Original Posting: On the Drawing Board, July 2018
Newsletter, Crisp Architects
Author: James Crisp, Crisp Architects Blog

"Nothing says summertime like cooking and eating in an outdoor kitchen"

It is the best of both worlds, in that you are outside with friends and family, and the cook can be part of the fun. We have designed outdoor kitchens that are simple and have just a built-in grill, as well as fully furnished outdoor kitchens that rival their indoor cousins. While an indoor kitchen may be more practical for year-round cooking, it cannot compete with the feeling of cooking a great meal outdoors on a beautiful day. (We worked with Conte and Conte Landscape Architects on this project)

Kitchen One - Pool House Kitchen

This pool house outdoor kitchen works as a place to cook outdoors while enjoying the pool and a place for guests to enjoy a quick bbq.

Kitchen Two - Full Outdoor Kitchen

This full outdoor kitchen is complete with fireplace.

Kitchen Three - Free-Standing, Covered Outdoor Kitchen

This Free-Standing, Covered Outdoor Kitchen is a destination in itself with a pizza oven and a full kitchen to create amazing meals by the pool.

The working side of this outdoor kitchen.

Kitchen Four - Kitchen Below the Bedroom

We set this kitchen into a stone hillside below a guest bedroom. The bedroom has a walkout porch that includes a stone chimney and a great view of the woods beyond.

The outdoor kitchen is covered and not too far from the main kitchen.

Photography by Rob Karosis

"I love pergolas. They give shade and add detail and interest to any structure although, I have to admit, there is no pergola which is perfect for all situations."

We sometimes create free-standing pergolas, however most are connected to a home or outbuilding. Materials for posts and beams can either match the larger structure or be completely different creating a contrast. If plants are allowed and encouraged to grow over the structure, care should be taken to choose durable materials and finishes. If the pergola is to be painted, vines may need to be cut back for maintenance.

When designing a pergola, it is critically important that the structure be able to withstand the loads of vines covered with ice or snow as-well-as the forces created by crosswinds. We always have an engineer check our designs for structural capacity in the worst weather.

In addition to providing shade, a pergola can create an entrance or emphasize a path. A garden entry is a perfect spot for the perfect pergola.