Barbecuing may be at the heart of outdoor cooking, but it is just a small part of what you can do with an outdoor kitchen. Once a popular trend, outdoor kitchens are coming back in style, especially in Hawaii, where the weather is nice enough to cook outdoors year-round.

The architecture of your home is key to designing an outdoor kitchen. The space for the kitchen should be a continuation of your indoor layout, and should flow naturally into the outdoors.

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Ideally, it will be close to the patio area. Movement and flow, especially as it relates to entertaining guests, should be taken into account when creating the floor plan.

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Functionality is the key consideration to both layout and equipment. At LanaiS-capes, the staff can custom design an open-air kitchen for you, including a landscape plan that will enhance the integration and artistry of your outdoor living space.

For a kitchen that is only going to be used once in a while, there are portable units that are inexpensive, such as a portable stainless steel island that has a barbecue component and a portable serving station. Install a wire portable gas grill that integrates into the design of the outdoor kitchen area. Remove it, and the space can become a bar area.

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If the outdoor kitchen is to be a permanent structure, concrete or other long-lasting materials make better sense and are a better investment. Storage is an important consideration as well, and should be incorporated into the design, to maximize the usefulness of the space.

An outdoor kitchen can range from $1,500 to $30,000, depending on your needs, how it is laid out and what kind of materials you use. At LanaiScapes, the staff can help you make the best decisions by showing you the practicality, as well as the cost of each of the different options.

LANAISCAPES
contact // 255-1048
web // www.LanaiScapes.com

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