Learn more about open-air kitchen designs for seamless Indoor-outdoor living.

Open-air styles are a popular and unique kitchen design style that is becoming more sought after, especially as contemporary kitchen/living spaces are all the trend. There is a range of benefits to seamless indoor-outdoor kitchen styles; the most significant is that by opting for this kitchen style, you can create a harmonious interior and exterior blend, bringing the outdoors in and vice versa! Using the garden as the kitchen extension, you can quickly adapt the perfect space for entertaining large parties of family and friends, ideal for alfresco dining and cooking, with outdoor pizza ovens and BBQs.

Learn how a kitchen builder can plan to bring your open-air kitchen design to life.

Living spaces in the modern home should expand outwards, creating open-plan kitchens and areas to work and entertain within. Achieving a seamless flow from the interior to the exterior is relatively simple. Architecture and design are vital to the spatial flow and its relationship to the land – no matter the size of the area you are working with, large or small. Oversize doorways, carefully designed windows, and skylights will undoubtedly open up homes to natural light and provide a stream of fresh air, which will also create a positive sense of well-being for the family but also visitors—accessing natural elements and incorporating them into the design and theme of the outdoor indoor broken plan living than the more significant impact it will have on the overall ambience of the multipurpose space. Aside from the aesthetics, the therapeutic rewards of having homes and kitchen areas connected to the outdoors are widely respected. The resort-style living feature will enhance and elevate people's senses whilst delivering an exceptional and unique zone to entertain and relax. From a practical perspective, bridging the gap between outdoors and indoors can be done in many ways, with the most popular being slab kitchen doors and retractable windows. These modern kitchen features seamlessly pair the two environments, which can easily separate and divide when required for privacy or if the weather turns!

Kitchen Worktops:

Choosing a kitchen worktop for outdoors that complements the main kitchen area is one way to merge the two regions practically and aesthetically. You can also choose handleless or slab doors, which offer an excellent and straightforward way to open the divide and have a spacious run-through living/kitchen area that appears to extend even further outside, ideal for summer evenings, gatherings, and parties at any time of the year, not just in good weather! A dedicated outdoor cooking area also offers an alfresco centrepiece, a great way to entertain guests whilst cooking, whether with a BBQ, Pizza oven or extended work surface. An outside cooking area will also be a backup and additional cooking facility, especially with many guests.

Planning Your Open-Air Kitchen: What to Consider:

Location: Consider the proximity to the indoor kitchen and dining zone; you will want to take note of the surrounding views, natural light sources, wind direction, and, most importantly, privacy. It should be close enough to your indoor kitchen for convenience but positioned to take advantage of the best possible views and sunlight.

Design and Layout: The design should facilitate easy movement and be efficient for cooking but also have a spacious and central area for entertaining guests. Carefully planning your outdoor kitchen and utilising the best available space is crucial to its overall performance. To ensure functional workflow, an outdoor kitchen area needs ample room and a safe location away from guests; this will need to house a kitchen grill, sink, refrigerator, and prep area, ideally near each other.

Appliances: Alfresco cooking and dining come in many shapes and forms, often coinciding with your entertaining needs; you may also want to explore and experiment with various themes. Appliances might include a BBQ grill and pizza oven. Still, you will also have to factor in a refrigerator, ice maker, or even outdoor dishwasher to take off the pressure of the usual dishwasher when entertaining large numbers and to save you from having to go back indoors often.

Storage: Storage within the outdoor kitchen area is as imperative as indoors; ensuring enough space for cooking utensils, dinnerware, and other kitchen tools is essential. Also, outdoor cabinetry, appliances and furniture should be weatherproof to protect them from the unpredictable and interchangeable weather we know so well!

Utilities: Connecting yourself to cook and entertain outdoors is also another vital area to consider; utilities, such as gas,

electricity and water will all need to be available to that you can cook and entertain without disruption.

Please speak to our experienced kitchen planners at Plum Kitchens.

Visiting the Plum kitchen showroom is a chance to meet our professional team. Our staff will guide you through our Plum complete package and discuss what you can expect from our family-run business. And, should you opt for it, we can talk you through the complete package, from planning, kitchen installation, electrical, plumbing and building work to removing your unwanted kitchen and appliances.

Our Worcestershire kitchen showroom is easy to visit from South Birmingham, Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Solihull, Redditch, Studley and the wider West Midlands area.