Toronto has finally caught on to the concept of the outdoor kitchen – a great way to make the most of your yard during the warmer months. These installations offer much more than the traditional outdoor barbecue. There’s no need to invite the neighbours over, and you can prepare whatever you feel like, without just being limited to the grill. Not only that, an outdoor kitchen is good for use from the spring, right through to the fall. Whether you want to serve up a simple salad, to a full Sunday dinner, it’s a household addition you can really get the most out of.
How Do I Make Sure My Outdoor Kitchen Fits In?
For those who haven’t seen an outdoor kitchen before, it’s easy to imagine some clumsily put-together arrangement of appliances and fixtures, ruining an otherwise perfectly good lawn or garden. With a little preparation and attention to detail, however, that shouldn’t be the case. Take a look around some of the nicer examples in Toronto and you’ll see how it can complement and become an integral part of your outdoor space. Here are some tips on how to get it right:
- Think of it as Part of Your Home – If you set about building with the idea that it’s a glorified barbecue grill, that’s what you’ll end up with. A barbecue is something that people can usually put away once the season is over. A kitchen isn’t. Think of it as a part of your home that you will be using instead of your indoor kitchen as much as possible.
- Make it Comfortable – They say that a kitchen is the heart of every home. It’s not only a functional space, but a space to live in, relax and enjoy yourself. Don’t overlook crucial elements such as comfortable seating, adequate space to eat and entertainment.
- Consider the Aesthetics – No two outdoor spaces are identical, but in general, yards and gardens are places where we can find trees, grass, plants, stones and rocks. While contrasting can work when done with extreme care, your project is much more likely to succeed if you use similar materials to those in your yard – woods, stones, similar shades and designs.
- Plan from the Ground Upwards – Look at the space available to you and then visualize your kitchen within that space. Whatever flooring you opt for, you will need to leave ample space for movement between kitchen units, appliances, eating areas and so on. The open nature of your yard can be deceptive when it comes to planning what to do with certain spaces. Working from the ground upwards eliminates the risk of trying to fit too much into that space.
- Consider Your Neighbours Along with Your Own Home – Just as you might choose to build your kitchen away from the house in order to avoid smoke or noise from filtering back into your home, you’ll also need to bear in mind the proximity to your neighbours’ properties. It goes without saying that the further away it is from noise and bustle, the more successful your installation will be.
There’s more to an outdoor kitchen than providing a fun area for you and your family to cook, eat and relax. One of the main reasons so many of the better properties in Toronto are opting for these installations is the value they add to the house. Your kitchen is already most likely the most important room in your home when it comes to determining value. Having two kitchens is more and more seen as a big draw for buyers, and valuations are reflecting that.