SEVEN THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN DESIGNING AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN
There’s a fascinating appeal to the wonders of dining outdoors. Whether it’s a European al fresco, barbeque in the park, or a picnic on the beach, we seem to have decided that food tastes better outside. You can incorporate a bit of that magic into your home with an outdoor kitchen! Swap your evening TV show for a glorious sunset instead, and accompany every meal with the beauty of nature.
Before the vivid memories start to roll in, we’ve compiled a list of SEVEN things to consider when designing an outdoor kitchen.
1. TAPWARE AND SINK
Great days can quickly turn into greater nights, and things may get messy. Late-night crawls to the internal kitchen with precariously stacked dishes is never ideal. Leaving them dirty overnight is even worse. Having a hot/cold tap and sink in your outdoor kitchen cuts cleaning time in half, just by sheer proximity. It also makes it much easier to clean the barbeque! We have a great range of tapware that can definitely go into an outdoor kitchen! Find them here.
2. BBQ AND WORKSPACE
When choosing a barbeque, think about how often you might cook outside, how many you generally may cook for, how big your space is, and scale your search to barbeques that suit those parameters. Having a workspace where you can prepare food can be very handy! A stainless steel bench is a great workspace, as they are effortless to clean and aren’t very porous, which makes it hard for bacteria to be absorbed.
3. REFRIGERATION
When you engage the stay-tab on your canned beverage of choice, the sound that escapes is a first-class crackle. It’s even more gratifying on a sweltering day when the drink is ice cold. Having a fridge in your outdoor kitchen is the height of convenience, keeping your food or drinks nice and cold.
4. STORAGE
Is the concept of “too much storage” even admissible anymore? There is always something that could use storage, especially in an outdoor kitchen. Whether it’s dining utensils, barbeque equipment, or even insect repellant, having these items tucked away keeps them safe from the elements. With your cabinets, make sure to accessorise them with some of our beautiful cabinetry pulls here.
5. WEATHER RESISTANT MATERIALS AND FURNITURE
When building your outdoor kitchen foundations, choose materials that can withstand the weather—waterproof, windproof, and (if the barbeque master gets distracted) heatproof. Your outdoor furniture should be very durable too! They’ll be spending the most time outdoors, so make sure to choose good quality pieces.
6. LIGHTING
In your outdoor kitchen, install bright, white lighting above the barbeque and workspace, so the chef can actually see what they’re doing! You don’t want to be served food that’s indescribable (but in a bad way). Keep the warm, ambient lights over the general seating to still have the option of a cosy atmosphere. For an all-inclusive lighting experience, dimmable lights are a great option.
7. GARBAGE DISPOSAL
Perhaps consider a pull-out rubbish cupboard in your outdoor kitchen vanity. It keeps the aesthetic and hygienic aspect nice and clean! Since it’s outside, access to your council bins could be potentially easier when you need to empty your outdoor bin. It also saves time when cleaning up.
