The planning

Use these six questions to help you come up with a clear plan for your outdoor kitchen before you hit the shops.

1 What will your outdoor kitchen be used for? Is it simply to cook meals outside without continual trips inside for drinks, cutlery and plates? Or are you a passionate foodie and want to produce gourmet dishes for your friends al fresco while you all enjoy the garden?

2 What do you like to cook? One advantage of having an outdoor kitchen is that you can supplement the cooking appliances you have inside. Barbecues are the obvious choice, but you can also opt for outdoor ovens for pizza and bread, as well as rotisseries, smokers, wok burners and teppanyaki plates.

3 Where will your kitchen be located?

If you have an existing outdoor entertaining area, the answer will be obvious, but if not, easy access from your indoor kitchen is key to minimise running in and out between the two. It will also cost less to connect to utilities such as power, gas and water. 4 How can you maximise the usefulness of your outdoor kitchen? Try to make it usable all year round. This means creating shelter from wind, sun and rain with screens and overhead canopies, especially for the cook (avoid combustible materials over the barbecue, though!).

5 How will your kitchen be

organised? The same general principles apply for kitchens outdoors as they do indoors, with the size, position and proximity of refrigeration, hot areas (barbecues, ovens, cooktops), wet areas and dry areas (prep benches) all designed for maximum efficiency. One simple approach is to divide the outdoor kitchen into three main zones: preparation, cooking and serving. If you’re still unsure, talk to a kitchen designer.

6 What will your kitchen look like? For a really stunning effect, use materials and detailing that complement or repeat those inside the house, such as matching benchtops, door hardware and cabinetry.