Photography: Maree Homer / Styling: Kristin Rawson
Whether it’s a beach picnic or a backyard barbecue, Australians are particularly good at outdoor entertaining. It might be for this reason that an outdoor kitchen is something that many of us dream of. The best outdoor kitchen designs make entertaining a breeze—reducing the need for the multi-plate juggle from barbecue to the dining table. Plus, sophisticated cabinetry and bench-top options tend to bring a sense of style to an otherwise mediocre outdoor space.
If you’re thinking about your adding an outdoor kitchen to your own backyard then you might want to have a browse through our favourite outdoor kitchen design ideas for inspiration.
Also read: Everything you need to know when planning an outdoor kitchen
The best outdoor kitchen design ideas
A clever outdoor kitchen renovation with functional storage
An under $10k renovation
In this outdoor kitchen, cabinetry blends seamlessly with the exterior colour palette while an integrated fridge makes clever use of the small space.
An outdoor entertaining area for all weather
Sunny and welcoming
This Brisbane home’s outdoor kitchen is located on their lower deck, which is the perfect place for all-year-entertaining. The stand-out design feature is the Portuguese feature tiles from Old World Tiles, which beautifully contrast the sleek Beefeater Signature ProLine barbecue.
An idyllic waterfront position makes this outdoor kitchen the ideal place for entertaining. The stylish concrete benchtop was cast onsite by the builders and houses a bar fridge, Beefeater ‘Signature’ barbecue and a ZRW Refractory pizza oven.
An emperador Grey marble-topped outdoor kitchen is the focal point of this young family’s outdoor room, where an extendable Ethnicraft oak ‘Bok’ dining table paired with ‘Kazbah’ chairs from Relax House creates the perfect spot to relax.
A petite and functional outdoor kitchen
Small and impactful
This welcoming family home in Sydney proves that a small outdoor kitchen can be just as impactful as a large one. The barbecue and Country Road tea towel are ideal for summer cooking.
A bright outdoor entertaining kitchen with coastal cabinetry
Equipped for entertaining
This beautifully renovated holiday home in Noosa is a rainforest-meets-the-sea getaway for a family of five. Fitted to the back wall, the outdoor kitchen is equipped for entertaining with a Grandfire barbecue, white coastal cabinetry and a sleek fridge.
An interior designer’s impeccable family home on Sydney’s North Shore
In this Sydney alfresco area, the space was designed to complement the home’s internal living zones. Cross-cut travertine from Stone Design marries with the marble flooring indoors, while a Quartzite splashback is a luxe backdrop. “The splashback is indestructible,” says Joumana, the home owner.
“We also chose it for its beautiful veinery.” The stone harmonises with the tones of the Le Forge outdoor table and Yardware chairs. Joumana installed a bulkhead to conceal “the big, ugly outdoor rangehood” above a BeefEater barbecue, plus overhead heaters for winter gatherings.
A petite inner city alfresco with an outdoor kitchen
Petite and pretty
Functioning as a greenhouse, dining area, storage shed and laundry, this petite inner city alfresco functions as a multi-purpose space.
