How a Natural Stone Countertop can Improve Your Outdoor Kitchen

Nothing says elegance like a backyard kitchen and an outdoor entertaining area, but no area is complete without the following;

 

 

In order to grill like a master, one must prep like a master. An outdoor preparation zone is essential to serving the perfect al fresco meal. Countertops used for food preparation should be both beautiful and durable, which is why it is a great idea to consider incorporating the beauty of natural stone with your outdoor décor. The robust luxury of a natural stone countertop is perfect for food preparation because of its ability to resist scratching, staining and high temperatures.

 

 

Propane or charcoal? A single grill, or a double grill? What about a side burner? Whatever barbeque technology is decided on, the outcome will be the same; the sweet smell of summer in the air. When planning your cooking area though, thought should be given to the placement of your grill such as the view both the cook, and the guests will have, and where utilities such as gas lines, plumbing and electricity are located.

 

 

From the basic picnic table and lawn chairs to a sophisticated outdoor living room set complete with sofa, side tables and ottoman, it is important to remember that no matter how elaborate the serving area is going to be, it must also be functional. A great way to include function and beauty is by having a bar with a natural stone countertop installed. Granite, for instance is a great example of a natural stone countertop that is both functional and gorgeous. As mentioned above, the naturally occurring attributes of natural stone make it an ideal surface for countertops. One of the biggest benefits of incorporating a bar into your outdoor entertaining area is that it can include many functions over and above a serving area. A bar can be used for an additional food preparation area, storage and can even include many useful built in components such as a sink, mini-fridge and power outlets.

 

 

An outdoor entertaining area should reflect the host and include little details to inject big personality. Consider adding items like the following;

 

 

Especially if a natural stone countertop has been chosen, mosaic tiles can be the finishing touch to complete a look and tie everything together. They can be used on the ground as an alternative to decking or an outdoor carpet. They can be used to camouflage fencing or add prominence to a fire pit. The uses for mosaic tiles only end where the creativity does.

 

 

Especially the edible kind, are a pleasing addition to any backyard kitchen. Grow fresh spices, herbs and vegetables. They smell nice, look great, and honestly, what could be better than sustainable gourmet ingredients available on demand?

 

 

Again, natural stone is an ideal element for the outdoor entertaining experience and it is so versatile! Create pathways, garden accents, fire pits for roasting marshmallows, even additional sitting areas.

 

 

When planning the more involved elements of your outdoor entertainment area it is always best to seek service from professional companies that specialize in their industry, rather than purchasing everything from one location like big box type do-it-yourself stores. When it comes to bigger ticket items such as barbeques or natural stone, this is especially true. Many people think that by purchasing all components of a project at one location, they will be saving time and money, but this is a misconception, especially when one considers the time and money it will cost to replace items that may not have the same quality of those that would have been obtained from a proper retailer.