Best Backyard Landscape Idea Ever Created – Outdoor Kitchens

No backyard landscaping idea has evolved more than the outdoor kitchen. In the 19th century, outdoor summer kitchens were fixtures of Southern stately homes. The summer kitchen, located in a separate building behind the house, was a solution for preparing meals and keeping the main house from becoming unbearably hot.

Fast forward to the 20th century and when soldiers returned home from abroad after World War II. That’s when the barbecue grill began drawing families outdoors for informal gatherings that celebrated fellowship, balmy weather, and the unparalleled taste of freshly grilled food. Patios became a part of the home and picnic tables, used and seen primarily in parks, began to sprout up in backyards.

A lot has changed since then. Today’s outdoor kitchen is much more sophisticated than the outdoor kitchens of the 19th century and early to mid 20th century. Here in the 21st century, the version of outdoor kitchens includes a well-stocked, fully serviced facility with space to prepare food, cook, clean up, and plenty of storage.

While not completely enclosed, they are often hidden under an overhang or patio cover where there is some protection from the elements. For outdoor kitchens, every situation, home, and owner’s needs and wants vary greatly.

Countertop materials range from slate, granite, or ceramic tile to a unique broken tile mosaic design. Hardy woods, like teak and redwood, can withstand rain and snow and are often used as protective covers.

There are many ways to showcase the outdoor kitchen, from a tropical poolside cabana that’s screened on three sides, to a large outdoor Tuscan-style pergola with a pizza oven. For a more southwestern feel, homeowners will often use colored stucco structures with terra cotta tiles.

Like indoor kitchens, outdoor kitchens often come with a dishwasher, refrigerator, sink, and ample counter space. Oversized gas grills are perfect for steaks, ribs, chicken, etc. and now they are offered with side burners, for beans and sauces. Stainless steel carts on wheels can serve as storage space as well as temporary work space.

These kitchens typically can’t provide a lot of seating, so adding high stools around the bar, seating by the pool or fire pit, and of course, comfy seating around outdoor tables are ideal seating areas. .

Over the years, the outdoor kitchen has evolved and has been one of the best backyard landscaping ideas ever created.