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Designing an Outdoor Kitchen: Tips, Materials, and Ideas for Long-Lasting Results
#outdoorkitchen

Designing an Outdoor Kitchen: Tips, Materials, and Ideas for Long-Lasting Results

Outdoor kitchens are one of the most in-demand landscaping features today—blending cooking, entertainment, and relaxation into a single outdoor space. Whether you’re a homeowner planning a DIY build or a contractor designing a custom space for a client, it’s important to think beyond aesthetics. Functionality, durability, drainage, and layout will all determine how well your outdoor kitchen performs in the long run.

In this article, we’ll walk through the key elements of outdoor kitchen design, and how materials from CORE Landscape Products—including our CANA HD (Patio Pro) grid system, privacy screens, solar light towers, and CORE Glow aggregates—can help you create a practical, beautiful, and resilient space.

1. Start with a Solid Foundation

Before selecting appliances or finishes, make sure your outdoor kitchen has a solid base. The ground must be level, well-drained, and strong enough to support built-in grills, fridges, countertops, and dining furniture.

A popular solution for gravel patios and outdoor kitchens is a stabilizing grid system, which keeps the surface smooth and durable under weight and traffic. These grid systems, like the one featured in Ali Wong’s backyard kitchen surprise on Celebrity IOU (Season 3, Episode 4), are ideal for this kind of installation. For that project, CORE’s stabilizing grids were used to create a seamless, long-lasting foundation that blends naturally with the landscaping.

Why use a gravel grid system for an outdoor kitchen?

  • Prevents ruts and shifting

  • Maintains a level surface, even under heavy furniture

  • Reduces pooling water through built-in permeability

  • Ideal for DIY installations or professional builds

  • Compatible with natural gravel or stone finishes


2. Consider Your Zones: Cooking, Prep, Dining, and Relaxation

Good outdoor kitchen design considers how the space will be used. Most kitchens have at least three functional zones:

  • Cooking zone: Includes grill, oven, or cooktop

  • Prep zone: A workspace for cutting, marinating, and plating

  • Dining/entertainment zone: For seating, gathering, and eating

 

Using decorative privacy screens to define these zones can improve both flow and ambiance. Screens can:

  • Provide wind protection for cooking and dining

  • Create visual separation between work and relaxation areas

  • Add a decorative or artistic element to the space

  • Offer shade or block direct views from neighbouring properties

CORE’s privacy screens come in a wide range of sizes and designs and can be framed in wood or metal. They’re made from weather-resistant materials:

HDPE, PVC, and ACM—suitable for coastal environments and high-wind areas.

solar_powered_garden_light_tower.jpg

2. Add Lighting That Works Without Wires

Outdoor kitchens often need lighting for functionality and safety. But not every space has access to wiring or wants to install overhead fixtures.

CORE’s solar light towers offer a plug-free lighting solution

  • Solar-powered heads charge during the day and illuminate at night

  • Ideal for placing near prep areas, dining tables, or walkways

  • Optional wired tops available if solar is not preferred

  • Designed for durability in all weather conditions

Light towers can also be used to highlight privacy screens or garden elements after dark.


3. Explore Glow-in-the-Dark Concrete Ideas

For those looking to add a creative or dramatic flair to their outdoor kitchen, glow-in-the-dark concrete countertops or pathways are an innovative option.

CORE Glow aggregates are made from strontium aluminate—a non-toxic, rechargeable material that glows for 8–12 hours after just 20 minutes of sun exposure. These aggregates can be embedded in:

  • Concrete or epoxy countertops

  • Outdoor bar tops or serving stations

  • Accent borders for patios and decks

  • Concrete pavers or stepping stones

Glow elements serve both aesthetic and functional purposes: enhancing visibility after dark while offering a unique visual effect.


4. Drainage, Climate, and Maintenance

Outdoor kitchens face environmental stress—rain, wind, UV exposure, and temperature fluctuations. When planning your build:

  • Choose materials that are rust-proof, rot-resistant, and UV-stable

  • Ensure water can drain away naturally using permeable materials like gravel and grids

  • Consider seasonal changes: will your kitchen be used year-round or seasonally?

  • Select finishes that are low-maintenance and easy to clean

At CORE, our entire product line is developed with coastal durability in mind. We’re based on Vancouver Island, where rain, salt air, and temperature swings are common. All our materials are suited to similar climates and can stand the test of time outdoors.


Summary: How to Use CORE Products in Your Outdoor Kitchen

Project Element Recommended CORE Product Why It Works
Foundation/Base CANA HD (Patio Pro) Grid Stabilizes gravel, drains water, supports weight
Zone Definition / Privacy Decorative Privacy Screens Adds structure, style, and wind protection
Lighting Solar Light Towers Easy, wire-free, and eco-friendly lighting
Counters / Visual Accents CORE Glow Aggregates Creates glowing bar tops and nighttime visibility

 


Learn More or Get a Custom Recommendation

If you’re building an outdoor kitchen and want a long-lasting, eco-conscious foundation, we’d be happy to help. We offer:

  • Material samples

  • Product planning support

  • Custom privacy screen design

  • Installation advice for DIY and contractor builds

Visit shop.coregravel.ca or contact us directly for more details.

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