Kitchens are the undisputed heart of the home, where all and sundry gathers, mingles, and lingers during parties. But to achieve that kind of appeal outside means increasing your outdoor living space. To draw a crowd and keep those entertain require a bit more than plop down a table and a few plastic chairs.
With an outdoor kitchen you can get ready meals and be around your guests with minimal time spent running back inside for plates, beverages, or tongs. Although you could spend tens of thousands of dollars for a custom outdoor kitchen, a basic island is a competent design that leaves out the difficulty of curves and angles. Not only that, with an island guests can relax on one side while you are cooking on the other, so you feel as though you're part of the gathering.
Since durability is such a critical issue for an outdoor kitchen, stone veneer is a low-maintenance option that won't need painting or sealing. Real stone is heavy, expensive, and requires the experience of a mason. Documentations cultured stone, such as the style used in this project from Landmark Stone, is easier to work with because it's lighter, cuts faster, and lasts just as long as the real thing all while looking as natural as real stone. More
