Outdoor Kitchen Design Ideas Perfect For Barbecue Weather

An outdoor kitchen is a beautiful thing. Here’s how to get your space set up for summer …

Now more than ever, when the sun comes out in Ireland, we all want to utilise our outdoor spaces (big or small) and make them an additional space to gather in. When entertaining in the garden, you want to make sure you can do it practically, without too much extra preparations involved, and easily, so that you can set up as soon as the sun shines. Let us help you connect your kitchen to the garden, offer some recommendations for outdoor furniture (plus some fab outdoor lamps!) and get your garden looking gorgeous for guests. And don’t miss our recipes for cooking up a delicous meal for a long lunch with friends.

But first, here are some design ideas from experts on outdoor kitchens – you won’t want to host inside again!

IT TAKES AN ISLAND

Keep things simple and invest in one big luxurious piece. You can really make your kitchen island suit you, with interchangable modules, styles and sizes. You can incorporate a bar with stools if you want to make it a centre point for hanging out, or it can simply be the island for cooking and gathering. These designs are crisp and modern, with the option of stainless steel surfaces and a giant wooden block for chopping. www.roshults.com

TOOL SHED

The Bulthaup b2 design reduces the kitchen to three sculptural elements – the kitchen tool cabinet, the workbench and the kitchen appliance cabinet. These elements are liberated from static walls so they can adapt to any spatial circumstances, like outside! Your barbecue party goers won’t know what hit them when they see this state-of-the-art kitchen set up in your garden. @bulthaup

SOLID CONCRETE

Popular Dutch company WWOO kitchens makes slick, almost maintenance-free, outdoor kitchens. Made of concrete, this modular system is composed of separate components so you can incorporate your own ideas and needs, according to garden size and budget. Practical and stylish without being OTT: we’re sold. www.wwoo.nl

STYLED TO PERFECTION

To opt for a completely unique look, and really up the ante for an outdoor kitchen, a stylish Vlaze kitchen with mobile units, engineered from stainless steel and coated in a striking vitreous enamel surface ought to do it. The Vlaze kitchen boasts a luxurious vibrant glaze that is heatproof, hygienic and stain resistant. Easily moved from indoors to outdoors, these kitchen units offer the perfect solution for food preparation, garden storage and al fresco dining. And of course, look super cool while doing it. For any sort of garden event, drinks, lunch or barbecue these pieces are sure to impress guests. www.theoutdoorkitchencollective.co.uk

THE KITCHEN’S IN THE CUPBOARD

Ever considered a cupboard? All in one place, you can tuck your kitchen away easily. The entire interior of the cupboard is optimally protected from bad weather and remains clean all year round – so outdoor cooking can begin as soon as you open the doors. The cubic kitchen encases everything you need for optimum and orderly cooking, with compartments for spices, pans, kitchen utensils and dishes, and it can be equipped with a sink, dishwasher or refrigerator too. www.cubicoutdoorliving.com

TOTAL PACKAGE

This garden boasts a fully realised outdoor kitchen, with great appliances, fixtures and design features to create a seamless cooking and entertaining experience. You won’t be running back and forth from the house when using this one. The U-shape configuration creates distinctive work zones, including cooking and cleaning, storage and refrigeration, countertop prep space and a seating section. The Cosentino materials used on this project were Dekton Radium countertops, dark iron fixtures, solid wood shelves and timber light fixtures. www.cosentino.com

FUNCTIONAL BEAUTY

EO Kitchens from Outdoor Scene are designed to bring the function and feel of a premium interior kitchen to the outdoor space. They are made with high-specification materials, powder-coated stainless steel modular frameworks, Dekton ceramic worktops and composite Millboard frontals, which all work to make the kitchen very fit for purpose in the Irish climate. The framework at the heart of the kitchen is a modular stainless-steel system which fits together with a simple precision. You can design this in a way that is bespoke to you, or let the experts take the design reigns for this one. Don’t forget the wine fridge for easy access. www.theoutdoorkitchencollective.co.uk

STURDY AND SUSTAINABLE

Each and every Burnout.kitchen is defined by the same principle – the frames are made of sturdy stainless steel, while the bodies, fronts and countertops are made with composite material with laser-cut edges. They use individually finished fittings that are approved for outdoor use and are easy to move even when a blizzard is raging outside. The kitchen works on a modular basis, so that you can configure your kitchen as you want it and if you change your mind – everything can be expanded and modified. Importantly, if you have a grill that you just love and don’t want to replace, you can incorporate your own grill into the space, and the kitchen will be compatable with it. Sustainability wise this kitchen will be around for decades and another bonus? The brand only uses PVC-free materials. www.outdoor.ie

HOT WHEELS

Why not put it on wheels? With a Burnout.Kitchen you have the choice between adjustable feet or wheels and castors so that you can get your outdoor kitchen rolling. This flexibility in an outdoor kitchen is seriously valuable for any garden. www.outdoor.ie

CONNECTING YOUR KITCHEN TO THE GARDEN

If an outdoor kitchen might be a bit too much to take on for this summer – but an interior kitchen remodel is in the works – why not consider ways to connect your kitchen to the garden? An open plan style is a great way to do so that feels seamless, you could be sure to give yourself a work space where you can cook with others, or incorporate a large glass door or window to open up the room onto the garden. Another great way to do so is to get those appliances ready for warmer weather so you can move in and out easily while serving guests.

Wine coolers are becoming very popular in new kitchen remodels, with tall and narrow coolers becoming especially trendy at that. The sleekness of the narrow wine cooler looks very cool in an open-plan kitchen extension as it has the space to look good. Siemens boast the IQ700 Wine cooler with glass doors at 212.5 x 45.1cm. With adjustable temperature, and a capacity of 58 bottles, this wine cooler makes your kitchen extension party-ready at any time. Siemens of course has other sizes in wine coolers and cooling drawers so take a look here: www.siemens-home.bsh-group.com. Book an appointment at the Home of Innovation in Dublin to see what appliances will work best for you. www.homeofinnovation.ie