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Planning your Outdoor Kitchen

by | Dec 15, 2014 | Newsletter Features, Outdoor and Entertaining

With an increase in the enjoyment of alfresco dining and summer in full swing, outdoor kitchens are becoming more popular and are great in the warmer months for entertaining guests. When designing or renovating a new home, more detail is now put into landscaping in large alfresco areas and extending living and entertainment areas to the outdoors. Read on to find some helpful design tips on planning your dream outdoor kitchen.

Location
Your outdoor kitchen should be functional for cooking, entertaining and relaxing. First consider where you want your kitchen to be located; would you like a cosy outdoor space or an extravagant kitchen by the pool. If your outdoor kitchen is closer to the back door of your house you will save time transporting food and drinks through from the house and save money on electrical work and installation as it will be less expensive to pass through lines from the house. If your cosy outdoor space is not within the patio it can still be easily protected from the weather by extending the roof of your home or installing an awning. Outdoor kitchens positioned further away from the house will need to consider more storage options and weather proof materials to keep the area and appliances clean and dry.

Layout
Now you can choose the layout of your outdoor kitchen to suit your location, U-shaped, L-shaped, kitchen islands and straight line kitchens are the most popular. Straight line kitchens are positioned against a wall and are ideal for smaller areas. Consider U-Shape kitchens as they are easy to add a bar on the other side so you can entertain your guests while you prepare. Kitchen islands are great for storage space, cost-effective and hold all appliances in one central unit.

Materials
Outdoor kitchen areas must be fully waterproofed and materials must be low-maintenance, durable, heat resistant and weatherproof. Stainless steel is the most commonly used material for a durable, low cost and easy to clean option that will withstand most weather conditions. Granite is also a great option for bench tops as it is UV resistant and waterproof. Avoid slippery or slick surfaces in your outdoor kitchen such as marble.

Design
Outdoor kitchen design is all about functionality as well as style. Consider your budget and whether you are going to purchase only essential cooking items or create an extravagant area including a fridge, cooktop, ice maker, dining space, pizza oven and bar. Ensure to install efficient lighting to create ambience for night time cooking and entertaining. Don’t forget to add a touch of elegance to your beautiful outdoor kitchen and decorate it with lush greenery, coloured splashbacks and stylish furniture.

If you need help planning your outdoor kitchen, Harrington Kitchens can help you design the kitchen of your dreams, no matter what your style is.

Harrington Kitchens offers a wide variety of kitchen designs and styles including:

For more information on our various kitchen designs, please visit our Gallery. Our Gallery brings together a selection of our custom kitchen designs ranging from traditional to contemporary kitchens. Each kitchen style has the flexibility to work in any home environment and can be designed to suit all tastes and budgets.

The entire Harrington Kitchens team is focused on designing kitchens that utilise premium materials and offer each and every customer the highest level of service. Harrington Kitchens partners with the best quality kitchen suppliers within the kitchen manufacturing industry and employs experienced and professional tradesmen to ensure the longevity of your custom designed kitchen.

For a free quote and free design consultation please contact us at Harrington Kitchens on (02) 4647 4474 or submit an online enquiry, alternatively you are welcome to visit the Harrington Kitchens Showroom at 12 Graham Hill Road Narellan NSW or 5 Old Hume Highway, Mittagong NSW.

See more great kitchen ideas in our Online Gallery.