When it comes to planning out your dream outdoor kitchen, there are so many aspects that you need to consider.  Points to consider include such things as equipment, style, protection from the rain, and electrical and plumbing connections.  Although different kitchens may vary, one thing in common with all of them is the cabinets.  Outdoor kitchen cabinets do a lot more than simply provide a place to store your dishes, silverware, and other items.  Let’s take a look at the types of outdoor cabinets and how to make the best use of them.

Types of Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinets play an important part in the outdoor kitchen.  The best way to look at the outdoor kitchen cabinet is to think of it as a way to integrate the design.  In other words, you can give most of the kitchen the same look by using matching cabinets.  Outdoor kitchen cabinets are made to accomplish a variety of tasks.  Here are the main ones that you should include in your kitchen plans:

• Base Cabinets:  These are your main outdoor kitchen cabinets that are used to fill up space between the sink, grill, and other components.  You will choose these based on how long your countertop is.
• Corner Cabinets:  Although not all outdoor kitchens have corners on them, many do.  Just like the kitchen inside the house, outdoor kitchen corner cabinets are used in the transition.
• Grill Base:  If you have a drop in outdoor kitchen grill, you will need to have a grill base for it to sit on.  You should have full use of this cabinet for storage since the grill usually only requires a propane intake tube that connects behind it.
• Sink Base:  The sink base will have the sink plumbing inside it, which will limit its storage capabilities.
• Trash Can Cabinet:  A creative way to hide an unsightly trash can is to include a cabinet that has a pull out front designed to hold a rubbish bin.
• Propane Tank Cabinet:  Unless you have natural gas or propane piped in from the house, your outdoor kitchen grill will need to be connected to a propane tank.
• Refrigerator Unit Cabinet:  If your refrigeration needs don’t require a full size unit, you can design a cabinet that will house your cabinet depth refrigerator inside of it.  You will need to make sure that the bar fridge you choose will fit into the cabinet with enough clearance to close the door.

Outdoor Cabinets and the Weather

Most people wonder how cabinets can stand up to the constant beating that they receive outdoors.  Whether it is the intense sunlight and heat, pounding rain, or freezing ice, outdoor kitchen cabinets need to stand up to whatever nature throws at them.  Since even the strongest woods can’t last very long, they are usually only used for the drawer fronts and doors of the cabinets.
Most cabinets are made of what is called Perma-Panel, which is an
extremely durable material that won’t crack, bulge, or deteriorate when exposed to the elements.  The good thing about Perma-Panel cabinets is that they are available in many different colors, and you can get the cabinets to resemble real wood as well.
That said, if you insist on having real wood on your outdoor kitchen cabinets, the three most commonly used are bamboo, cypress, and teak.  These types of woods are known for their natural weather resistant abilities.  One last thing to consider is that many outdoor kitchens in fact have a roof overhead and a wall on at least one side.  This limits the amount of exposure the cabinets will have to the rain or snow, which means that having wooden cabinet doors and drawer fronts shouldn’t be much of a problem.  In the worst case scenario, you can replace the doors later on down the road if need be.

Tags: Counters, Kitchen Cabinets, Outdoor Kitchens by Jeffrey
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These days, more and more people are choosing to install outdoor kitchens.  Some people put them on the patio, others by the pool or garden.  There are many great reasons to have an outdoor kitchen, but the best one is that they are incredibly convenient.  If you don’t have an outdoor kitchen, you will need to keep running into the house when you have a barbecue or picnic in the yard. It is definitely a pain to have to keep returning to the refrigerator in the house to bring stuff back and forth.  There are different pieces that go into building an outdoor kitchen, so let’s take a closer look at the necessities.

Outdoor Kitchen Grills
The most important piece of the outdoor kitchen has got to be the grill.  Cooking outside is all about grilling, and choosing a good one of these is important.  You might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices when it comes to grills, but they definitely vary in quality.  Nearly all outdoor kitchen grills run on either LP gas (propane), but some of them run on natural gas.  If your outside kitchen is going to be located next to the house, you can run a natural gas or propane pipe that runs directly into the grill.  Doing this eliminates the need to have a separate propane tank that needs to be refilled.

The quality of outdoor grills varies from simple units to huge grills capable of quickly grilling up a feast for dozens of guests.  One of the features that set better quality units apart from the cheaper ones is the ability to cook food evenly.  This is important, since it is a real pain to have some stuff burn while other items aren’t done yet.  The better gas grills do a great job of circulating the hot air throughout the enclosure, thus ensuring even temperatures throughout.  Another great feature to look out for is a rotisserie.  A quality outdoor kitchen grill will have a built-in rotisserie motor that will automatically turn whatever you choose to put on the spit.

