Creating an Outdoor Kitchen with Natural Stone

Outdoor kitchens are used more often than most people think. Although these are not standard home features, homeowners who choose to install them often find themselves spending a lot of time cooking in the patio or by the side of the pool. Summer kitchens are great for entertaining guests on the Fourth of the July holiday, but many cooks tend to gravitate naturally to these outdoor living spaces. Basic outdoor kitchens feature a counter with a stovetop, prep area, a small pantry, and space to store a gas cylinder, but even this simple design can help in terms of increasing property value. When natural stone and creativity are applied to an outdoor kitchen project, the results can be spectacular. Here are some ideas and steps to follow when creating an outdoor kitchen space using natural stone. Add Covered Areas Whenever possible, the entire outdoor kitchen area should be covered by a roof or awning, or at least the prep areas and stovetops. A nice covered prep area can include granite countertops, which should be cleaned regularly with a spray-and-wipe granite outdoor stone cleaner to maintain the beauty of the stone and protect the seal. Choose the Right Appliances In general, you will likely have to spend more on your outdoor kitchen appliances when compared to their indoor counterparts. To save a little more on these purchases, think about getting freestanding grills and burners. In this case, the kitchen counters can be made of wood and topped with natural-stone slabs. To save on appliances, consider firewood ovens and grills. Decorate the Pizza Oven and Fire Pit Wood-fired pizza ovens and raised fire pits are ideal opportunities to augment outdoor kitchen designs and highlight the beauty of natural stone. These structures have a lot of surface area that can be covered with decorative flagstone. Even if you already have paver bricks on the ground, add small sandstone tiles or uneven pieces of flagstone to the design. Consider a Refrigerator and a Wet Bar For the ultimate in outdoor entertainment, consider installing a refrigerated beer dispenser and a wet bar with a sink. A simple 24-inch beer keg refrigerator with a single tap should be affordable, and this appliance is relatively easy to install. A wet bar, on the other hand, requires more installation work and plumbing, but it is another great way to incorporate an attractive stone countertop. If you’d like tips on how to clean outdoor stone, get in touch with the Stone Care Experts at Granite Gold®. Just like all of our other products, Granite Gold Outdoor Stone Cleaner® is safe to use on all types of natural stone, including granite, flagstone, sandstone, and limestone. Give us a call today at 1-800-475-STONE to learn more.