Cooking in the open air? This is now possible. And not just for a barbecue with friends in your garden. Now you can also equip the outdoor setting of your home with multi-accessorised outdoor kitchens, which have nothing to envy indoor kitchens.
The latest interior design trends speak clearly: the boundaries between the indoors and the outdoors have become blurred. So much so that often the living room furniture extends seamlessly towards outside areas, which become a natural extension thereof….
Furniture brands know this only too well, and they are increasingly offering outdoor design solutions that are not only practical, but also attractive, comfortable and trendy. From tables to chairs, sofas and armchairs, lamps and carpets, the aim is always the same: to convey the same warm and welcoming atmosphere found within the domestic walls to the outside.
Outdoor kitchens are the latest interior design trend
Since today’s trend is to integrate indoor spaces with those outside, transferring the same atmospheres of the home outdoors, it is natural for outdoor kitchens to have become extremely on-trend. The kitchen has always been the heart of the home. It is the place where we all come together with our loved-ones or have a chat with friends. This is exactly what we want to do in the garden too…
This is why outdoor kitchens have now become genuine, complete, multi-functional cooking instruments designed to accommodate your every need. Even those of the most demanding chefs. To share the pleasure of cooking with our guests, not just indoors, but in the open air too.
Outdoor kitchens: which should you choose?
Would you like to have a real kitchen in your garden or under a portico, on a terrace or poolside? You like the sound of the idea, but you don’t know where to start? Don’t worry. We have prepared a practical guide for you, to help you in your purchase.
There are in fact many aspects to consider before you choose your outdoor kitchen. You need to assess the available space, to start with.
But most of all you need to ask yourselves what performance you expect from your outdoor kitchen.
If your expectations aren’t too high, the solution could be a simple basic and compact portable cooking element. If on the other hand you wish to prepare dishes worthy of a genuine chef when you’re in your garden or on your terrace too, then you would do well to aim for a more complete and accessorised kitchen.
Let’s look at the different types of outdoor kitchens together.
Mobile outdoor kitchens
If the outdoor space available is limited and you don’t intend to prepare elaborate dishes, then a small outdoor kitchen on wheels could be the ideal solution for you. This is a practical and compact module, equipped with the bare essentials, which can be moved easily, so as to follow you wherever you need it.
The strengths are without a doubt its compact size and its practicality. Indeed, it can be set up quickly and stowed away under cover when no longer needed. The disadvantage of mobile kitchens is that they offer a reduced workspace, they feature a limited number of storage units and above all rather limited functionality for the user.
Brickwork outdoor kitchens
Brickwork outdoor kitchens are usually made of stone or bricks (exposed or plastered over) and are installed permanently outside. They are usually equipped with all the essentials: sink, worktop, cooking area (often a fireplace or a barbecue grill) and storage compartments, either open-fronted or closed with wooden doors, beneath the top.
Perfect for those who love the country look, brickwork outdoor kitchens are relatively easy to build but they also have their limitations. For the same dimensions, they do not offer the functionality or the instruments of a traditional kitchen. In addition, the storage compartments are not optimised and they prove more difficult to clean and to sanitise. Indeed, they are subject to dust and, often, to unwelcome visits by insects…
Modular outdoor kitchens
The latest generation of outdoor kitchens consist of compact kitchen blocks with multi-functional workstations. Modular outdoor kitchens are versatile, complete, and feature impeccable design. Just as in an indoor kitchen, a modular outdoor kitchen can be customised in every detail. From the composition of modules to the quantity of storage compartments; from the choice of finishes to the range of accessories; from the height to the depth of the worktop. What’s more, it can be equipped with several types of appliance: a refrigerator, an ice maker, a pizza oven and many other cooking tools.
Modular outdoor kitchens constitute the ideal choice for aspiring chefs. For those who, even outdoors, won’t make do with a simple barbecue but want to have the same functions and the same performance as their indoor kitchen outside. And, last but not least, for those who rather than country style prefer a designer outdoor kitchen, that is both attractive to look at and practical to use…
Which material should you choose?
When choosing an outdoor kitchen, you need to pay particular attention to the materials. Since they are exposed to all weather day-in, day-out, outdoor kitchens must be extremely hard-wearing.
The absolute most suitable material for an outdoor kitchen is stainless steel. This metal alloy is extremely hard-wearing, hygienic and easy to clean.
Stainless steel: why is it the most suitable material for outdoor kitchens?
Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion and to atmospheric agents
Stainless steel is a metal alloy with superior resistance to corrosion, to high temperatures, to sudden temperature changes, to atmospheric agents and to UV rays. So, it is definitely the most suitable material for outdoor kitchens.
Beware, however, because in some cases classic stainless steel is not enough and you need to opt for a special material: AISI 316 stainless steel. This is a particular metal alloy which guarantees greater resistance to chlorine and salt air, allowing you to position your kitchen even by the sea or by a swimming pool.
Stainless steel is hygienic and easy to clean
When choosing an outdoor kitchen, you also need to consider how hygienic and easy to clean it will be. These are important aspects to consider when purchasing any kitchen, but in the case of an outdoor kitchen, they become vital. Indeed, kitchens in a garden or on a terrace are exposed to the wind, to rain and to all sorts of atmospheric agents. These factors cause a huge build-up of dust and dirt.
In this case too, the solution is a stainless steel kitchen. Stainless steel is a biologically neutral and therefore an antibacterial material. It features a smooth surface that makes it extremely easy to clean. Especially when there are no visible welds. The joint-free worktops and the sinks integrated into the top prevent dirt encrustations and bacteria from settling. So, you can cook in the open air problem-free!
Abimis outdoor kitchens
Abimis outdoor kitchens are professionally-derived kitchens that guarantee the same performance levels as Abimis kitchens for indoor settings.
They also offer the same customisation possibilities: from the design of the modules to the choice of finishes and appliances.
What’s more, Abimis kitchens guarantee the utmost hygiene and very easy cleaning.
Abimis outdoor kitchens can even be installed by the sea or on a poolside. In this case, Abimis uses AISI 316 stainless steel. The special metal alloy which, thanks to the addition of molybdenum, is immune to sea air and chlorine. Abimis outdoor kitchens can also combine stainless steel with other materials, whether natural or synthetic. All of which are obviously treated to guarantee maximum durability and weather-resistance.
