Outdoor Living: The Most Important Elements in Alfresco Kitchens

Although the idea of cooking and dining in an outdoor kitchen seems exciting, once you get down to business, you’ll quickly discover it’s an overwhelming job. After all, designing an alfresco kitchen is nothing like designing your indoor kitchen. You have to make sure that it has what it takes to function seamlessly in all kinds of weather conditions. Because of this, choosing what to include can be confusing. To help you cover all the basics of an outdoor kitchen, here’s what you need to get.

Cabinetry

Cabinetry is often the first ingredient to set up in any kitchen, and the same goes for alfresco kitchens as well. Cabinetry for alfresco kitchens is available in a variety of materials such as wood, high density polyethylene and stainless steel. However, stainless steel is often considered as the best choice due to the fact that it’s durable, mould resistant, humidity- resistant non-corrosive and easy to clean. In addition to this, stainless steel cabinets are also available in a variety of finishes and colour coatings, making them an attractive choice. A powder coating can also make the surface of the cabinets resistant to unsightly fingerprints. There are stand-alone cabinets for storage, ones that feature countertops as preparation surface, as well as ones that have built-in sinks.

Appliances

Of course, a kitchen is only as functional as the appliances you choose to outfit it with. First on the must-have list is something to cook on. A good old barbecue is definitely the best investment as it’s easy to use and outdoor-friendly. Barbecues can be built-in with the cabinetry, or freestanding. Built-in barbecues are an efficient space-saver, however, a freestanding model is portable and you can bring it along on camping trips. Those of you who want to take their outdoor kitchen to the next level can also get additional cooking appliances such as wok burners, hot plates and pizza ovens. While outdoor fridges aren’t essential as long as you don’t find it hard to back and forth between your alfresco and your indoor kitchen, a bar fridge can allow you to always have fresh drinks within reach. This is especially useful when you’re entertaining guests.

Furniture and Decorations

Once you’ve covered the foundation of your kitchen with the cabinetry and appliances, it’s time to add the finishing details. To be able to enjoy the deliciously cooked meals, you need a proper dining space. There are a variety of dining chairs and tables to choose from, made from materials like plastic, wrought iron, teak and rattan. All of these materials are able to resist the various weather conditions, however teak is especially popular due to being a very attractive choice and giving the outdoor dining space a certain indoor vibe. And just like you accessorize your home’s interior, you can also accessorize your alfresco with potted plants, lanterns, outdoor rugs and garden decoration to make the atmosphere more inviting.