The Outdoor Lifestyle Blog

Kitchen islands seem to be a staple in most kitchens today. Maybe Chip and Joanna Gaines are are to blame, or perhaps people are just realizing how nice it is to have added counter space. Either way, kitchen islands are more than a fad. So does that mean you should put one in your outdoor living area? 

Instead of giving a simple answer to a question that doesn't have one, let's cover the do's and don'ts of building kitchen islands, and then you can decide if you think an island is still appropriate for your outdoor living space.

A kitchen without cabinets is like a beach without sand or a bike without pedals. How would you even function without them?

That's why people rarely ask themselves if they should put cabinets in their outdoor kitchen. Instead they're asking, how do I choose cabinets for my outdoor kitchen?

There are a lot of options out there, but since we're outdoor kitchen lifestyle experts (like, it's literally our job), we want to help you sort through the abundance of kitchen cabinet options and choose the best cabinets for your outdoor kitchen.

You would think that if your kitchen is outdoors, then you would have plenty of fresh air without also having a fan. However, that's not always the case. The amount of airflow your outdoor kitchen gets is as dependent on the weather as it is on your kitchen's layout and design. Plus, there are a lot of other reasons for installing fans in an outdoor kitchen than to just keep you from sweating. 

Let's discuss!

An outdoor kitchen is mainly about the cooking equipment such as a barbecue island, a grill and a fire pit. While these practical elements lay the groundwork for an outdoor kitchen, they do not provide the finishing touches that an outdoor living space needs. That's where landscaping comes in. Landscaping can really make or break your outdoor kitchen's appearance and atmosphere. 

In today's article, we'll share the essential elements of landscaping that will make your outdoor kitchen come alive in a very natural way.

It's one thing to have an idea of what you want for your outdoor kitchen design; it's quite another to have a plan.

At Unlimited Outdoor Kitchen, we don't like to give our clients "cookie-cutter" kitchens because, ultimately, that's not what they want either. We're all about building custom kitchens, which means our designs are unique to the individuals we're building them for.

Who doesn't love getting on a good swing every now and again? For many, swings takes us back to our childhoods when we'd play in the backyard or go to the park just to get on a swing and imagine that we were flying. 

While you've probably given up the fantasy of flying at this point in your life, there's still something magically relaxing and even fulfilling about being on a swing. If you agree, then why don't you have a swing in your backyard living space?

Ensuring that you have comfortable seating in your outdoor kitchen is one thing, but a swing — that's another entirely.

When you're ready to install a swing in your backyard living area, the first thing you'll need to decide is what type of swing you want. Let's look at your options.

The rapid approach of a new year always seems to inspire us and spur us toward new endeavors — perhaps an endeavor like designing an outdoor kitchen or breathing new life into the one you already have. Either way, 2019 is opening the door to new trends that could influence a whole new backyard paradise for your home.

Keep reading to find out what design trends are on the cusp of the coming year and discover how you can incorporate them into your lifestyle.

From Fitbits to Garmins, it's obvious that being more active is a lifestyle trend that's catching on. But "getting your steps in" isn't the only way to move as often as you should. There are many unique ways to incorporate movement into your lifestyle, and if you're creative enough, one of them could happen in your very own outdoor kitchen.

No, we're not suggesting that you need to wash twice as many dishes or scrub your grill twice as hard. We have a better idea — one that's a lot more fun! 

What if you designed your outdoor kitchen for movement? Designing rooms and other spaces for movement may not yet be considered mainstream, but for those who love fitness and food, it's a match made in heaven! 

While California is blessed with mostly sunshine throughout the year, the Golden State still has its days of intense weather. That's why, if you've built an outdoor kitchen in San Jose or Santa Clara or anywhere else in California's Bay Area, it's still important to weatherproof it.

Weatherproofing is most effective when you do it during your kitchen installation rather than after your outdoor kitchen has already suffered the effects of severe weather. Here are 4 ways to weatherproof your outdoor living space:

Outdoor kitchens should be as sturdy as they are beautiful. Unfortunately, many people designing their dream outdoor kitchen sacrifice one of these elements in order to achieve the other. Don't make this mistake. A beautiful outdoor kitchen is a waste of time and money if it's not built to last. You can have both strength and beauty in your outdoor kitchen — and you should!

Let's look at 4 ways to check your boxes in the durability department while also creating an attractive design.