LIVE BETTER outdoor cooking
Living Etc UK|May 2023
AN ALFRESCO KITCHEN WILL MEAN YOUR GARDEN IS THE PLACE TO BE COME SUMMER DESIGN IT RIGHT AND YOU'LL GET HOLIDAY VIBES ALL YEAR
Hugh Metcalf
LIVE BETTER outdoor cooking

Outdoor kitchens are the latest thing in garden design, but while you might think installing one is the answer to make cooking outdoors easier and more accessible, that all really depends on how well you locate and lay out your space. The best outdoor kitchens encourage you to use them because they’re as simple and hassle-free as your indoor kitchen, with the added benefit of being able to enjoy your garden.

To begin with, it’s worth considering the proximity of your outdoor kitchen to your house. An outdoor kitchen at the far end of a large garden might feel like a nice idea – a way to create your own dining getaway separate from the house – but you might find it’s less than practical. ‘I like to keep the outdoor kitchen close to the house because that way you can easily go in and out to get things,’ explains designer Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs. ‘Indoor kitchens tend to have more accessories. It can get exhausting going back and forth if the barbecue is far away.’

If you do want to have your outdoor kitchen further away, you may want to make some additions to the space to help with this limitation. ‘An outdoor kitchen that’s a distance from the main house may need to contain more utilities like a sink and a fridge so that the area can be self-contained,’ says Magnus Nilsson, lead designer at Blakes London. ‘This may be overcomplicating the requirement, especially if there’s a trade-off for space. An outdoor kitchen close to the main house can benefit from fewer utilities, compensated by a little more organisation prior to the food going onto the heat. It really comes down to how often the area will be used and budget.’

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM LIVING ETC UKView all
modern extensions
Living Etc UK

modern extensions

WITH STRIKING USE OF COLOUR, MATERIALS AND SHAPE, THE LATEST DESIGNS ADD SO MUCH MORE THAN AN EXTRA ROOM

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
think like a pro
Living Etc UK

think like a pro

It's not just interior designers who are skilled at picking the perfect palette architects are in on the act, too, and Richard Parr knows just how to get the ideal shade

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
colour decoded
Living Etc UK

colour decoded

As with all successful schemes, there's much more going on beneath the surface of this space than first appears -Livingete's colour expert Amy Moorea Wong reveals all

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
enduring style
Living Etc UK

enduring style

B&B Italia has pioneered modern Italian furniture design since 1966 - but its latest collection feels as fresh as ever

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED
Living Etc UK

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED

Seventeenth-century origins meet vibrant contemporary design in a cleverly reimagined Amsterdam canal house

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
ROCK OF AGES
Living Etc UK

ROCK OF AGES

The owners of a Menorcan home have made a stylish yet sustainable retreat using the island's signature stone

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
FORCE OF NATURE
Living Etc UK

FORCE OF NATURE

An unexpected flood into what was already a dark basement flat prompted a new vision, full of light, natural materials and foliage

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
TOP OF THE WORLD
Living Etc UK

TOP OF THE WORLD

High above the busy streets of Bangkok, two talented designers have created a tranquil retreat that nods to chic 1970s style and makes the most of the views

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
A PLACE IN THE SUN
Living Etc UK

A PLACE IN THE SUN

An apartment within a former luxury hotel celebrates - and updates - the style of France's Côte d'Azur

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
OUTSIDE IN
Living Etc UK

OUTSIDE IN

The design of this modernist bungalow in South Africa was dictated by the trees on the plot and the desire for an indoor-outdoor flow

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024