Outdoor Kitchens and Cabinetry
Part Two of Our Guest Blog With Karla Krengel. Our last blog with Karla was all about what biophilia is and why we love entertaining outdoors! This blog will focus on outdoor cabinetry choices and finishes!
Outdoor Cabinetry Choices
Outdoor Cabinetry is an interesting category when it comes to your choices – as it a relatively new offering for the design industry overall.
We are going to break it down for you by the different cabinetry options, so you can make the best decision on cabinetry type for your outdoor (or garage!) space.
Photo credit: Kalamazoo Outdoor Grills
Before we delve into it, we’ll take a second to explore why it is a relatively new concept for the design industry.
Outdoor spaces have recently evolved as a new space to focus on in our homes, as we discussed in the other blog on outdoor kitchen spaces. Homeowners started asking for outdoor kitchen spaces & many of us design types weren’t quite sure where to turn for cabinet options. (Shhhh….but, for many years it was pure conundrum!) Just for the simple reason, there weren’t really any products on the market for outdoor cabinetry, so a landscaper would throw some bricks or stones together, maybe paired with a stainless steel “door” and then a surface to work on, & we’d call it a day!
Well, thankfully….we’ve come a long way, baby!
Today, there are options for cabinetry, options! All of which make it easy to work in your outdoor kitchen space and store the items you need for cooking and entertaining in your outdoor space.
For a quick overview, check out the chart & then we’ll discuss each offering a bit more below.
HDPE / Polymer
This one is my absolute favorite & the one I’m choosing for my own outdoor kitchen – simply because I think it is the easiest to maintain. Here is what I like about it:
In most HDPE brands, the color you see on the surface of the cabinet is the same color thoughout the cabinet. Meaning, if the cabinet gets scratched (we are outdoors after all!) there won’t be a big gouge or scratch of a different color showing through.
With HDPE, grab your power washer & clean. Yes…it is that simple! (What does that tell you about its built to last ability!?!)
HDPE / polymer cabinets can be recycled. They are made up of recycled salad & milk cartons & can be eventually recycled!
HDPE has antimicrobial protection & resists bacteria, fungi (mold, mildew & yeasts) & algae.
FDA approved for food contact
Will hold up to the cold of a Chicago winter equally as well as it holds up to the heat of an Arizona Summer!
If you love the look of brick, stone or block, it can easily be paired with them.
Photo Credit: Open Air Outdoor Cabinetry
What to watch for: make sure the drawer glides, hardware & so on are made out of stainless steel so there isn’t rusting.
Wood
I just love, love, love the overall look of wood for outdoor cabinetry! If it is your style, you can match outdoor cabinetry to the wood of your chairs & tables, for example. Of course, wood won’t rust (whew!) & depending on where your outdoor kitchen is (for example, you are lucky enough to have a home on a wooded lot), the wood cabinets will beautifully fit right in!
Not all woods are suited well for outdoors of course, but 2 woods we see often are:
As you can see, there can be some beautiful & natural looking options for wood outdoor cabinets:
Photo Credit: Open Air Outdoor Cabinetry
What to watch for: wood changes color with sunlight & will need a fair amount of upkeep!
Stainless Steel
With as much as we all love bringing the outdoors in, I believe Stainless Steel is one finish which has stood the test of time in our home’s heart! We may be choosing wood cabinetry & stone countertops inside, but we love nothing more than to compliment them with stainless steel appliance fronts! Outdoors, let’s explore stainless steel benefits:
Stainless won’t rust & it is safe for food contact, there won’t be problems with mold or mildew – and it is very contemporary in styling! It is also wonderful because it is reflective of styling you probably already have in your home
Kalamazoo Outdoor Grills | Photo credit: Crystal Waye Photo Design
What to watch for: metal conducts heat & this surface can get pretty hot & you need to be onboard for the wabi sabi of its wear & tear look over time.
Brick-Block-Stone
The one thing you won’t have to worry about with an outdoor kitchen made of brick, block or stone – is that it will be UV stable! It also won’t rust, peel or delaminate! It can be a gorgeous outdoor kitchen & can be a great option on its own, if you don’t desire any storage.
Photo credit: Kalamazoo Outdoor Grills | Designer Landscape Associates
What to watch for: the weight of a lot of stone, brick &/or block might be too much for a deck which isn’t reinforced & watch what you are wearing when you are working in this space! Brick, block & stone are all likely to catch your clothing if you rub up against it.
We’ve come so far with our outdoor living spaces in the last 10 years! From a fire pit with a few Adirondack chairs thrown around it – to kitchens and spaces we think through from cabinet type to work and entertaining flow! Whatever state your outdoor kitchen is in, think through what you need to allow you as much time as possible out there…because no matter how much time you do spend in your upgraded outdoor space, I am pretty sure it will never be enough!
Karla Krengel
Designated at a “Top 50 Innovator” in 2018 by Kithen & Bath Design News magazine, Karla Krengel is a 3rd generation, Kitchen & Bath Industry entrepreneur at the helm of Krengel & Hood.
Krengel & Hood represents distinct Kitchen & Bath Industry products for fine living, including Open Air (outdoor) Cabinetry, Corsi, Greenfield & Siteline Cabinetry, Plain & Fancy Cabinetry – in addition to Southside Woodshop countertops.
She loves to travel, is learning to speak Norweigan, and loves to get outside to ski, snowshoe & skijor. She is naturally intrigued & engaged by all things “home.”
