The crown jewel of your outdoor living space can be your outdoor kitchen. It’ll become your favorite place to entertain your friends and family. Best of all, your outdoor kitchen and what you include in it can be completely customized to suit your needs and preferences. Apart from the incredible appliances and decorations, think about what makes the exterior of your kitchen as a way to integrate it into your outdoor living space. Here are five masonry ideas for making your new outdoor kitchen the best one in your Yorktown, NY neighborhood.
Related: WHY HIRING EXPERT MASONS IS THE BEST OPTION FOR A PATIO PROJECT IN THE CROTON, NY AREA
Underfoot
The ground surface of your outdoor kitchen is the most important place to start your design. It could also be a perfect opportunity to add more elegance to your whole patio. The concrete patio pavers, porcelain tile, or natural stones you choose make the surface underfoot not only a safe and functional space, but also a splash of your creative side. Using large-format pavers with smooth surfaces would be an excellent choice for a sleek modern look; hard-wearing porcelain adds a luxury touch; and natural stone adds a one-of-a-kind charm to any style of outdoor kitchen.
The Kitchen Walls
The next place to look while incorporating masonry in your outdoor kitchen will be the base of the kitchen itself. Your best opportunity for an interactive outdoor kitchen will be by employing the island kitchen design. The countertop you choose in your island kitchen should be the focal point for planning your appliances. Try to keep all of the necessary appliances and storage underneath the countertop so that the kitchen retains an open feel. The base structure of the walls acts as an elegant pedestal made using natural stones, concrete wall blocks, or a concrete superstructure clad in a beautiful natural stone or manufactured stone veneer.
Retaining Walls: Defined Spaces and More
Organization of your outdoor living space has both practical and aesthetic reasons. Visual and physical barriers help create activity zones: the most active of which is the outdoor kitchen. Using a physical barrier such as a retaining wall to delineate the outdoor kitchen space will also help to draw people in. Beyond this, a sturdy retaining wall can also provide excellent overflow seating options during large parties when portable furniture is occupied.
Retaining walls can also house lighting fixtures that will keep your outdoor kitchen both safe and elegant.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a sloped property, positioning your outdoor kitchen against the slope creates a more intimate, almost indoor setting for cooking and entertaining.
An Outdoor Fireplace/Pizza Oven
Want to take alfresco dining to the next level? Opt for a spacious outdoor fireplace and wood-fired pizza oven combination. The fire will draw them in, and the pizza will keep them hanging around for more. There’s no better feature to create the hearth that naturally becomes the heart of outdoor living. Another option is to place a masonry wood-fired pizza oven into the footprint of your outdoor kitchen, and position the outdoor fireplace a bit further away: in this way, anything that’s between the two heat sources, such as a dining table or a lounge, will feel cozier and warmer.
A Fire Table
A fire table can provide heat and light for your outdoor kitchen; but unlike an outdoor fireplace, it’s a feature that can double as a dining table. Fueled by natural gas or propane, the fire table is safe and consistent in its heat and perfect for a dinner party.