ventilate for a grill, you can still have a functional kitchen and serving space in your covered outdoor living area. This outdoor serving and prep space runs the length of the covered porch and includes a sink, refrigerator, beverage fridge, storage and built-in eating area. The family’s grill sits right outside the covered porch, still conveniently close without being built-in.
However you choose to approach it, we wish you a happy Al Fresco Season!