Outdoor kitchen design and installation

An outdoor kitchen can become a natural extension of both your home and garden, creating a dedicated place for cooking, dining and entertaining outdoors. Thoughtfully positioned, it can make the most of a view, a sheltered corner, the evening sun or its relationship with a pool, terrace or garden room.

Rather than sitting separately from the garden, the kitchen and dining area can be designed as part of the wider landscape. This creates a practical, inviting setting for sharing meals with family and friends throughout the year.

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Creating an outdoor kitchen

As with an indoor kitchen, the design begins with how you plan to use the space. The layout, materials and connection between the cooking and dining areas should feel considered and work comfortably with the architecture of your home and the character of the garden.

For a new scheme, this may mean specifying the structure, finishes and circulation routes from the outset. An existing outbuilding can also be adapted to create a more useful entertaining space, with materials and detailing chosen to complement the property and surrounding landscape.

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Appliances and practical features

Appliances should support the way you like to cook and entertain, whether that includes a barbecue, grill, pizza oven or range cooker. Refrigerated drawers, fridges, freezers and sinks can make outdoor hosting more practical, while well-planned storage keeps the space uncluttered and easy to use.

Weather-resistant cabinetry, durable worktops and considered finishes allow the kitchen to perform well outdoors while complementing the wider design. Herb beds or a small potager can be incorporated nearby, providing fresh ingredients and a softer connection between the kitchen, planting and garden.

Integrating the outdoor kitchen into the garden

We begin by understanding how you want to use the space, then consider its relationship with pathways, planting, lawns, lighting and nearby seating areas. The result is an outdoor kitchen that feels settled within the garden rather than added as a separate feature.

A pergola or contemporary covered structure can provide shelter and define the dining space, while carefully positioned lighting and outdoor heating extend its use into the evening and across the seasons.