Outdoor grill islands are the perfect solution for compact outdoor kitchen, and you can tailor the set up to suit your cooking style and preferences.
‘Examine the available space and use this as inspiration for the layout,’ says Denise Litchfield, in-house designer for Danver Stainless Outdoor Kitchens. ‘If there is a lack of space, a simple run of a cabinet or two and grill will work nicely. With a little more space, an island with a sink, a few cabinets and a built-in grill can be added.’
Compromises often have to be made, for instance tough calls such as whether to use the available space for an outside sink or countertop can be tricky, but are essential when designing a functional cooking station.
‘Don’t over-crowd a small space with features,’ says Russ Faulk, Chief Designer and Head of Product at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet. ‘Usability of the layout becomes more critical in smaller outdoor kitchens, so I like to focus on versatility when selecting pieces for the space. You want the most capable grill that can fit within the budget, a small hospitality sink, for washing hands and produce, a little bit of storage, and as much countertop acreage as is practical within the footprint while still leaving room to move about.’