Summer is the perfect time to entertain outside, and many homeowners are moving beyond the traditional barbecue and standard pool. Now more than ever, they’re choosing to bring dining and food preparation outdoors with sleek-yet-homey backyard kitchens. In addition to providing hours of enjoyment with family and friends, embracing this trend can boost a home’s overall value—and result in an impressive return when it comes time to sell.
The best part? Backyard kitchens are far from impractical. When it comes to outside additions with a culinary focus, modern materials and technologies are allowing homeowners to create spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
If you’re thinking of building the ultimate outdoor kitchen, here are five trends to consider…
1) High-end smokers
BBQs and grills have long been backyard fixtures, but luxury smokers have many home chefs rethinking what it means to cook on the patio. This apparatus is a fantastic addition to any outdoor kitchen, thanks to the distinct flavours it creates. When it comes to high-end smoking cabinets, there are a wide variety of useful features available—from superior temperature controls to built-in work surfaces. Whether smoking is your preferred way of cooking or a method you turn to for special occasions, you’ll want to add a smoker to your outdoor kitchen stock.
2) Wood-fired pizza ovens
In the summer, few foods hold the appeal of a perfectly-prepared pizza. California-style pies have become increasingly popular over the years, making wood-fired ovens a bonafide trend for homeowners with gourmet palates. In terms of style, there are many options available, from clean stainless steel to rustic brick or stucco. Many models are also surprisingly easy to install, so you can start crafting savoury, crowd-pleasing pizzas in no time.
3) Ample counter space
Traditionally, backyard kitchens have provided limited counter space—which has often meant less room for food preparation. Fortunately, as creating and enjoying meals outdoors has become more common, that’s started to change. There’s a growing awareness of the need not only for outdoor appliances, but for the space to chop and assemble ingredients. If you’re installing countertops, consider your layout and choose your material wisely. Granite, marble, porcelain, and even concrete can combine style with weather-resistance to ensure that your kitchen stands the test of time.
4) Covers and roofs
Outdoor kitchens generally require more protection from the elements than an umbrella can provide. In contrast, a full covering or roof offers shelter for you and your appliances, a degree of climate control in hot and cold weather, and the sense of comfort that comes from being in a cozy room. For this reason, covered awnings and even tile roofs supported by pillars have never been more popular. Of course, Toronto winters can be harsh, so you’ll also need to winterize your kitchen before the first snowfall—and choose durable materials that can stand up to the cold.
5) Integrated landscaping
To more fully enjoy dining outdoors, make your backyard the oasis you’ve been dreaming of. Beautiful landscape architecture is the perfect complement to an outdoor kitchen, whether that includes an elegant water feature, a manicured garden, or a perfectly-lit pathway. The growing popularity of outdoor cooking spaces has created a demand for landscaping elements that blend seamlessly with open-air rooms. Fortunately, input from the right design professional can help ensure that your backyard kitchen and the area that surrounds it is cohesive, unified, and highly functional.
Cooking and eating outdoors is more than just a trend. It’s part of a lifestyle that allows Torontonians to make the most of warm summer weather. If you’re thinking of building a backyard kitchen, talk to a designer who has both creative vision and a knack for working through logistics.
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