• An outdoor grill area can be a gathering place for friends and family.barbecue #1 image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com
  
  Whether you favor charcoal or gas for outdoor cooking, the focal point of your entire outdoor grill area is the space where you cook. As with any home improvement project, planning will help you identify what you have, what you want, what you need and what can wait. Your region will also help you make decisions, since wind, weather, insects, seasonal light patterns and the need for artificial lighting will influence your choices.
  
  

Locate Your Utilities

• Before you consider creating an outdoor kitchen, check on the location of utilities. If they are readily available, they can make the project easier and minimize expense. If you want an outdoor sink, for example, having water and drainage nearby can facilitate the endeavor. The same goes for natural gas. If you can tap into an existing source, you may be able to create a gas grill station using the utility that is already present. If electrical power is close to the area you have your eye on, you may be able to have a bar complete with a blender. And if having a big-screen TV would be perfect for your outdoor grill area, note whether cable service is accessible.
  
  

Consider Common Dimensions

• Some common dimensions that make for a useful outdoor grill area are as follows. A minimal countertop space is about 24 inches, though 54 inches makes for a more realistic work space. Countertops at their finished height are commonly 36 inches to 38 inches high. The depth of the counter is determined by the appliances, such as the grill if the grill is built in. A common depth is from 30 inches to 36 inches. For a bar, a common height is from 42 inches to 44 inches. Allow for at least 15 inches of leg room.
  
  

Plan Based on What You Have

• If you have a patio area, that can be a place to begin. If it is already covered, so much the better since now you can capitalize on an existing floor and roof. Consider the features that will make your outdoor grill area as useful and inviting as it can be. Then consider your budget and work to make the wish list and the available funds meet. Begin with the grill itself, since it is your focal point. Remember all the things that make grilling successful, such as utensils and a place to hang those, plus towels and potholders. Consider adding cabinets and a generous countertop. Think of where you will set food before and after you prepare it. If possible, add a refrigerator.
  
  Keep in mind that the traditional work triangle suggested for an indoor kitchen is less important in an outdoor grill area. Guests can be seated close to the work area and the cook. The bar and cooking area need not be far apart.
  
  

Expand the Dream

• Your outdoor grill area may begin with a grill and table and expand as you plan and increase your budget. What starts with a small patio may grow to become a spacious deck. If you discover the initial set up is too far away from the indoor kitchen, you may decide to move the grill area or increase your outdoor storage capacity to save steps. If utilities such as water and sewer connection are not available when you begin, those can become part of your plan to upgrade and expand.