As the warmer weather slowly creeps back into our weekends, Mint Kitchen Group investigates outdoor entertaining ideas for your home. From fully fledged outdoor kitchens to functional BBQ areas and more, our experts give you their tips and tricks for a fabulous summer of entertaining.

 

Australians simply adore entertaining outside. Blessed with some of the best weather in the world it’s no surprise as soon as the heat returns, so does our desire to enjoy the great outdoors. This includes everything from the weekly meal to weekend entertaining and events. 

 

Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor kitchens are certainly all the rage during the peak of summer. Careful placement of your outdoor kitchen is essential. Consider having this kitchen space sync with your existing kitchen and try to make a clear and easy path between the two. This will make entertaining a breeze, particularly when you need the two spaces to work together.

 

Be realistic about how much space you have to work with and how you will protect this area from the weather. For example, this could be a beautiful patio area, a specially built gazebo space, or hedges, trees, and vines to protect against the sun and rain. 

 

A common mistake with outdoor kitchens is underestimating your needed bench area. Benches are important for serving food and quickly transitioning from prep to cooking. Storage is also important. Consider under bench cupboards and places for storing additional cooking equipment. This will save you from running back and forth to the main kitchen area in your home.

 

A good action plan is to write down all the dream things you envision in this space. It could be the addition of a smoker and grill top, or more exciting aspects such as wine storage, refrigerators, pizza ovens, wood fire ovens, and even dishwashers. 

 

Also, consider the types of food you like to cook and the appliances and cooking surfaces you are more likely to utilise. There is no point in investing in a top-end smoker if you don’t intend on getting a decent amount of use out of this during the entertaining season.

 

Your outdoor kitchen budget will also need to be contemplated at this stage. As with all budgets being realistic is critical to ensure your kitchen contains the things you need first. Functionality and ease of use are paramount, as with your standard indoor kitchen.

 

Types of Outdoor Kitchens

There are many different outdoor kitchen designs, from utilising unused corners to stand-alone concepts and bar-like areas. Once you have a clear picture of the available outdoor space, research the different types of design that will suit your location. From basic concepts to the more luxurious outdoor spaces complete with ice-makers and wine fridges, the options are endless. 

 

Some of the more common ones are:

 

Patio Kitchen – Normally placed on the patio of your home, this kitchen design typically contains a cooking top, sink, and under-bench refrigerator. These can be built into corners that wrap around the entire space giving you a complete outdoor entertaining area attached to the home. 

 

BBQ Island – a design where the BBQ is built into the island bench and is a stand-alone feature. These can be made more prominent with the addition of benchtop space. Some designs stand away from the outdoor area but if you intend on having a stand-alone kitchen away from the house, consider options for covering the space so you can use the area regardless of the weather.

 

U-Shaped Kitchen – these are wonderful to maximise the space of your outdoor area while allowing an open element to the site. Plus, u-shaped kitchens have the added benefit of gaining more bench space, a crucial aspect of any kitchen design. 

 

Outdoor Surfaces

With outdoor kitchens, it’s vital to consider the surfaces you wish to use. Stainless steel and outdoor-rated-laminate are often the most popular due to their weather-resistant properties. However, all outdoor kitchen surfaces need a specific element of care to keep them looking like new. Much will depend on the outdoor area and how much cover it provides but, in all circumstances, allowing for some wear and tear is sensible.

 

Researching the surfaces and their weather durability is important to ensure the space does not require considerable maintenance every year. For example stainless steel needs minimal attention, can be buffed to remove scratches, and can withstand most weather events. And natural stone is also a popular choice as it can be super strong and deal with the elements of nature.

 

Granite and marble are naturally strong and require less maintenance than engineered stone, plus natural stone will add that impressive feature to your outdoor entertaining zone. Natural stone can also handle unpredictable weather and comes in various colours to suit any space. However, it does come at a price and can be prone to stains and chips, so care and maintenance may be required. 

 

Porcelain is fast becoming a popular staple benchtop in kitchens and outdoor kitchens worldwide. Highly durable and needing minimal maintenance, porcelain benchtops look spectacular and stand the test of time. They also do not require sealing and are stain and scratch-resistant. 

 

Concrete is another incredibly durable surface material but is prone to scratches and chips. It’s main benefit in an outdoor kitchen is that it can be poured and moulded to suit a variety of shapes and sizes, and can also include an integrated sink. Best in fully shaded areas as concrete can discolour and fade over time if exposed to the direct weather and sun.

 

We strongly recommend working with and getting advice from a specialist kitchen designer to ensure you are understanding your options and choosing materials and surfaces that are rated for outdoor/outside use. With the right planning, care and advice you can achieve the outdoor entertaining area of your dreams.