Some people gift their husbands leather wallets while others prefer a new set of pyjamas. For Melbourne owner-builder Alicia, building an outdoor kitchen for under $10,000 was the key to her husband Ian’s heart. “My husband always wanted an outdoor kitchen so when I designed our house I made sure we had an external wall that would back on to the main kitchen so I could make his dream come true,” Alicia shares.
This foresight certainly made the process smoother as connecting this wall to electricity and water was easy. But outdoor kitchens aren’t always a simple space to create, especially within budget restrictions. That’s where HB’s new $10K room renovation series comes in. We’ve spoken to the experts to get the best advice, plus all the common pitfalls to avoid, to help you create your own outdoor kitchen.
“Simplicity and functionality are two key elements for an affordable outdoor kitchen. Add as much or as little as you require.”
John Harrison, Kaboodle Kitchen
How to design an outdoor kitchen
The first port of call, according to Nicolas Ryan, director of Rise Architectural Builders, is determining how you are going to use the space. He suggests, “If it is just barbecuing, I think you only need a sink with cold water and maybe a general purpose outlet, plus lighting to ensure you’re not overcooking,” which will help with budgeting, too. For Alicia, a larger entertaining space was the ticket. This included a bar fridge and barbecue, both from Bunnings, a sink and plentiful storage in the form of Kaboodle base cabinetry and doors.
If you want to install a sink, Nicolas suggests “getting a sewer diagram from Sydney Water (or equivalent) and then speaking to your local plumber to gauge on costs to run new services.” If plumbing is nearby, connecting to a water source will be inexpensive but if excavation is required, costs will rise.
Builder’s tip:
The best materials for outdoor kitchen cabinets
Ensuring that each material is suitable for outdoor use and durable enough to withstand all weather is extremely important. “It is not strictly recommended or warranted to use Kaboodle products in an outdoor kitchen,” warns John Harrison, marketing manager at Kaboodle Kitchen.
“However, if you choose to use Kaboodle products in an outdoor kitchen, ensure that it is placed in a covered area, free from exposure to the elements such as wind, rain and prolonged direct sunlight.” That’s what Alicia did, using products easily available at Bunnings. “All doors and cabinets are painted in an external primer paint, with Porter’s Paints Timberline on top and sprayed with a clear varnish,” she explains. “I added external wall cladding to both ends of the cabinet and I moved the cabinets off the back wall to allow air flow for moisture build up.”
Outdoor kitchen storage
“Compared to an indoor kitchen, an outdoor kitchen would typically be smaller, requiring less storage and working space,” says John. This allows for greater design flexibility. “In most cases, a straight line run of base cabinetry that incorporates a fridge, sink and heat source will be more than adequate,” he adds. “If there is a window, overhead cabinetry will not be suitable but there may be an opportunity to incorporate a pantry at the end of a cabinetry run.” Alicia opted for this single wall style layout.
On the wall, she placed Ikea rods to hang cooking utensils from and inserted wireware from Kaboodle Kitchen inside the cabinetry to help organise storage of outdoor tableware and cooking supplies. The benchtop and splashback are made from Bunnings tiles, illuminated by a Barn Light ‘Universal Gooseneck’ wall light for cottage-style charm.
To suit a $10K budget, Nicolas recommends prioritising “a good barbecue, storage, some lighting and shelter.” Hot water and gas can be costly so Nicolas suggests running your barbecue on a gas bottle.
Builder’s tip:
