Advertisement
Home Kitchen

Indoor outdoor flow: 5 ways to connect your entertaining areas

Whether you’re big on entertaining or want the feeling of more space, designing indoor outdoor zones can make a big impact.
An alfresco dining area with a barbecue with a curved white wall around a circular plunge pool in the background. Green and white striped cushions decorate the bench around the pool and stone is used for the flooring of the outdoor dining area.Photography: Alana Landsberry / Styling: Lucy Gough

Unlike the old adage, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts”, designing Australian homes is all about celebrating the outside. In particular, the connection between our kitchen, dining and entertaining spaces is an integral part of the Australian lifestyle. And it really doesn’t matter whether you simply have a barbecue on your deck or a custom-built outdoor kitchen. The key is ‘connection’ with your interiors. “Creating indoor outdoor connections often makes interior spaces feel larger and gives a more refined outdoor living experience,” says Christopher Gyzemyter of CG Design Studio.

Advertisement

But don’t take our word for it! Tour five gorgeous homes, with strong indoor outdoor connectivity, to see how it’s done. Read on for inspiration, decorating ideas and advice from the professionals. Then you can plan and design your own seamless indoor and outdoor zones.

Discover 5 ways to connect indoor outdoor zones

A kitchen designed by Smout Property that has a strong indoor outdoor connection with doors that open fully so that the outdoor barbecue connects to the indoor kitchen, complete with timber joinery, a white curved island and a soft neutral tone curved sofa in the foreground.
(Photography: Alynne Media)

Reach new heights

Opening indoor outdoor cooking zones

A harmonious balance between these interconnected kitchen and dining spaces was created structurally and through the use of complementary materials. “We achieved a ceiling height of 3.6m. We ran our joinery to the ceiling to make the space feel expansive. I was able to create indoor outdoor flow by having one single cavity sliding door that opens up and tucks away into a pocket in the wall,” says Becky Smout, co-owner and design director of Smout Property. “Opening the kitchen to the living and outdoor space gives the illusion of a bigger floor plate.” Polished concrete floors, brass fittings from Parisi, Fantasy Ash feature marble from Franca Design and Oak Laminate by Laminex give the space an earthy yet high-end feel.

An alfresco dining area showing outdoor furniture trends with rattan chairs around a dining table with a barbecue in the background.
(Photography: Simon Whitbread / Styling: Corina Koch)

Lean in to open plan design

Creating easy flow

The open-plan layout of this spacious Sydney home spills onto an alfresco kitchen and dining area. It was designed and built by Stritt Design & Construction. Blue and white accents and touches of greenery hint at the interior palette of the home. The handmade splashback tiles from Di Lorenzo Tiles and V-Groove on the wall were also used in the main kitchen. Designer (and homeowner) Janette believes aspect, layout and functionality are a major consideration in design. “An open-plan kitchen/living/dining area with an easy transition to the outdoors is key for everyday living,” she says. Being their own client gave Janette and her husband Alex the opportunity to create a sanctuary. It blurs the lines between indoor outdoor zones.

A garden with palm trees and a white exterior. The alfresco dining area has white chairs against a timber floor.
(Photography: Simon Whitbread / Styling: Corina Koch)

“Custom decorative windows, transoms, French doors and large-scale timber sliding doors are some of our favourite key components”

Janette, Stritt Design & Construction
Advertisement
A white exterior of a home. A stone clad fireplace has a chimney that reaches to the white terrace that stretches above the alfresco barbecue kitchen and dining area. There's a strong indoor outdoor connection with alfresco dining and alfresco lounge furniture with a barbecue.
(Photography: Mitchell Kemp)

Put function first

Connecting indoor outdoor colour schemes

CG Design Studio have made sure this family home functions well for day-to-day living. It is also adaptable for entertaining. “Key considerations were of course the functionality of the kitchen. It has a large island for gathering and to the side a butler’s pantry that leads to a mud room/drop zone, keeping everyone organised,” says Christopher of CG Design Studio. “The dining area sits beside the kitchen and has expansive corner timber doors that slide back to reveal the outdoor area, tree gully and pool. This large opening was one of the key considerations of this design as it allows a seamless connection to the outdoor living area, blurring the lines between interior and exterior.” This blurring of the indoor outdoor zones is harmonious as well as inviting.

A kitchen with white joinery, a large island and three stools which have white legs and a soft green upholstered seat. The dining area sits beside the kitchen and has expansive corner timber doors that slide back to reveal the outdoor area, tree gully and pool
(Photography: Mitchell Kemp)

“The kitchen is often the room we spend the most time in and where we connect with our family, so having this space also connect with the outdoor landscape is important and grounding”

Christopher, CG Design Studio
An alfresco dining area with an outdoor cooking zone which has a barbecue, beside a pool. The exterior of the home is white.
(Photography: Mindi Cooke / Styling: Tahn Scoon)

Create a cohesive colour palette

Continuing materiality

The kitchen, dining and outdoor zones in this property are light, bright and unobstructed. This was by design, as entertaining and kids enjoying pool time are a big part of family life in this Queensland home. A fresh colour palette of white and blue is achieved with cabinetry painted in Dulux Lexicon Quarter, ‘Vintage’ splashback tiles in Oslo from Classic Ceramics, as well as blue striped blinds, which complement the tones of the pool outside.

An alfresco dining area with an outdoor cooking zone which has a barbecue, beside a pool. Greenery surrounds the space and tactile woven chairs pair with a white dining table.
(Photography: Mindi Cooke / Styling: Tahn Scoon)

The large island, topped with Stoneville Calacatta Venezia, is flanked with white ‘Chippendale’ counter stools from Abide Interiors. It is the perfect spot for guests to perch and also enjoy looking out to the alfresco dining zone, which is linked via wide stacking doors.

Timber flooring with a white kitchen, which features three pendants above a kitchen island, plus a chandelier. White joinery is beside a white splashback, with a white vase on the kitchen island and white stools around the kitchen island.
(Photography: Mindi Cooke / Styling: Tahn Scoon)
An alfresco dining area with a barbecue with a curved white wall around a circular plunge pool in the background. Green and white striped cushions decorate the bench around the pool and stone is used for the flooring of the outdoor dining area.
(Photography: Alana Landsberry / Styling: Lucy Gough)

Make use of the same shapes and tones

Creating motifs

Coastal elegance is also celebrated in this duplex renovation by property developers Kyal & Kara in their Bay Builds project. The neutral tones of the Cosentino ‘Vancouver’ quartzite used for the kitchen benchtops and rangehood are a great match for the paving used in the adjoining outdoor area. And when it came to furniture, the curves and arches in the kitchen and living space are mirrored with the round Globe West outdoor table and also the pool by Backyard Retreats. Adding texture in both spaces are ‘Olivia’ stools in the kitchen and ‘Granada Scoop’ chairs, all from Globe West. This design is a masterclass in using complementary tones and textures to create cohesion as well as visual interest.

A warm toned open plan kitchen, dining and lounge in a duplex house, with neutral shades and curved furniture, including a curved alcove that fits the stovetop and rangehood in the kitchen.
(Photography: Alana Landsberry / Styling: Lucy Gough)

Related stories


Advertisement
Advertisement