By Jason Brownlee, ASLA, IWI, and Amy Bortz
We’ve all seen the ads that paint the perfect picture of the complete backyard outdoor living experience—the clear, glistening pool water, pristine pool hardscape, manicured lawns, and immaculate grilling areas that look like they were taken out of the pages of an architecture magazine.
This ideal of the complete outdoor living experience is alluring. Everyone in the industry knows getting there is hard work, but it is also very rewarding. Achieving a successful result starts with a rock-solid plan.
Where to start?
While the pool may be the centrepiece of the complete outdoor living experience, it remains one piece of the overall puzzle. It is ideal to start the planning process by considering all the ways the client will use the allocated space.
In one of the authors’ initial client interview process, they spend significant time “grilling” owners about how they dine and entertain, both casually and formally. They find these answers are more important than discussing specific options and features. It is incumbent upon designers to ensure homeowners pay proper attention to the holistic outdoor experience and get inside their heads to anticipate how they envision and want to use their outdoor spaces.
There are two questions the author asks every client, as these questions always provide useful insights and lead to great, custom designs for that particular client. First question being what was the best party they ever hosted and the second is what is their favourite meal to share as a family.
It is critical to press clients to think beyond how they live now and consider how they may like to live in the future. This information leads to greater opportunities to expand the experience in ways specific to the client and leverage all available aspects of the outdoor area. By delivering this level of forethought, designers empower homeowners to enjoy evolving lifestyles, and turn happy clients into raving advocates.
Think about individual rooms
Development of specific outdoor “rooms” is a useful way to think about distinct areas that will contribute to the overall outdoor experience. Through this approach, designers will find outdoor living areas are incredibly similar to the home’s interior counterparts when it comes to usage.
The outdoor living room is highlighted by a fire feature, such as a fireplace or fire table, and creates space to gather and relax. The dining room is often located under a covered structure that offers respite from the sun and weather, and becomes the gathering space highlighted by a grand family table. An outdoor bedroom provides a “Zen” hideaway for quiet meditation and reflection, often accompanied by a small fountain feature. And just as an indoor kitchen serves as the “heart of the home,” the outdoor kitchen plays the same role with heightened significance as the hub around which outdoor activities and experiences revolve.
Myth busting
Through a careful planning process, designers can help clients avoid “myths” which may lead them in directions that will not satisfy their long-term needs. Here are a couple examples.
Most clients initially assume they will want the outdoor kitchen right next to the back door so it is conveniently located near the indoor kitchen for year-round use (i.e. pop out for quick chicken or burgers on the grill). However, placing the outdoor kitchen in this easily accessible location often leads to two design circulation problems. One, it creates a log jam next to the house and two, by default, it fails to make full use of the available property.
Instead, consider designing primary outdoor-living structures, including the outdoor kitchen, at the back perimeter of the usable area. This serves as an intentional draw for guests to enter the backyard and allows visitors to walk out of the home, turn around, and enjoy the entirety of the space. In certain circumstances, there may be a need for a second small grill near the back door to accommodate year-round meals.
A second “myth” homeowners often hold is they do not need an outdoor kitchen at all, just a grill and a mini fridge. This comment is often rooted in a budgeting concession at the onset. As designers, caution clients to consider how they will entertain in the future, making sure they consider tomorrow’s needs. A well-appointed outdoor kitchen may be the right investment in achieving the complete outdoor living experience.
Outdoor kitchen basics
What are the basics every outdoor kitchen should include? Break it down by function for clients, considering the “zones” that define commercial kitchens. These four kitchen zones include the hot, cold, wet, and dry zones.
Hot zone
The centrepiece of the hot zone is, of course, the grill. There is a large sliding scale of quality and options to consider with this all-important outdoor kitchen feature. The authors counsel clients to invest in high-quality outdoor appliances to ensure the longevity of their outdoor kitchen. Products made from premium materials with superior craftsmanship simply last longer.
There is nothing more frustrating for clients than having to replace low-cost, inferior equipment after a couple years. Start by researching the quality of the steel, both inside and outside of the grill. Not all stainless steel is the same. Look for 304 appliance-grade stainless steel which will last and look great longer.
A premium-quality grill will also offer superior performance and functionality. This translates to an enhanced cooking experience for the homeowner. Consider factors such as cooking surface size, heat distribution technology, versatility to simultaneously cook different foods at different temperatures, as well as a brand’s reputation.
