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How to Spruce Up Your Home for $300 or Less: An Interview with Adrienne Hubbard
We sat down with Adrienne Hubbard of Crafty Little Gnome for her take on how to spruce up and even increase the resale value of your home for less than $300.
An outdoor kitchen is the perfect addition to summer cookouts, casual get-togethers, and weekend pool parties. Whether you’re thinking about updating your current outdoor kitchen setup or are starting completely from scratch, here are some pre-installation considerations and design ideas to make the most of your outdoor space.
When determining if you should build your outdoor kitchen yourself or hire a professional, it all comes down to the scope of the project and your experience.
Adding tables or building a pergola might not need professional help but creating a permanent outdoor kitchen requires knowledge of electrical wiring, irrigation, and hardscaping in addition to extensive time, money, and resources. If you’re looking to build a permanent outdoor kitchen, rather than a temporary space, we recommend hiring a professional.
Creating an outdoor kitchen will be an investment regardless if you choose a movable structure or custom design. Temporary, movable kitchens will cost $300 to $3,000, a prefabricated kitchen or already-built kitchen (which usually comes with an island, tile countertops, a drop-in gas grill, and access doors for a propane tank) will cost between $2,000 and $30,000, and a custom outdoor kitchen can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $50,000 depending on size and features .
You’ll also want to create space in your budget for labor costs, materials, and permits for electrical or plumbing work (some towns will also require a permit for prefabricated grill islands). Go with a movable outdoor kitchen to avoid a tax hike or check with local ordinances to determine whether you’ll need to pull a permit.
Portable outdoor kitchens are great for homeowners or renters who have limited outdoor space. You can buy portable kitchens online or at home improvement stores. Prefab kitchens are a solid option for those who have a little more outdoor space but don’t want to break the bank customizing a permanent outdoor kitchen.
Choosing prefab kitchens also cuts down on time and cost since the design work is already completed for you. These are available online or through specialty manufacturers and home improvement stores. If you have a bigger budget, plenty of outdoor space, and want to customize your outdoor kitchen from scratch, we recommend going with a custom kitchen design and contracting out.
Note that the type of outdoor kitchen you choose will affect installation time. Prefab structures can take as little as four hours to complete while custom kitchens can take a few weeks to install. If you want to use your outdoor kitchen as soon as possible, opt for a movable or prefab kitchen.
Though you have the option of building your outdoor kitchen anywhere in your backyard, it’s best to keep it closer to the house (ideally 15 to 20 feet from your indoor kitchen). Creating the kitchen closer to the house makes it easier for you to transport materials from the inside and it’s less expensive to run utilities a shorter distance. Before finalizing your design, check zoning requirements to make sure your outdoor kitchen will be a legal distance from property lines.
Keep in mind that when adding appliances, you’ll have to look for outdoor appliances. Indoor appliances will work but may not last as long as appliances that are built for outdoor use.
Though these outdoor kitchen appliances aren’t necessary, they can enhance the cooking experience for outdoor gatherings.
Depending on your budget and outdoor space, you’ll have a variety of configuration options to choose from.
To ensure a safe cooking experience, follow these considerations when building your outdoor kitchen.
We sat down with Adrienne Hubbard of Crafty Little Gnome for her take on how to spruce up and even increase the resale value of your home for less than $300.
Kealia is a staff writer and social media coordinator for House Method. She writes for a variety of beats, including home inspiration (her favorite), real estate, and home wellness.
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