$30k+: Al fresco luxury
With a high-end budget, your outdoor kitchen is limited only by space and your imagination. A custom-made kitchen is likely to be on your wishlist, as is a broader landscaping plan that may include an outdoor living and dining space, as well as a kitchen.
Shelter If you’re not already planning a built-on extension to your home to accommodate an outdoor kitchen, you’ll definitely be looking to create a permanent covered area for cooking and entertaining. A louvred roof that can be opened and closed to repel rain or keep the sun off is the shelter of choice for many outdoor chefs.
Food prep You’ll be looking at commissioning some built-in cabinetry or possibly deploying a high-end modular solution with a good-quality benchtop. If space allows, you may wish to design your outdoor kitchen as an extension of your indoor space so that when doors are opened, you and your guests can enjoy that seamless flow.
Paving and decking Think about your whole space and what you want to do there. Cooking is a given, but do you also want to serve and entertain? And perhaps retire to a lounge area for a digestif? Your deck or patio will need to be large enough to accommodate all your needs. Also think about building smooth transitions between spaces by using sympathetic materials and planting.
A sink and a fridge A sink is a musthave, as is at least one fridge. One fridge for food and another for drinks will give you that luxurious convenience only a high-end budget can buy.
Bells and whistles Still got some budget to spend? Think about all the ways you can make your outside space look and feel amazing. Install a separate outdoor
sound system or extend your indoor set-up so it can play music outside, too. Talk to a lighting designer about adding appropriate lights for both food prep and more ambient functions (especially if you like hosting parties). As well as your cooking set-up, you might wish to install a fireplace just for heat and atmosphere, or simply a gas fire or heater for winter evenings. Love sports and movies? It’s time to think about an outdoor TV set-up. Get creative and have fun! •
Ensure you use a Registered Master Builder for any outdoor building work. Find one near you at masterbuilder.org.nz.
“We’re seeing lots of people going back to cooking with charcoal. That low and slow American style of smoking meat is really popular at the moment, and people like turning it into an all-day event. Cooking with fire never goes out of style.”
JAMES HIGGINS, OUTDOOR CONCEPTS