Next Generation Outdoor Kitchen Innovation & Design
The outdoor kitchen unlocks a whole new way of living and experiencing your home. With the arrival of spring, there’s a greater flow between inside and outside. And, consequently, we enjoy our gardens and terrace spaces in a completely different way.
Dining al fresco is one of the pleasures we look forward to most with the arrival of warmer weather. Put simply, food tastes better outdoors. Indeed, the heady perfume of nature stimulates our appetite and adds to the flavours and taste of food prepared outside. There is a magical quality to being in the garden or on the deck doing something that is normally associated with indoors. Cooking is more popular now than ever before, so why not make food outdoors as well as consume it outdoors. With today’s outdoor kitchens, you can bring your entire indoor cooking repertoire outside. Outdoor kitchens are a way to enjoy unforgettable get-togethers with family and friends. Incorporate exterior lighting and heating for more extensive use between early spring and late autumn.
Join us as we explore outdoor kitchen ideas that will add a whole new dimension to your home.
E9.30 Offroad Kitchen Krion®
Outdoor Kitchen Ideas
The standard backyard barbeque or grill is a thing of the past, nowadays, we don’t have to compromise when it comes to cooking outdoors. Your favourite recipes are now just as easily prepared outdoors as indoors. The secret to incorporating an outdoor kitchen into your garden or terrace is state-of-the-art technology. The somewhat unpredictable UK summer has finally met its match. Cooking outdoors has never been easier or more enjoyable with the help of next-generation materials and induction surfaces. Banish any preconceptions about rustic grills, the garden kitchen is just as sophisticated and efficient as anything you’ll find indoors. Indeed, the following kitchen ideas can enhance decoration for terraces and outdoor spaces.
Outdoor Kitchen Location
The optimum position for your outdoor kitchen depends on your garden layout. Regardless of the space limitations, there’s a suitable kitchen design. It might be more practical to keep the outdoor kitchen close to the main house, or alternatively, create a separate zone within the garden. The former works well within a deck, while the second one serves best in more open areas. Just like indoor kitchens, it’s surprising what you can do within a small area.
A covered pergola might provide the ideal solution to an outdoor kitchen in UK gardens, allowing extended use well into the autumn months. The pergola structure might be attached or separate from the house instead. There are practical advantages to keeping the outdoor kitchen close to the primary kitchen, which is typically located to the rear, more private garden side.
The orientation of the garden and exposure to the sun are also key considerations, ideally, the outdoor kitchen faces west in the UK. That means capturing the afternoon and evening sun, extending the enjoyment of the outdoor kitchen well into the evening. Try to position your outdoor kitchen under direct sunlight, if possible, to squeeze every drop of enjoyment out of outdoor cooking.
Outdoor Kitchen Configuration
Just like the design of an indoor kitchen, you can choose between standard layouts to suit individual garden scenarios. The great advantage of a modular outdoor kitchen is that everything is taken care of. In other words, you decide what you want to cook and how you want to use your outdoor kitchen, and the professionals take care of everything.
Outdoor kitchens follow the same planning criteria as traditional kitchens. The three principal zones are: cooking, preparation and washing. An outdoor grill would be the typical way of cooking a barbeque, while a hotplate or hob are also popular and offer a wider range of culinary options. Having a sink is a bonus and makes the difference between a fully functional installation or just a barbeque. Likewise, cold storage is worth its weight in gold and helps to maintain the flow without trapsing in and out to the kitchen fridge. And, last but not least, outdoor kitchen cabinets are the key to a neat and tidy kitchen installation.
- Linear: the most efficient configuration for small gardens or decks. All the elements are placed next to one another, organised along a single axis.
- L-Shaped: a great solution for larger kitchens with additional countertop space for prepping ingredients and storage for utensils. The L shape is ideal for creating a clearly defined kitchen zone.
- U-Shaped: suited to large terraces and garden pergolas, offering a professional kitchen solution. This layout is highly versatile and is perfect for entertaining with peninsula seating.
