Create Your Outdoor Oasis: A Guide To Designing A Beautiful & Functional Kitchen
Are you one to frequently invite friends and family over because of your love for entertaining? Incorporating an outdoor kitchen area is the perfect solution to bring your party hosting to a whole new level. Forget settling for takeout on each occasion. Instead, you will be able to sip on a nice cold or warm beverage while baking a pizza or smoking some roast beef in your new outdoor kitchen setup. Whatever outdoor kitchen design you opt for, your kitchen will positively expand your entertaining and living space.
With numerous factors to take into consideration during your outdoor kitchen planning, it is important to make the right decisions as this can guarantee a practical and long-lasting space. Be sure to attentively assess the space you will be working with, its location as well as the certain materials and appliances you will incorporate into the space. Here are some simple tips that you can follow when designing a beautiful yet highly functional outdoor kitchen:
Distinguish What Type Of Kitchen Will Suit You
When designing an outdoor kitchen, you have to weigh up the amount of space you have available, your budget, lifestyle as well as other detrimental factors when distinguishing what type of outdoor kitchen layout will work best for you. Your kitchen may have a BBQ or maybe even a space for a bar which can be easily bought from a store. Or if you happen to have an open budget, you can be more extravagant by having additional extras such as a pizza oven or extra stove space.
Ensure that you decide whether you want to opt for something simple or if you prefer to have a completely functional outdoor kitchen. Doing so will assist you in selecting all the essential items, and if, in the end, you can allow for more room in your budget, you can contemplate what additional items you may want to include in your design.
Transform Your Kitchen Into An Extension Of Your Living Area
Not only is an outdoor kitchen a space where you can come together to cook a nice hearty meal for your guests, but it is also an extension of your living area – a place for entertaining. This can be accomplished by integrating elements such as shelter, shade and warmth.
You can plant trees around the border of your kitchen space or even install awnings or a patio umbrella so that the space is kept shaded during the summer months. Plus, when it comes to the cooler months, you can even consider adding in a fire pit or an outdoor heater to make the space feel welcoming and cosy for your guests.
Select Materials That Are Durable For The Outdoors
To design an outdoor kitchen means ensuring that each and every component of the kitchen is not only easy to clean and maintain but is also able to withstand the elements outside.
When it comes to your kitchen countertops, natural stone is the way to go. Natural stone benchtops such as granite are a great option as it is very durable and has low porosity. The lower the porosity of a benchtop, the chances of material staining from everyday use are minimised. Uniquely, natural stone benchtops hold ultraviolet (UV) resistance, which reduces the risk of these benchtops breaking down over time due to prolonged sun exposure.
Dekton porcelain benchtops are also another great choice for an outdoor stone benchtop, as they defy all odds. Dekton porcelain can adapt to any environment, withstanding even the harshest weather conditions. Porcelain is great for wet areas since it is compact and non-porous, with an absorption rate of 0.5%, making it ideal for demanding, high-usage, and damp surfaces, allowing you to use it in areas that are not covered.
If you wish to learn more about the ideal natural stone for your outdoor kitchen plans, feel free to get in touch with a member of our team at Made In Stone.
Design Your Kitchen Around Your Surroundings
Since we have previously noted that your outdoor kitchen should merely be an extension of your indoor living space, it should also still be designed in a way that is suited to your yard and its surrounding area. When forming your outdoor kitchen blueprint, you should take into account the exterior of your home. Your outdoor kitchen should simply pay contrast to your home’s textures and colours. For instance, if you live in a tropical location, incorporating lush foliage and bamboo would be ideal. Or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, for a desert oasis, bold colours such as turquoise or yellow can be incorporated into various aspects of the outdoor space.
Build Your Outdoor Kitchen With Made In Stone’s Beautiful Products
During the process of planning an outdoor kitchen, it is crucial that you select appliances that are made specifically for the outdoors as they are made to last longer in an outdoor environment, just like natural stone benchtop materials from Made In Stone. Here at Made In Stone, we recommend that granite or porcelain benchtops are utilised within your modern outdoor kitchen. Such materials offer less maintenance and greater longevity, making them the perfect choice for outdoor kitchens.