An outdoor kitchen twenty steps from the fridge gets used twice a summer. Placement decides everything else.
Distance and route
Close to the kitchen door, on a path you can walk carrying a tray, without crossing wet grass. If the route involves steps, it needs lighting.
Services in early
Gas, water and power go in while trenches are open. Retrofitting any of them means cutting the deck you just paid for.
Counter and storage
Landing space either side of the grill matters more than the grill. Weatherproof storage saves trips indoors, which is the main reason these get abandoned.
Wind and sun
Face the cook so they are not looking into the low evening sun, and place the whole thing where the prevailing wind does not blow smoke across the dining area.
Winter
Everything installed here spends four months under snow. Materials and appliances have to be rated for it, and water lines need to be drainable.
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ReadFree estimate
Planning something like this?
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