Kitchens that flow between indoor and outside offer lots of light, great views and space to entertain all year round
The outdoor kitchen is a modern-day phenomena, but one that has markedly changed the way we plan both our kitchens and gardens. Back in the 1970s we embraced the patio and barbecue, now the rise of the kitchen extension has seen this part of the garden invariably designed in tandem with the new room.
Vast glass doors and skylights blur the boundaries between indoors and out, letting in natural light and providing a verdant backdrop to kitchen cabinetry. Where a simple table and chairs once sufficed, many gardens now also have an outdoor living space with sofas, armchairs and perhaps a fire pit or brazier to fend off any chill. Most have a dedicated barbecue area, while the optimistic plump for an outdoor kitchen complete with an all-weather appliance, storage and running water.
This new flow can work as well for families as busy urbanites. Key to its success is careful consideration of both zones and how they interact. The view from glass doors will invariably become the backdrop to your kitchen design and should inform your choice of materials and colours indoors.
The flow of your layout should suit the room but also guide the user naturally to the outdoor space. Easy designer tricks such as using the same flooring material indoors and out – or at least a matching colourway – helps create a cohesive link, while a good lighting scheme will bring both spaces to life. Also, select a garden designer who will be able to work in tandem with your kitchen designer or architect.
Useful tips
For an extension project get plans for the garden drawn up at the same time as the building to ensure the two work in harmony. Find a designer to help with landscaping and planting at The Society of Garden Designers, sgd.org.uk
Folding glass doors provide a year-round panorama and can be flung open fully so there is no barrier at all. Large expanses of glass are covered by Part L of building regulations, which specify energy performance and heat loss.
Take a seasonal view and consider how the garden will look in different months. Arrange planting to give a year-round show, but also consider using sculptural materials, such as glass, wood, mirror and weathered metals, to add interest.
Match flooring indoors and out or at least choose the same colourway. Stone is the most suitable material as it?s weatherproof, won?t fade and improves with age ? slate, limestone and sandstone are all options. Adjust floor levels to match if needs be.
Plan your layout to enjoy the best view but also to establish a natural path to the garden. Position cooking appliances closer to the exit, so there?s less distance to travel with hot dishes. An island is an excellent addition for serving, buffets and as a central point to linger.
Invest in all-weather garden furniture that can cope with our temperamental climate, and add extra folding chairs that can be stowed away. Choose attractive covers for fixed items such as barbecues.
A natural blend
The natural tones of this cream and grey Classic-FS/Esprit kitchen blend harmoniously with the landscape beyond. Leicht kitchens are priced from £15,000.
Highlight period features
Three sets of French-style windows make the most of the sea views from this bay-shaped dining area in a period property. Hand painted kitchens by Smallbone of Devizes are priced from £35,000.
Emphasise a vaulted ceiling
Floor-to-ceiling glass accentuates the dramatic look of this vaulted open-plan design and maximises the garden view. Chiselwood kitchens start from £30,000.
Try a traditional style
For a more classic look, these painted wood-framed sliding doors feature a row of small panes above to echo the cabinetry inside. Kitchens from the Edwardian Range by Richard Baker Furniture start from £25,000.
Position furniture thoughtfully
An island unit set in front of glass doors means that views outside can be enjoyed while you prepare meals. Freestanding kitchens from Chalon start from £30,000.
Create an open-plan space
Twin dressers in New England cabinetry link the living and kitchen zones, while glass doors at both ends of the room maximise sunlight in the space. Kitchens from Mark Wilkinson Furniture start at £35,000.
Add bi-fold doors
Sunfold's SFK70 aluminium bi-fold doors glide open almost effortlessly and can stack either inside or out. A similar design from Sunfold Systems costs from £12,000.
Opt for natural tones
The neutral colours and natural timber of this bulthaup b3 furniture link the kitchen to the landscape. Kitchens by Kitchen Architecture are priced from £35,000.
Go for glass walls
When the sliding doors of this glass extension are pulled back, the interior and exterior become one. Kitchen designed by Gregory Phillips Architect, price on application.
Make space to entertain
This bespoke walnut kitchen has been designed with social areas for friends and family, whatever the weather. Davonport kitchens start from £35,000.
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Create a living room look
While relaxed is the name of the game, that doesn?t mean an outdoor kitchen can?t be smart. The crisp lines of the garden furniture and a great sense of order create a sophisticated space next to an elegant, bespoke classic kitchen by Roundhouse, painted in Dulux Roasted Bracken 3. Kitchens from £30,000.
Maximise light and views
Two walls of sliding glass doors in this modernist extension provide almost panoramic views. Designed to let in maximum light, this is a great solution if you?re not planning on using skylights, and it can offer access to two distinctly different parts of the garden ? perhaps a living area for the grown-ups to one side with a freer play area on the other.
Walk this way
Glass flooring leads the way to the living zone of this garden, in this fresh scheme with a kitchen by DesignSpace London. The cabinetry is the Cinqueterre by Schiffini in Natural Aluminium shown with Corian worktops in Glacier White. Kitchens by DesignSpace London start at £25,000.
Create a seamless scheme
Glass doors become mere partitions if you choose the same flooring for indoors and out and opt for matching furniture. This striking kitchen by Neil Lerner has a curved central island wrapped in a single piece of Corian. Kitchens from £30,000. The architect was Barnaby Gunning.