Outdoor Kitchen Design
If you are thinking about having an outdoor kitchen, you should give some serious thought into outdoor kitchen designs.  There are many ways that you can go about designing, so it helps to look at some outdoor kitchen pictures first so you can get an idea of what you would like.  Either do an internet search, or look at some of these ones. You can choose from any number of different design themes.  If you just want to keep it simple, you can choose to buy all of your outdoor kitchen supplies made out of stainless steel.  This is easy, because it is how most of them come anyway.

If you take a look at some of the designs that other people have done, you can see that the use of natural stonework can look amazing.  Having a base made out of beautiful rocks isn’t actually that hard.  Any skilled stone mason should be able to easily construct it.  Before you begin, just make sure you pick out all of your kitchen items beforehand so that you have their dimensions.  By doing so, you will be able to purchase things like drop in grills and sinks and quickly install them on the bases.

Here are some of the features (besides a grill) that you should consider when considering outdoor kitchen ideas:
Cabinets: Outdoor kitchen cabinets are pretty much a necessity.  Use them for storing silverware, dishes, and other utensils that you need to keep on hand.

Refrigerator: Although you might be able to do without it, an outdoor kitchen refrigerator is a great help.  Being able to keep food and condiments cold, and beverages chilly is wonderful  You can usually get by using a bar fridge for this purpose.

Sink: Although it may be possible to do without a sink, having one is definitely a bonus.  Yes, you will have to deal with the plumbing hookups, but having an outdoor kitchen sink to wash glasses and clean up is a great benefit.

Tags: Counters, Kitchen Cabinets, Outdoor Kitchens, Refrigerators, Sinks by Jeffrey
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If you are in the process of choosing a kitchen sink, I’m sure you are well aware of the abundance of options.  Sometimes it can be a bit daunting considering how many different sinks there are to choose from.  A good way to begin is to decide which material you would like your sink made from.  The vast majority of homes have stainless steel sinks, but that doesn’t mean that this is your only option.  Some people like to choose items for their kitchens that stand out a bit and attract positive attention.  A good way to do this is to choose a sink that is made from a material other than stainless steel, which nearly everyone else has.  While you have a few choices, which include fireclay ceramic sinks and composite sinks, another great choice is a sink made of granite.  Granite is a beautiful, natural rock that is ideal for use in kitchens.  It is waterproof, great looking, and versatile.  Another great thing about granite kitchen sinks is that they come in a few different colors and styles, so that you can choose one that fits well with your countertop.  Let’s take a look at some of the granite sinks that are available.

Types of Granite Kitchen Sinks

As far as colors go, the vast majority of granite sinks come in the following three colors:  black, white, and biscuit.  If you are wondering what color biscuit is, think of a creamy, yellowish color.  In terms of layouts, these sinks come in the usual patterns.  You can get a large single bowl sink, or the more common double bowl variety.  Some double bowl granite kitchen sinks are evenly sized, and others have one larger bowl and one smaller one.
Most kitchens these days have larger, double bowl sinks, but some small apartments only have room for a single bowl one.  Pegasus makes the Astracast granite single bowl sink in 2 different colors, black and tan.  Pegasus is a brand name that is owned and sold by The Home Depot, so buying a Pegasus granite kitchen sink is as easy and convenient as heading over to the store or looking online here.
The good thing about these sinks is that they can be installed as either drop-in or undermount sinks.  See below for more information on undermount sinks.
One other thing to look for when shopping for granite sinks is that some of them come with grooves on the base of the bowls.  They do this so that it makes it easier to wash vegetables, fruit, or other things without them sliding around to much.

Undermount Granite Kitchen Sinks

An undermount sink, as its name suggests, is mounted under the countertop, instead of above it.  Most sinks are known as drop-in sinks, because they are simply dropped into the hole, and the lip of the sink rests on the countertop to support the sink.  Undermount sinks, on the other hand are fastened from below to the countertop, so there is no sink lip protruding onto the countertop.  The good thing about this style of sink is that you can simply take your kitchen towel and sweep crumbs right off the countertop and into the sink.  Before you get one of these granite undermount kitchen sinks, you should know that you need to have solid countertop to support it.  The sink is bolted onto the counter from below, so make sure you countertop is rated to support this weight.  In addition, granite is heavier than stainless steel.  The sink itself can weigh 25 pounds or more, and when they are filled with water and heavy dishes, this can be a substantial pull on the counter.  If you are unsure about whether or not your counter can handle this weight, simply contact whoever installed or sold you the counter and ask them.

Brands of Granite Kitchen Sinks

Most of the big sink manufacturing companies make granite sinks as well.  While there won’t be as many choices as stainless steel, you will find some choices in layout and style.  There is a type of Franke granite sink for example, that has a natural stone finish.  What this means is that you can actually see the natural stone pattern in the sink.  Most other sinks have a solid coating over them so you see a smooth finish.  If you like the look of the latter type of black granite kitchen sink, one with a smooth finish, most sinks have this look.
If a black sink just wouldn’t match the layout of your kitchen, most companies have white or off-white versions as well.  You can get a beautiful Blanco granite kitchen sink that comes in a color called “biscuit”.  Their granite sinks are made of what they call Blancodiamond Silgranit, which is 80% granite and 20% composite material.  The result is a sink that is chip and scratch resistant, highly durable, and with the look and feel of real stone.

