Outdoor Kitchen Ideas

Create Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen

Even though the kitchen is the centre for cooking meals, an outdoor kitchen is an excellent place to entertain family & friends during the summer months. Ensuring easy access to resources can make your outdoor kitchen ideas a reality and contribute to growing the value of your home.

Before you build an outdoor kitchen, it is important to assess various factors to ensure that your kitchen serves you all year round. Here are a few garden kitchen ideas to guide you in designing your dream outdoor kitchen.

Assess Your Space

When planning the design of your outdoor kitchen, it is important to see how much space you have and what units you require. Do you have simple outdoor kitchen ideas, BBQ island ideas or are you considering something more elaborate? Take a look at our latest outdoor kitchen trends for inspiration.

You then need to decide what your cooking needs are, if you will be using the kitchen to only entertain guests, or if you just want to cook from outside. Looking at these factors will help you to design your kitchen according to your needs.

Consider electricity, plumbing, and other utilities that will bring your kitchen to life. We also recommend building your outdoor kitchen where you can easily access the indoor kitchen in case you need to gather tools and ingredients.

Doors, Drawers & Individual Components

Plan the features and components you would like in your outdoor kitchen, fortunately there are lots of options available depending on what functions you are looking for.

For example, if you have a Pizza Oven as part of your design then consider a log store underneath, or perhaps you would like some draws near to your cooking area for storing utensils

If you plan to include an outdoor sink then why not put an access door so you can easily get to the plumbing, in complex designs this may be plumbed into a near by drain and in simpler version you may opt to simply include a bucket which may require emptying from time to time.

Small Outdoor Kitchen Ideas

If space is a concern then it can be well worth considering a smaller outdoor kitchen which can fit your space a little easier.

Also a small outdoor kitchen or barbecue can be a great starting point if you plan to build upon it later, you can add features later down the line, thing such as fridges and sinks are a luxury you may not need at the start.

Another great aspect of a smaller outdoor kitchen is the price, you can save a lot of money going for smaller layout.

Build Your Kitchen the Modular Way!

A great way to fit your dream outdoor kitchen or BBQ to the space you have available is to build it with modular units.

Our Draco Grills range of modular outdoor kitchens are both stylish, and practical and you can choose from a wide range of modular units to create your very own custom outdoor kitchen, without the need for any design or build services.

Choose High-Quality Materials

Choosing strong materials will ensure that your outdoor kitchen lasts for years to come. Even though there are different options to choose from, the material you select will affect the kitchen’s purpose, character, and value. Assessing your surrounding climate will help you determine what materials will suit your outdoor space.

Our patio kitchen ideas feature either a metal or brick based structure, where metal is concerned it is well worth using either galvanised steel or aluminium so as to avaoid the risk of rust, stainless steel is also great for outdoor kitchens however this is more common for the doors and drawers and not as cost effective for the frame.

Outdoor Kitchen Designs

If you are looking to lengthen your outdoor kitchen or create an entertaining spot for guests, you should design it well to avoid adding or changing things after a certain amount of time. Include appliances that will suit what you want to use your outdoor space for.

A practical design will assure straightforward cooking and entertainment. Please ensure that there is enough space for preparing food, serving, storage, and cleaning areas.

If your outdoor kitchen is planning to be an extension for your indoor kitchen, choose a layout that will blend the two areas together.

Covered Outdoor Kitchen Ideas

Being able to cook and eat outside is one of the best parts of the summer, but due to the unpredictability of the British weather, covered outdoor kitchen ideas are worth considering if you're intending to upgrade your outdoor cooking area.

Also a small outdoor kitchen or barbecue can be a great starting point if you plan to build upon it later, you can add features later down the line, thing such as fridges and sinks are a luxury you may not need at the start.

The more shade, shelter from the wind and rain, and additional warmth that your outdoor kitchen receives will increase the amount of time you spend outside.

When it comes to ideas for outdoor shading, there are many options. This includes basic and quick-to-assemble BBQ shelters, timber pergolas, and standalone buildings, and roof extensions. The choices you make will depend on how much space you have available and how basic or detailed you would like your outdoor kitchen coverage to be.

Outdoor Kitchen FAQ

The good news is that an outdoor kitchen, especially one
without any construction of brickwork, a canopy or other permanent shelter,
does not need planning permission. As these will be under the 2.4m height
restriction commonly imposed by many local authorities; an outdoor kitchen
without this building work can be treated the same as a BBQ or a piece of
furniture. It is best practise if you intend to construct a build-in kitchen or
a static canopy, pergola, or summer house to check with your local authority
first.

While an outdoor kitchen or any BBQ for that matter may be
perfectly happy to sit out all year round uncovered, keeping it covered will
help your kitchen last longer and remain clean and ready for when summer rolls
around again.

 

If leaving your kitchen uncovered, we would recommend
protecting it with the Draco Grills Protection kit

A sink is a great addition to your outdoor kitchen. With our
Draco Grills modular units, this can be added into your existing kitchen. Being
able to be plubled into hot and or cold water, it can assist in keeping your
hands and BBQ tools clean and assisting with food preparation, which in turn
can lead to safer alfresco dining with less risk of food poisoning. Also on a
hot summer's day, you can always put the plug in and fill it with ice for some
extra cold beverages for you and your guests.

There are two main styles of outdoor kitchen. A modular
kitchen, or a build-in kitchen. We at Garden Trends have a wide range of
options for both main styles.

 

Modular kitchen options are Draco’s speciality, from 2024 we
will be offered 4 wholly unique ranges, each with different finishes and
materials; all with the same great functionality and flexibility in design to
make your perfect outdoor kitchen.

These modular units with the exception of the corner unit,
are delivered fully assembled. They each have connection points on both left
and right sides, allowing for connection of units whichever way you wish, or a
change of the set-up if you wanted to make an addition to your kitchen further
down the link.

 

A Build in kitchen is a more permanent and fixed set-up. We
still have a great deal of options to complete your set-up. You will need to
discuss your ideal set-up and construction with an engineer/building firm to
contract the work. Next, choose your modules and the features you require from
our range and your builder can proceed with sizing everything to perfection.

 

All of our modules use high quality materials, our ranges
differ from powder-coated steel, all the way up to a premium black brushed 304
stainless steel, the choice really is yours!

There are a few items from our range that cannot be
enclosed. The BBQ modules, Sear Station Modules and for the most part, Fridge
modules.

Our Fridge modules will need a cut-out at the top/rear of
the enclosure to allow hot air to escape and allow for the best performance of
the fridge, especially in hot conditions.

 

For our Gas operated modules, you will need to allow for
some rear ventilation. Please also bear in mind that the heat generated from
these units can be very high. You will need to allow for a gap at the rear, and
if partially enclosing, refer to the instructions and technical information for
safe spacing and suggested materials.

This would depend on the BBQ you have, while it may not be impossible with all brands and types or barbcues, it may be easier with some than others. we would recomend contacting the manufacture to find out if they offer some form of conversion brackets or advice.

Visit Our Berkshire Showroom

Step into the world of outdoor culinary luxury at our showroom, where innovation meets craftsmanship in our vast array of outdoor kitchens designs. Immerse yourself
in the ambiance of al fresco cooking as you explore our new designs, each a testament to superior quality and style. Engage with our experts who are
passionate about turning your outdoor culinary dreams into reality.

 

Come experience the ultimate in outdoor living – visit our showroom today and let's embark on a journey to create your perfect outdoor kitchen!