With a custom outdoor kitchen, you’re creating a space where friends and family can gather, relax, and enjoy the finer things in life. Imagine the ease of grilling on a top-tier cooktop, prepping food on durable stone countertops, and gathering around comfortable seating, rivaling any indoor setup.
Luxury outdoor kitchens are on the rise. Whether you’re hosting a lively poolside party or a cozy family dinner under the stars, a well-designed outdoor kitchen offers the perfect balance of style and functionality. In the following blog, we’ll discuss everything from lighting and fire pits to seating and the advantages of covered structures. Let’s dive in!
Shade, Structures, and Pergolas
Denver’s weather is temperamental year-round, so it’s helpful to have a roofed structure to keep your kitchen safe from the elements. Beyond the state of your kitchen, your guests will appreciate being under a roof when the sun is unbearable or when it’s raining.
Adding a covered structure also gives you more options, including lighting solutions and ceiling fans. While a ceiling fan is not necessary year-round in the Denver area, you’ll be glad to have one during the summer. The addition of lighting, whether it’s a chandelier or paper lanterns, makes it possible to enjoy your outdoor kitchen throughout the day and night. The lights will be hugely beneficial when the clocks change in the fall and the sun sets at 5 p.m.
Fire Pits and Lighting
Fire pits are great for the winter — they’re one of the best solutions for staying warm outdoors. Having one near your outdoor kitchen is ideal for keeping guests warm as they wait for dinner. However, fire pits do more than keep you warm: they provide lighting and ambiance. A fire pit offers the opportunity to gather around and connect, giving everyone a chance to unplug from digital distractions.
All fire pits offer a similar end result, but they’re not all the same. They vary in size, materials, and fuel, so it’s worth doing some research. Pre-built fire pits are plug-and-play. They’re useful in a pinch, but a custom fire pit may be the better option for high-end outdoor kitchens — custom fire pits are one of the many landscaping services we offer.
You’ll need more than a fire pit to properly light your outdoor kitchen. One popular custom lighting solution is adding built-in lighting under counters and cabinets. Hiding the light source gives your kitchen a clean, minimal look without compromising on functionality. Adding some lighting around the pathway between your outdoor kitchen and your home is also a good idea, allowing guests to find their way to and from the kitchen in the dark. Another solution is to have pendant lighting in the kitchen area and outdoor lights, such as wall lanterns and decorative lights.
Cooking and Gourmet Appliances
The point of an outdoor kitchen is to entertain guests outdoors. You don’t want to split your time between indoor and outdoor kitchens — it’s stressful. Instead, your outdoor kitchen should be fully equipped with all the appliances and tools you need to cook outside. That means including integrated gourmet cooking appliances like a grill, cooktop, pizza oven, smoker, and even a fridge.
You should design your kitchen with separate areas for cooking, prepping, and entertaining. An outdoor kitchen should have enough space to prep and cook food while leaving plenty of room for guests to sit and start on appetizers or snacks. With designated areas, you don’t have to worry about guests wandering into your cooking space.
Style is very important when designing your outdoor kitchen, and subjective. What’s not subjective is the choice to use durable, weather-resistant materials. Materials like granite, concrete, stainless steel, teak wood, stone tiles, and wicker are all excellent examples of materials that can withstand the elements.
Entertainment Areas
If you’re cooking outdoors, you probably want to eat outdoors, too. A kitchen island with seating is an excellent choice — there’s no need for an additional dining area. However, if you prefer a separate dining area, you could have an outdoor dining area under the same roof as the kitchen or separate and covered by a patio umbrella.
No outdoor kitchen is complete without a bar. A simple bar with a few bottles and mixers will do, but for a luxury landscape, additional features like a sink, ice bin, and ample seating area are a lot better. That way, you can chat with guests as you fix drinks and socialize.
Elegant outdoor seating made from gives guests a comfortable place to relax as the night unfolds. If you plan on an outdoor bar, you need bar stools — they’re a staple. Also useful is lounge seating, where guests can lean back and relax. Seating style aside, you want to choose seating that is made from durable materials. Stick to seating made from stainless steel, lacquered wood, wicker, or other weather-resistant materials.
Create a Statement With a Luxury Outdoor Kitchen
There’s nothing like a luxury outdoor kitchen to make your home the space for family and friends. In addition to being a place to cook delicious meals, an outdoor kitchen is designed to create memories. With a fully stocked outdoor kitchen, comfortable seating, a wet bar, and a dining area, you can turn any night into a memorable one. Also worth considering is that a luxury outdoor kitchen can boost your property’s value and bring year-round enjoyment to your home.
If you’re ready to turn your outdoor area into a functional and stunning retreat, reach out to us at C&H Landscaping. As a family-owned landscaping business with strong roots in the Denver metro, we know all about designing a beautiful, functional outdoor kitchen ready to entertain guests all year round. Whether you’re planning on starting your build today or down the line, we work to build your dream outdoor kitchen any time of the year — it doesn’t matter if it’s the summer, winter, or anywhere in between. Contact us today, and let’s start designing your dream outdoor kitchen.