Now, think beyond the grill. A truly functional outdoor kitchen requires more than just a grill, especially for homeowners for whom entertaining is a priority. Go back to the client’s priorities and their favourite meals to cook. Will they need more than one side burner? Will they need a more powerful side burner, one capable of deep frying a turkey? Perhaps a high-performance pizza oven is in order to make pizza, as well as bake other foods and even desserts. How about breakfast? One will need to create a design with a high-end griddle for fluffy pancakes and scrumptious eggs.
Esthetic touches such as elegant black glass accents found in indoor kitchen appliances, are now available in luxury outdoor equipment, delivering a sophisticated, cohesive look. Convenience features such as Bluetooth connectivity and digital grilling controls may be a priority to some clients. And if sustainability is important to the homeowner or local regulations require fossil-fuel alternatives, there are new, electric options that deliver a high-end grilling experience.
Cold zone
The cold zone includes the outdoor, under-counter beverage fridge as a required kitchen element. Consider recommending multiple fridges: one for sodas and water, and a second lockable unit for beers and seltzers. A separate wine fridge may even be necessary for oenophiles. Finally, an icemaker is a key piece to keep all things chilled during hot summer days.
Wet zone
The wet zone is too often overlooked in the outdoor kitchen space. This zone can make outdoor entertaining easier, efficient, and enjoyable. The addition of a sink requires supplementary utilities: hot/cold water and drain lines. For clients planning to frequently entertain or regularly use the outdoor kitchen, they will quickly experience the benefits of a well-appointed wet zone.
Dry zone
The dry zone includes several elements that should always be included in an outdoor kitchen. These include a built-in trash cabinet and dry pantry storage. The dry pantry is a sealed storage insert to store dry food and keep serving items safe and secure from dirt and pests. Another key dry zone feature is a warming drawer below the grill. When entertaining large groups, this component keeps the food from getting cold while the next items are grilling. And on cooler evenings when food is not being prepared, it is a fantastic place to warm pool towels.
Cheers zone
One additional kitchen zone worthy of consideration is the “cheers” zone—which incorporates a bar seating area with entertainment features. Much like a popular restaurant or even a home’s extended kitchen area, the bar area is where people naturally gather and talk. This becomes an important social element that clients always value. The cheers zone can be more formal with decorative mirrors and decor, it can be thematic based on the personality of your client, or it can be fun and relaxed (e.g. a sports bar with a large TV and surround sound). Consider including items such as a refreshment centre and kegerator. The options are as varied as clients’ lifestyles.
Finishing touches
A final design note for the outdoor kitchen space is the need for covering, such as a pavilion or extended covered patio. Regional weather patterns and seasonal use will dictate whether or not covering is needed. The best plans will integrate the covering elements into the overall design.
By bringing all these kitchen zones together into a cohesive plan, the integrated design will deliver a complete outdoor living experience specific to each client. Both the pool area and outdoor kitchen serve as complementary elements for the gathering of intimate groups or the entertainment of large parties, giving clients the outdoor tools to manage the golden hour.
The golden hour is the magical transition moment when the lively and fun pool party atmosphere of the day transitions into the relaxed and enchanting mood of night. The pool floats and water games are put away as the sun dips below the tree line, and the landscape lights up as fire features ignite around the property. The beverages change from beer and frozen drinks to wine and cocktails as the music vibe shifts from upbeat to relaxing.
Integration of the pool and well-equipped outdoor kitchen invites the perfect moment that always hits right at dinnertime. Hosts and guests alike can grill, chill, serve, and enjoy with all of the necessary accessories built into the complete outdoor living experience that keeps the party going from day until long into the night.
Authors
Jason Brownlee is the founder, president, and lead designer at J.Brownlee Design in Nashville, as well as co-founder of Elevate Events where he teaches design, construction engineering, sales, and business development. In the field of watershape, pool, and outdoor living design, he is one of the few industry leaders to receive the prestigious “Masters” level recognition.
Amy Bortz is the vice-president of Marketing for Fire Magic, creating and implementing strategic marketing programs for the company. For more than 85 years, Fire Magic has set the bar for both high-performance outdoor cooking and exceptional design with its line of expertly engineered luxury grills and accessories.
