Summer Kitchens: Recipes and Reminiscences from Every Corner of Ukraine

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Lighting: You’ll need multiple bright lights so you can clearly see what you’re doing, especially if you plan to use the space at dusk or after sunset. In kitchen design the use of raw materials, which are rich in tones and texture, will definitely continue to rise in popularity beyond 2021. Metal finishing alongside concrete offer a unique aesthetic that will continue to prove exceptionally popular for an on-trend industrial look. Just like the cost of building an outdoor kitchen, the cost of a summer kitchen can vary widely depending on the design, materials, appliances and labor.

Editor's note: This story was originally published on June 16, 2016. It has been updated with new information. Building a summer kitchen with shelter not only offers the chef shade on hot sunny days, but it also increases the usability of the space.When you’re planning a summer kitchen, think about how you work in the kitchen when you prepare a meal. You take the food out of the fridge. Then it is taken either to the sink or the stove area. Cleanup goes from the stove and prep areas to the sink, and leftovers get put in the fridge. Have respect for wind patterns unless smelling like grilled steaks all day seems appealing to you! Also remember- sun exposure plays a vital role too; nobody wants their ice cream dessert melting before they even have their first bite! Chapter 2: The Secret Sauce - Designing Your Summer Kitchen Architectural Style - A Blatant Disregard for Harmony Summer Kitchens by Olia Hercules (Bloomsbury) is an intriguing book. Part recipes, part social history, it is a fascinating account of a disappearing phenomenon in the Ukraine where Hercules spent her early years. Memories of women gathering in their summer kitchens to preserve the abundant harvest for the long winter months are part of her upbringing and Hercules sets out to capture not only the recipes but the stories. She is an evocative writer, drawing in the reader with her intelligent storytelling. Any food writer who manages to quote Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita in their cookbook has my full attention. Even with the widespread use of AC and modern appliances, the allure of summer kitchens didn’t fade away. Today, they’re popular in Southern Europe, California and parts of Australia, where the pleasant weather allows for outdoor cooking and dining almost year-round. Key Features of a Summer Kitchen Listen up, folks, it's high time we truly understand what the soul of a summer kitchen really is! It's not just about slapping a grill on your patio and calling it a day. Oh no, there's much more to consider when you're putting together an outdoor culinary paradise.

To those who think they can slap down some countertops around a grill and call it an effective workspace--please stop! A poorly planned layout can transform your culinary endeavors into chaotic mess rather than symphony of efficiency! The basis for any effective workspace is functionality; this means considering how you cook, what equipment you'll use frequently, storage requirements--the whole nine yards--and then organizing these elements into efficient work zones.

Characteristics of a True Summer Kitchen

The summer kitchen also helped to keep cooking smells away from the main living areas of the house. But even more than that, the physical separation of a lit stove or hearth from the primarily wooden house meant that summer kitchens also reduced the risk of house fires. Notice how the summer kitchen in the listing photo is stone while the house wood frame—that difference of material is not an accident, and was likely influenced by the threat of fire. In the kitchen, its ability to stay timeless and balance artificial high gloss surfaces and stainless steel appliances shouldn't be underestimated. The right tone also softens high-shine, hard natural surfaces such as marble and quartz. However, it’s always been difficult to find a natural wood floor that’s also truly up for the challenge of kitchen duty.' Creating a bank of cabinetry along one wall is a great way of streamlining and opening up the space. Tall wall units are particularly suited to narrow spaces. This is because using this space ensures the area feels less cramped than if filled with larder style dressers.' The summer kitchens of today, gaining popularity in modern homes and in remodels, still have the basic cooking principles and necessities at the center. The difference here is that the outdoor kitchen is more of a patio or home extension with a simple overhead covering. You might not see a wood-burning stove or a fireplace, but you are likely to spot a gas grill or even a pizza oven.

Now imagine this same scenario without any music--a barren acoustic landscape with only the monotonous drone of sizzling meats for company. How desolate! In the past, the food was often prepped in the kitchen, but it wasn’t stored there. Herbs would dry in the attic; flour and vegetables were kept in a cool cellar. You would walk all over the house to gather the ingredients for a meal. Without proper ventilation, you're merely creating an open-air gas chamber. Do I hear protests on practicality and aesthetics?

Remodel & Repurpose Your Existing Summer Kitchen

We've progressed beyond slapping some meat on fire while trying to keep ourselves dry under a leafy canopy in pouring rain or sizzling heatwave. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish by skimping on weatherproof covers for appliances or using substandard materials incapable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. The best surface for outdoor kitchen ideas, if you have the budget, is a durable stone. It withstands the elements all year round. Stone is 100 per cent natural and is one of the most durable and resilient materials in the world. When considering colours for more permanent kitchen items, such as cabinets, worktops and wall paint, opt for neutral shades. Natural colour palettes never date because they are so versatile and timeless. This is also a great option for potential buyers if you ever sell your house in the future.