Ask the Expert: 3 Key Elements of the Outdoor Kitchen

For his own backyard and outdoor kitchen, Mike Black worked with Waterform Designs. The kitchen features granite from Colonial Countertops, along with Alfresco equipment. The cladding, a collaboration with Associated Sheet Metal, is a take on corten steel.

According to Mike Black, owner of Capital Iron, there are only three pieces you really need for a functional outdoor kitchen — “everything else is gravy.”

  1. A quality built-in grill
    “This is where I advise people to put the most money — into the quality of their grill,” Black says. “There are great grills being handmade right here in North America. The higher quality ones are designed to last forever, and most manufacturers will replace the burners for as long as you own your grill. I rarely worry about BTUs — a higher rating isn’t always better. These grills are designed to give you good heat with the BTU output they have.”
  2. Access to gas
    “Whether you do doors or a door/drawer combo, access to a gas connection is very important,” Black says. “The door/drawer option gives you some enclosed storage for your accessories and utensils.”
  3. Built-in garbage system
    “Most people don’t want it at first, but nothing ruins the look of your outdoor kitchen like a green garbage bag tied to something or having a unsightly can sitting to one side.
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