Granite Kitchen Sink Prices

While it is highly unlikely that you will be able to find the sort of ultra-cheap sinks like those made out of stainless steel, you will probably be surprised to know that there are some very affordable granite sinks as well.  The cheapest models that I’ve come across are made by a company named Swanstone.  You can get a low-end Swanstone granite kitchen sink for as little as $170.  This is a great budget choice, as it is great looking, durable, and can be mounted either as a drop-in or an undermount.
If you want to go a step up, there are a lot of granite sinks that are in the $200 – $300 range. This includes most of the better known brands like Pegasus, Blanco, and Elkay.  Of course, these companies also offer high end sinks that are priced quite a bit higher as well.  For a real luxury, consider the Elkay E-Granite double bowl sink. This sink has two bowls that are offset, and come in three different colors:  bisque, black, or mocha.  If you are looking for a unique colored sink, this is a good bet.  Take a look here for more information.

Tags: Counters, Sinks by Jeffrey
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You might have heard this term before, but not really understood what it really means.  A modular kitchen can best be described as individual pieces that fit together to create a complete kitchen.  Many people simply go to a large home supply store such as the Home Depot or one like it and purchase individual items until they have everything they need.  Although there is nothing inherently wrong with designing your kitchen this way, there is a good chance that when you put everything together, you will find a few problems.  One problem may be that the sizes of your cabinets and large appliances differ too much, resulting in items sticking out too far.  Another problem that arises is the colors don’t match each other very well.
As I type this article from the dining room table of a friend’s house, I can see a few areas in the kitchen that weren’t thought out very well.  The stove, for example, sticks out about 5 inches past the surrounding counters and is a color that doesn’t match its surroundings.  The refrigerator is a bit clunky looking and awkward as well, which is most likely the result of a purchase without much thought of integration.  Millions of homes are designed like this, but with just a little bit of planning and thinking, you can have a kitchen where each individual unit fits together like a puzzle and looks great together.  Modular kitchen designs are meant to provide this type of integration.

Modular Kitchen Design

The best way to think about modular kitchens is by either looking at pictures in books or on the internet to get an initial idea about the styles you are interested in.  The Ikea website has lots of great modular kitchen photos that can really get your ideas flowing. When you know what you want, the next step is to visit a kitchen showroom.  These are abundant in almost every modern town and city in the world these days.  With a basic design in mind, you will be able to piece together a kitchen that matches in all aspects:  dimensions, color, and style.  Keep in mind that you can get ideas for designing a bar as well.  Items like the stools, counter and sink, and the bar fridge should all match each other.

Modular Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinetry makes up such a large percentage of most kitchens that consideration of these units is absolutely crucial.  The cabinets that you choose will set the look and feel of your kitchen, so you will want to take your time at this step.  Most large kitchen showrooms will have a large number of modular kitchen units so that you can piece together a complete design that you are satisfied with.

Tags: Counters, Kitchen Cabinets, Kitchen Furniture by Jeffrey
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If you have a large enough kitchen, one of the best things you can get for it is a kitchen island cart.  With so many appliances competing for valuable counter space these days, kitchen island carts are great for adding extra room to work.  While many smaller kitchens won’t have room for a kitchen island, a larger one should.  They come in a few different sizes, so you can find one that will work.

Types of Kitchen Island Carts

While many people use the terms kitchen carts and islands interchangeably, they are really two different things.  Kitchen islands tend to be larger, have drawers and cabinets, and are usually fully enclosed.  Kitchen carts on the other hand, normally don’t have cabinet doors on them and are open.  In addition, islands will usually have a countertop covering them, and in many cases it is made of the same material as the rest of the counters.  Carts usually come with a top already on it, and it most likely won’t match your countertop.
One of the most popular styles is called a Dolly Madison kitchen island cart.  These units are normally highly mobile due to the wheels under them.  Although models may vary depending on who makes the cart, most of them are fully enclosed and have two drawers on top and side by side cabinets on the bottom.
You can find a kitchen cart and island that is topped with various materials.  Some are made with a stainless steel surface, which is easy to keep clean.  Others have a granite top, which is a very popular countertop surface.  The most common top you will see is wood however.  If you want a customized counter-top placed on your kitchen island, you will need to get one with an unfinished top.  If you don’t mind it not matching the rest of your kitchen, you can just get a stainless steel kitchen island cart or a granite one.  Choosing between the larger kitchen islands and carts will most likely be a decision based upon the size of your kitchen.

Tags: Counters, Kitchen Furniture by Jeffrey
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