Designing your Outdoor Kitchen begins with the most important step of all…deciding on the location.
Many home owners get so excited about their new BBQ and Outdoor Kitchen space that they forget to spend a bit of time really considering the best location. A poor location decision can lead to a lifetime of frustration and regret. Get the team from LimeTree Alfresco out early in the process to help from the beginning.
Proximity to the House
Do you want to be walking a long way with trays of food and drinks? Probably not. The closer your outdoor kitchen is to your backyard entrance, the better. While you may have some fabulous spot further from the house that looks great, the reality is that you’ll get tired of walking back and forth and be cursing yourself forever and a day. So make it easy on yourself and choose a spot that’s as close as possible to your back door.
View
Like any room in the house, a great view is an added bonus and this applies to your outdoor kitchen as well. A perfectly positioned outdoor kitchen will give both the cook and the guests a view of your (hopefully attractive) backyard. You definitely do not want your guests seated looking at a fence or brick wall. No thank you! If you need to compromise then the guests should always get priority over the cook when it comes to the view on offer. An option to consider may be some decorative screening to block out the ugly fence next door or the garden shed. A range of patterns and materials are availabel to suit all styles and designs.
Power & Gas
This is an obvious one but worth stating all the same. You’ll need gas and electricity for your outdoor kitchen so you must choose a location where these are accessible. If these services are not currently situated in your preferred place then it will cost extra to get them there. Once again early consultation means that options may be available and can be considered depending on your overall budget.
Wind
When you’re cooking up a storm you’re sure to create a bit of smoke at times. Where do we want that to go? Ideally away from the guests and away from the house. For fully protected areas with no cross-flow ventilation an alfresco rangehood may be required. A good quality Alfresco rangehood can be a big investment so if it's not required immediately it could be something you consider down the track if smoke and grease from your cook ups become a problem.
Shade
Some shade will go a long way to making your outdoor kitchen a whole lot more comfortable and enjoyable to entertain in. A perfectly placed tree (an established one ideally) makes a beautiful and natural form of shade but beware of birds if it’s a popular hang out spot. Alternatively a pergola or umbrella can also be a perfect source of shade all year round. The materials used by LimeTree Alfresco will work in an uncovered application as they are completely waterproof and UV stable, however for the comfort of the chef and guests some cover is a good consideration.
Now that you’ve picked your ultimate location you can get down to business sorting out the rest of your outdoor kitchen! For more great ideas or to get a quote please visit our website – www.limetreealfresco.com.au
