Photography: @madison.bloom
Indoor kitchens might be the heart of the home, but when the sun is shining and the sky is clear, they can feel almost like a prison. After all, who wants to stay cooped up inside, working over a hot stove, while your family gets to enjoy the brilliance of an Australian summer? Thankfully, that’s where outdoor kitchens come in.
Now even the cook of the household can soak up some rays while concocting a delicious dish, all with the added benefit of keeping that cooktop heat outside. They can be as big or as small (freestanding barbecue, anyone?) as your space comfortably allows. But there are a few key design details you need to get right, lest you create a space that will only last one season in a harsh climate.
From materials and finishes to layout, lighting and beyond, we have the essential information from the experts that will help you create an outdoor kitchen that’s as stylish as it is durable and functional. Plus we’ve compiled eight gorgeous outdoor kitchen design ideas to inspire you alongside this practical building information. You could say, we’ve got the recipe to success.
How to design an outdoor kitchen
As with indoor kitchens, the most functional outdoor iterations will have three main zones: prep, cooking and storage (albeit on a smaller scale). Given the more humble size, single wall and L-shaped layouts are the most common, often positioned against the rear exterior wall. Ensure indoor-outdoor flow with glass doors or connect your two spaces with a servery window.
A consistent material palette will also aid cohesion. As Anna Williams, director of Your Beautiful Home explains, “Continuing the same material will blur the lines between interior and exterior, and make the whole space feel more generous and inviting.”
To extend that flow to the garden, designer Mikahl Tierney of Sunraysia Lifestyle Developments says, “try to make the garden easily accessible from the outdoor space”. Builder Luke Tierney of Sunraysia suggests adding stepping stones or a path leading to greenery beyond.
What to include in an outdoor kitchen
With limited space comes limited inclusions, so you’ll need to weigh up your must-haves against the features you can sacrifice. A barbecue, sink and bar fridge are common elements, though Darin Bradbury, director of Mint Design, says that doubling up on sinks and fridges isn’t necessary when your outdoor kitchen is close to your indoor one. That being said, it’s nice to have extras.
“For me, having a sink or tap next to the barbecue is ideal – being able to wash your hands straight after handling meat is both practical and hygienic,” says Darin. He adds that 400mm of bench space beside your barbecue will be sufficient for placing plates and trays. “Beyond that, everything else is negotiable depending on how close you are to the indoor kitchen.” If space allows, you won’t regret more bench space, more storage or a bigger cooktop.
Best materials for an outdoor kitchen
Durability is key. “When choosing a material, three things need to be considered – weather, moisture and sun,” warns Luke, who also adds that materials that hide dust, such as light-toned timber, are ideal. In addition, Mikahl says, “A waterfall end comes in very handy to protect any exposed cabinetry from the external elements”.
For flooring, Anna suggests porcelain tiles. These mimic the look of natural tiles but won’t require the same level of maintenance. “I would recommend a sintered stone benchtop and acacia wood joinery,” she says. “These will last the distance through harsh sun and wet weather.”
As for tapware, most finishes work, especially if they’re under cover, and 316-grade stainless steel is particularly hardy.
Best cooktops for an outdoor kitchen
While barbecues are practically synonymous with idyllic Australian lifestyles, they’re not the only type of cooktop that works well in outdoor kitchens. Pizza ovens (built-in or freestanding), teppanyaki grills and side burners all offer wonderful alternatives for alfresco kitchens.
“Charcoal cooking is hugely popular at the moment,” says Darin. “Clients often request smokers or, in the case of many Eastern European clients, a long custom chargrill that can also convert to a spit roast.”
But don’t forget ventilation! Either plan the layout of your outdoor kitchen so your cook zone is away from the house in the open air, or include mechanical ventilation, such as a rangehood.
Best lighting for an outdoor kitchen
Just as interiors need a layered lighting scheme to enhance functionality and create a cosy mood, so too do our outdoor zones. Sunlight will do a certain amount of heavy lifting, so the same number of downlights needed indoors won’t necessarily be required in outdoor kitchens. But you still need some.
“Install lighting directly over the cooking area in the ceiling (downlights or spotlighting), and then softer feature lighting on opposing walls or well above the cooking area to create mood lighting,” suggests Mikahl. She and Luke prefer to use downlights that have dimmers. These mean that once the cooking is done you can create a softer mood with ambient lighting. After all, no-one wants to eat delicious food underneath a spotlight.
If you’re thinking about adding an outdoor kitchen to your backyard then browse through our favourite outdoor kitchens for inspiration.
The best outdoor kitchen design ideas
A clever outdoor kitchen renovation with functional storage
An under $10k renovation
In this outdoor kitchen, cabinetry blends seamlessly with the exterior colour palette while an integrated fridge makes clever use of the small space.
An outdoor entertaining area for all weather
Sunny and welcoming
This Brisbane home’s outdoor kitchen is located on their lower deck, which is the perfect place for all-year-entertaining. The stand-out design feature is the Portuguese feature tiles from Old World Tiles, which beautifully contrast the sleek Beefeater Signature ProLine barbecue.
An idyllic waterfront position makes this outdoor kitchen the ideal place for entertaining. The stylish concrete benchtop was cast onsite by the builders and houses a bar fridge, Beefeater ‘Signature’ barbecue and a ZRW Refractory pizza oven.
An emperador Grey marble-topped outdoor kitchen is the focal point of this young family’s outdoor room, where an extendable Ethnicraft oak ‘Bok’ dining table paired with ‘Kazbah’ chairs from Relax House creates the perfect spot to relax.
A petite and functional outdoor kitchen
Small and impactful
This welcoming family home in Sydney proves that a small outdoor kitchen can be just as impactful as a large one. The barbecue and Country Road tea towel are ideal for summer cooking.
A bright outdoor entertaining kitchen with coastal cabinetry
Equipped for entertaining
This beautifully renovated holiday home in Noosa is a rainforest-meets-the-sea getaway for a family of five. Fitted to the back wall, the outdoor kitchen is equipped for entertaining with a Grandfire barbecue, white coastal cabinetry and a sleek fridge.
An interior designer’s impeccable family home on Sydney’s North Shore
Spacious and cohesive
In this Sydney alfresco area, the space was designed to complement the home’s internal living zones. Cross-cut travertine from Stone Design marries with the marble flooring indoors, while a Quartzite splashback is a luxe backdrop. “The splashback is indestructible,” says Joumana, the home owner.
“We also chose it for its beautiful veinery.” The stone harmonises with the tones of the Le Forge outdoor table and Yardware chairs. Joumana installed a bulkhead to conceal “the big, ugly outdoor rangehood” above a BeefEater barbecue, plus overhead heaters for winter gatherings.
A petite inner city alfresco with an outdoor kitchen
Petite and pretty
Functioning as a greenhouse, dining area, storage shed and laundry, this petite inner city alfresco functions as a multi-purpose space.
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