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Expert Tips for a Professional Kitchen Indoors and Out
A renowned chef and an interior designer dish out their top recommendations
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Professional kitchens aren’t just for restaurants — or interior spaces. In partnership with Fisher & Paykel, a premium appliance brand, we teamed up with chef Ludo Lefebvre and designer Caitlin Wilson to help you create a sensational kitchen both indoors and out.
Meet the Chef
Born in Auxerre, France, Lefebvre trained with French culinary masters for 12 years before moving to Los Angeles. “By 13 years old, I had been in quite a bit of trouble so my dad gave me three choices: I could become a barber, a mechanic or a cook,” he says. “I liked to eat, so I picked cooking.” Lefebvre is now an acclaimed restaurateur whose cuisine can be enjoyed at Trois Mec, Petit Trois and Trois Familia in L.A.
Meet the Designer
Wilson founded her eponymous design firm in 2007 and is based in Dallas. “Interior design is an integral part of everyone’s life,” she says. “I’m passionate about designing spaces for family and friends to come together and create memories in a beautiful environment.” Wilson also designs textiles, furnishings and decor that embody her signature flair for color and pattern.
Born in Auxerre, France, Lefebvre trained with French culinary masters for 12 years before moving to Los Angeles. “By 13 years old, I had been in quite a bit of trouble so my dad gave me three choices: I could become a barber, a mechanic or a cook,” he says. “I liked to eat, so I picked cooking.” Lefebvre is now an acclaimed restaurateur whose cuisine can be enjoyed at Trois Mec, Petit Trois and Trois Familia in L.A.
Meet the Designer
Wilson founded her eponymous design firm in 2007 and is based in Dallas. “Interior design is an integral part of everyone’s life,” she says. “I’m passionate about designing spaces for family and friends to come together and create memories in a beautiful environment.” Wilson also designs textiles, furnishings and decor that embody her signature flair for color and pattern.
Room design by Caitlin Wilson
Indoor Kitchen Tips
Get the appliances right. High-performance equipment is key for a pro kitchen. “Using a professional range makes everything more streamlined and enjoyable because things are getting done faster, better and easier,” Wilson says. She uses a 48-inch range, seen here, with eight 23,500-BTU burners, allowing her to cook more dishes simultaneously. Lefebvre is a fan of induction cooktops, which can cut cooking time by 20 percent, he says. He also likes combi-ovens, which offer steam, convection and combination cooking: “Having one in your house truly elevates your game.”
Indoor Kitchen Tips
Get the appliances right. High-performance equipment is key for a pro kitchen. “Using a professional range makes everything more streamlined and enjoyable because things are getting done faster, better and easier,” Wilson says. She uses a 48-inch range, seen here, with eight 23,500-BTU burners, allowing her to cook more dishes simultaneously. Lefebvre is a fan of induction cooktops, which can cut cooking time by 20 percent, he says. He also likes combi-ovens, which offer steam, convection and combination cooking: “Having one in your house truly elevates your game.”
Focus on flow. “The design of a kitchen 100 percent dictates the cooking,” Lefebvre says. “Restaurants live or die by their prep space.” With this in mind, lay out your work spaces for convenience and ease. Put down masking tape where your footsteps would be between your sink, prep space and range to get in the right mindset. “Create a tight area you can work in so you’re not carrying things across big spaces,” Wilson says. And don’t forget the details, such as where your trash can goes. “You wouldn’t put your trash can on the opposite side of the room from your sink,” Lefebvre says.
Customize your storage. Use drawer and cabinet accessories to organize your cooking tools and supplies, especially in the cabinetry near your cooktop or range. “I like baking drawers with insets for flours and sugar,” Wilson says. “It doesn’t cost that much more to do.” Consider a built-in knife rack, dividers for baking trays and wire baskets for root vegetables. “Your kitchen doesn’t have to be huge to be functional and efficient. Many restaurant kitchens are small,” Wilson says.
Customize your storage. Use drawer and cabinet accessories to organize your cooking tools and supplies, especially in the cabinetry near your cooktop or range. “I like baking drawers with insets for flours and sugar,” Wilson says. “It doesn’t cost that much more to do.” Consider a built-in knife rack, dividers for baking trays and wire baskets for root vegetables. “Your kitchen doesn’t have to be huge to be functional and efficient. Many restaurant kitchens are small,” Wilson says.
Outdoor Kitchen Tips
Bring the fire. Just as you would inside, invest in professional appliances outside. “If you’re going to have an outdoor cooking space, make it powerful,” Lefebvre says. “You don’t want a little barbecue that can barely cook a hamburger. You want enough heat to get a crispy sear to your steak.” He uses a 25,000-BTU-per-burner grill, seen here, with a secondary cooking surface for extra space, hood lights and a charcoal smoker tray.
Stay safe. “Put some refrigeration outside; leaving raw meat sitting out in the sun could turn into a health issue,” Lefebvre says. “In a professional kitchen, it’s important to have not only delicious food, but also food that’s safe — which means keeping it at an appropriate temperature prior to cooking.” An outdoor refrigerator also gives you a place to store drinks, salads and other items that need to stay cool. It also keeps everything neat and tidy, Wilson says. “Plus, you don’t want your delicious French butter melting,” Lefebvre adds.
Bring the fire. Just as you would inside, invest in professional appliances outside. “If you’re going to have an outdoor cooking space, make it powerful,” Lefebvre says. “You don’t want a little barbecue that can barely cook a hamburger. You want enough heat to get a crispy sear to your steak.” He uses a 25,000-BTU-per-burner grill, seen here, with a secondary cooking surface for extra space, hood lights and a charcoal smoker tray.
Stay safe. “Put some refrigeration outside; leaving raw meat sitting out in the sun could turn into a health issue,” Lefebvre says. “In a professional kitchen, it’s important to have not only delicious food, but also food that’s safe — which means keeping it at an appropriate temperature prior to cooking.” An outdoor refrigerator also gives you a place to store drinks, salads and other items that need to stay cool. It also keeps everything neat and tidy, Wilson says. “Plus, you don’t want your delicious French butter melting,” Lefebvre adds.
Build for convenience. Think about how your family will use the space and design it to make life easier. “Add outside storage for serving dishes so you’re not running in and out,” Wilson says. “And create a serving area near your cook space so you’re not carrying dishes far.” She prefers to design the eating area close to the cooking space. Lefebvre recommends installing an outside sink that’s large enough for your biggest pan. (This goes for inside too.) “I don’t have water at my outdoor kitchen, but I wish I did,” he says.
Armed with these expert tips, you’ll be on your way to cooking up a fantastic professional-style kitchen inside and out.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Armed with these expert tips, you’ll be on your way to cooking up a fantastic professional-style kitchen inside and out.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Fisher & Paykel have been designing products since 1934 and have grown into a global company operating in 50... Läs mer
Fisher & Paykel have been designing products since 1934 and have grown into a global company operating in 50... Läs mer
Outdoor kitchen project combining personalized tile decoration with this recommendation: "Lefebvre recommends installing an outside sink" - custom printed, fade-proof, frost proof tile murals. It's a little prettier than plain concrete or brick. This one is in California.