Summer is just around the corner! Everyone will be spending more time outside, and some of you may be considering installing an outdoor kitchen. This will be a place for the family to hang out, it looks amazing, and can increase the value of your home. Outdoor kitchens have stepped up from a grill on the deck to an extension of your living area. Some people even include a television in their outdoor kitchen area. Are you tossing this idea around?

Consider cost vs ROI – as with anything, this depends on what part of the country you are in and how many months out of the year you will be able to utilize your outdoor kitchen. According to supermoney.com, outdoor kitchens typically return 55% of the cost of installation. Their study claims that outdoor kitchens appeal to a small audience of buyers. Most folks tend to value interior luxuries over outdoor … such as walk-in closets, an updated kitchen, etc. But not everyone! There are those that really like to entertain their guests, or just really enjoy being outside and consider it an investment for their family to keep them all at home. Also, cooking outside is less of a chore! No different than having clothes dry on a line and folding them outside … it’s much more enjoyable than standing in your laundry room folding clothes. I think most of us can agree that anything that happens outside in Mother Nature outweights doing it in the house, at least during certain seasons.

At the end of the day, whether or not to build an outdoor kitchen is no different than deciding if you want a swimming pool. The consensus these days is if you will enjoy the pool or kitchen in the months that you can utilize it throughout the year, and you can afford it, then by all means, go for it! When it comes to selling your home, there will likely be a buyer at some point that wants what you have to offer.

Looking for ideas? Head to this link to see some really cool outdoor kitchen ideas. Don’t have a big budget to work with, or a big yard? Here is another link that has some smaller outdoor kitchen ideas that will function in a similar manner.

Are you ready to build your dream home with an outdoor kitchen in the backyard!? Come and talk to us! See where we build and get some ideas of your own. We have added some more photos to view, so be sure to check out the neighborhood links and see what kind of home appeals most to you. Call Lisa or Emily if you have any questions on how to get started, or fill out our customer worksheet.