DIY Network

Extras: Outdoor Kitchen Learn how to build a stunning outdoor kitchen. From "Blueprint for Home Building" episode DBHB-210

In this third segment of the "Extras" episode, host Jeff Wilson looks at the multiple alternatives you have when installing a second kitchen or, in this case, an outdoor kitchen.

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	Outdoor kitchens have become an extremely popular outdoor "extra" for new homes.
	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Outdoor kitchens have certainly become one of the hottest items in home building in the past five to 10 years. You can get the same options from your indoor kitchen and you can put those things in your outdoor kitchen. For example, you can get cabinets, grills, refrigerators, but there's one thing that's totally different—everything has to be waterproofed.

The most basic item for your outdoor kitchen is a barbecue grill (figure A)—don't forget that what makes it a kitchen is that you have a place to cook. You have a few options when it comes to an outdoor grill, you can get something that is prefab, something semi-custom or something that is customized.

You can get something as extravagant as a drop-in stove that's got six burners and a gas kit. You might hire a kitchen designer for your indoor kitchen, but for a more casual outdoor kitchen you "might" want to do it yourself.

A BBQ grill is the most popular choice for outdoor cooking, but there are other outdoor cooking options:

• A fireplace (figure B) is a good option. A fireplace outside can be transformed pretty easily into a place outside where you can cook. The idea of being able to congregate around this outdoor fireplace and cook really adds to this outdoor room feeling.

• More casual than a fireplace, a firepit can also be used to cook—with a rotisserie, skewers or a grill over the open flame.

• Another way of cooking outside is to include an outdoor oven in your kitchen. The outdoor oven that you "may" want to consider is more of a traditional oven—a brick or stone pizza oven (figure C), for example.

• Like an indoor kitchen, your outdoor version might include countertops and storage cabinets. For the countertop in your outdoor kitchen you have a couple of options:
  1. Brick

  2. Stone

  And the counter space can also be used to eat on. Usually when you are planning for an eat-on counter, you want to make sure that it's at least 15" in depth and approximately 24" in width per person.

• Storage cabinets need to be waterproofed on an outdoor kitchen, and there are many woods that are resistant to rot -- such as redwood. Stainless steel (figure D) that matches a grill, for instance, is another good option for cabinets, etc.

• No kitchen would be complete without a sink. Outdoor sinks are either fed with a hose or connected to the home's water supply. Good choices for your outdoor sink would be either stainless steel or ceramic.

• You might want to consider keeping your kitchen sheltered from the elements. You can definitely have a shelter over your kitchen area, but experts wouldn't recommend having a ceiling or shelter over the grill area because of all the smoke.

• Finally, it's important to consider the proper flooring. You must try to avoid using flooring that is slick, which eliminates tile or marble right off the bat.

Great outdoor kitchen projects are showcased in DIY's Build an Outdoor Kitchen workshop.

Kitchen Design If you're looking for ideas to remodel and/or redecorate your kitchen, visit HGTV.com's Kitchen Design for inspirational videos, cool new kitchen products and resources.

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