- Galley: The layout features two linear counters in a parallel arrangement with a walkway between them. The galley kitchen helps create a better flow between the different zones of the garden or terrace.
E9.30 Offroad Kitchen XTONE Bottega Antracita Nature
Modular Outdoor Kitchen
There is a kitchen configuration to suit every individual’s taste. From the outdoor barbeque kitchen to something much more sophisticated for the professional grade installation. The modular kitchen is a foolproof way to customise your outdoor kitchen to your needs. In fact, you can choose the appliances and storage requirements according to your budget and cooking ambitions. The various units look like a single element and have an undeniable aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Design professionals will help you design a personalised configuration that covers every aspect of outdoor cooking, catering to your individual needs.
Outdoor Kitchen Seating
There’s no point having a great outdoor kitchen without a table to enjoy the fruits of your labour with comfortable seating. There are two approaches that are analogous to the indoor kitchen: a separate table and seating area positioned near the outdoor kitchen or a kitchen island with integrated seating. Whichever option you choose, one thing is non-negotiable: the seating must be waterproof. High-tech waterproof upholstery fabrics with colour guarantees make all the difference to outdoor entertaining.
For a more contemporary outdoor kitchen design, you can match the tabletop with the countertop within the same palette of materials. Similarly, choose kitchen stools in the same material for a stylish and totally integrated installation.
E9.30 Offroad kitchen XTONE Liem Grey Nature
High-Performance Exterior Grade Materials
The trouble with anything left outdoors is exposure to the elements, above all else, the sun and UV light. Therefore, the best materials for your outdoor kitchen worktop must be exceptionally hard-wearing. Stainless steel, porcelain tile and next-generation composites like Krion® are recommended for their robust weather-proof qualities. The latter options have the added benefit of providing a combined induction hob and prep area as a seamless surface with no joints, even around the sink. The heating element is only activated by devices that are operated by electrical induction. This technology is perfect for families with the added advantage of sleek and sophisticated, streamlined looks. The very same surface also allows you to recharge household appliances and even mobile phones.
These same materials are also recommended for outdoor kitchen cupboards; in fact, the beauty of matching cabinet doors and the kitchen countertop is the integrated look of the modular kitchen. These outdoor kitchens are light years removed from the traditional barbecue and add a sophisticated, modern-day aesthetic to gardens and decks.
E9.30 Offroad kitchen barbecue
Outdoor Kitchen Appliances
For some, the grill is non-negotiable; it is the singular appliance at the centre of the entire kitchen configuration. But, it’s not the only option, and nowadays the food revolution means that no matter what your favourite cuisine, there’s an adequate outdoor kitchen design.
- Built-in grill: The choice depends on the type of fuel that works best for you. The size depends on the number of people you plan on entertaining and how many cooks there’ll be working behind the grill.
- Induction plate: Cooking enters the 21st Century with the induction plate, much safer than the traditional hob or grill. And cleaning is a breeze.
- Burner: If you prefer a more traditional hot plate, gas provides a good alternative but requires more kit. The burner is the perfect standalone cooking device or complement to the garden grill.
- Pizza oven: The perennial pizza is a crowd pleaser. The oven easily handles other dishes as well. Gas-powered or log-fired ovens are still the most popular varieties of pizza oven.
- Refrigerator: Keeping ingredients and drinks cool makes all the difference when entertaining. Make sure to choose an outdoor-grade appliance. A cold storage drawer is a neat solution because it can be integrated with the other outdoor kitchen units.
Offroad kitchen XTONE Liem Grey Nature
Install an Outdoor Kitchen in your Garden
Make this summer one to remember, take your culinary skills to new horizons. Nothing beats homemade food served in the great outdoors, no restaurant can compete with what you potentially have at your fingertips. Have a look at our modular kitchens and make an appointment at your nearest Porcelanosa showroom to start the ball rolling. Drop us a line in the meantime with any outdoor kitchen queries.
