Creating an Outdoor Kitchen

Creating an outdoor kitchen is a great way to make use of your backyard, deck or patio area.

Australia’s climate is ideal for outdoor entertaining, and outdoor kitchens have come a long way since the days of the old Aussie brick barbie in the backyard.

Enjoying regular meals outdoors can support a more active and healthy lifestyle, while also keeping your indoor kitchen sparkling clean.

Outdoor kitchens are ideal for entertaining guests or hosting children’s parties too, and can even increase the resale value of a property.

To guide you on your way to your personal al fresco journey, we’ve put together a checklist to consider when creating your outdoor kitchen.

Bench Space

While camping has its charms, it may be less fun entertaining friends using an esky lid as a prep table.

So one important feature of an outdoor kitchen is ensuring you have enough room to prepare and cook delicious meals.

Geostone’s polished concrete is a practical and attractive material to use for benchtops, being water-resistant, easy to clean and visually beautiful.

Geostone could also be used for creating outdoor dining tables, with aggregate stone selections, colours, and shapes customised to your individual needs.

Using decorative concrete both inside and outside the home is a contemporary way of defining spaces and improving functionality.

Plumbing, Electricals and Lighting

Before installing a benchtop, determine the positioning of your sink and tapware.

You might want plumbing for a kitchen sink, an outdoor tap, and possibly even an outdoor dishwasher or hot tub.

Electricity supply is another consideration. Perhaps you’re planning to install a big screen to watch the footie on weekends. You might also need to fire up the party lights and even a karaoke machine. And let’s not forget the beer fridge.

Appliances

Dreaming of the appliances you want outdoors is a little different to designing your indoor kitchen.

Outdoor spaces may have the freedom and space to include a variety of appliances. Give this careful consideration and be e as practical as possible.

Barbeques and pizza ovens are a great way to make the most of your outdoor space, and are perfect for entertaining guests.

When installing large appliances that require ventilation, think carefully about their placement, ensuring adequate clearance from trees, walls, rooves, furniture and other appliances.

If you’re working with a smaller space, you could consider an outdoor oven, stove top and wok burner for your cooking needs.

Whatever you decide, installing any kind of cooking appliance will give you the flexibility to enjoy a meal outdoors any day or night of the week.

Flooring

Give careful consideration to the type of flooring you would like in your outdoor kitchen area.

Geostone polished or honed concrete is the perfect outdoor kitchen flooring solution, being easy to clean, durable, and suited to all weather conditions.

Concrete flooring is also easy to maintain, and more affordable than you might think.

Concrete floors are also allergen-friendly and scratch resistant, making them perfect for pets and family friendly.

Weatherproofing

The ideal outdoor kitchen is one that can be used in all weather conditions.

The materials you choose and the layout of your space will contribute to creating a weatherproof outdoor entertaining area.

Some flooring and decking options can be prone to rotting or splitting, while a decorative concrete floor makes for a long lasting and durable flooring option that’s even suitable for wet areas.

If you’re working with an uncovered space, be sure to ask your installer about outdoor sealer. By sealing your concrete, a protective layer can give the concrete additional slip-resistance and keep it looking new for longer.

When it comes to aesthetics, finely finished decorative concrete lets you bring the beauty and refinement of indoor flooring to your outdoor space. You can create an effortless flow between indoors and outdoors, combining durability, functionality and style.

So you can still enjoy the beauty of nature or views of your swimming pool, consider installing bistro blinds in your patio area, which offer protection from the elements without obstructing your view.

Furniture

Choosing the right furnishings for your outdoor kitchen, from bar stools to dining tables and even decorative plants is key to defining your space.

An open and welcoming patio is ideal for multi-purpose areas, so it’s best not to overcrowd the space with too much furniture.

If you’re working with a smaller space, a dining area can be created by arranging bar stools at the kitchen benchtop or island bench.

When it comes to choosing furniture, make key pieces stand out by keeping to a uniform visual style. Complement your decorative concrete benchtops and flooring with wooden furniture and metallic accents to create a coordinated contemporary aesthetic.

Whatever your vision, these tips can help you make a start on creating your dream outdoor kitchen.

For information on the Geostone range available in your area and more design inspiration, visit www.geostone.com.au