‘Tis the season for home entertaining, which means it could be time to do up your outdoor area to meet your needs.

From a dazzling dining area to the latest in barbecue technology, we round up some of the exciting must-haves for your outdoor kitchen.

1. A multi-tasking barbecue

These days, barbecues can function more like outdoor ovens.

For instance, some of Weber’s barbecue ranges offers additional features like wok burners, in-built smoker boxes and rotisseries – so you can fry, smoke, roast or even bake your food outdoors. And those that don’t may be able to accessories with them.

While these functions are great for entertainers, large families or keen cooks, not every household will need them.

“If you’re not an avid barbecuer or you’re only grilling some chops for yourself or your family, then you can consider a more basic model, like the Weber Family Q,” Weber grill expert Laura Romeo begins. 

“However, if you love entertaining and having large parties then you may want a premium gas barbecue, which will have extra features built in.”

2. Plenty of workspaces

A barbecue workspace is an area where you can do some meal prep, eliminating having to walk inside every time you need something. Basically, it’ll allow you to be amongst the action of your backyard entertaining area while getting lunch prepared.

“It means you can still entertain and socialise while you’re at the barbecue, which is really important,” Laura says. “People want to be out there with you, seeing what you’re cooking, seeing what’s for dinner, and they don’t want to be separated indoors and outdoors.”

Fortunately, an outdoor kitchen isn’t that difficult to get off the ground these days. Planning, design and installation can all be handled end-to-end by Weber.

“The Weber Outdoor Kitchen is a single, easy solution for you to design and build a new ‘heart of the home’ outdoors,” Research and Development, Weber Outdoor Kitchens Dion Corbo says.

“The Weber Outdoor Kitchen App, which you can use in store, offers a very simple design and planning process, where you can choose barbecues, drawers, cupboards, fridges, wok burners and sink modules, colours and finishes and so on. Once that’s done, a Weber representative can come measure your space, check it’s in line with regulations and arrange and execute the installation.”

3. Stylish (weather-proof) furniture

Fortunately, nowadays you can find outdoor furniture that’s both practical and stylish.

“We’ve found people are taking a lot more care curating their outdoor space,” Dion says. “A lot of the time, we find the furniture and décor choices are really light and airy, so you know you’re outside but with all the comforts of being inside.”

Whether you’re after an outdoor lounge suite, a 12-seater dining table or both, just make sure they’re built to survive the elements.

4. An outdoor bar-fridge

Bar fridges built for outdoor use are different to your indoor fridges, so be warned against buying a run-of-the-mill mini fridge for your outdoor kitchen.

“Our bar-fridges have three layers of glass on the door so they’re much less likely to have condensation, even up in high humidity like far north Queensland,” Dion says.

“Everything we’ve chosen for the kitchens is made to be used outdoors. It’s high quality, durable, and is going to last you at least the ten years that the limited warranty covers.”

5. Heating and cooling

After investing into your outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to be able to use it all year round. Therefore, you may want to consider what will make it comfortable and functional on winter nights and balmy days.

For heating, there are options like portable outdoor heaters, or a fire pit if you’re not enclosed.

Cooling may not be as important, although some find a ceiling fan over your dining area to be an effective addition in really hot parts of Australia.

6. Smart assistants

Whether you have an outdoor speaker paired with your Google Home or you have lighting you can adjust via your phone, there are many smart devices built for an outdoor entertaining area.

There are even ‘cooking assistants’, like the Weber Connect, that can help you perfect your barbecuing.

“The cooking assistant is a WiFi connected device that sits next to your barbecue and has a probe that goes into your food to detect temperature for doneness,” Laura explains. “It can give you guided cooking programs too. So, it can teach you how to cook a steak, when to put it on, when to flip it and take it off depending on how well-done you want it. It’s like having a barbecue expert in your backyard with you.”

All pictures are supplied by Weber.

The post 6 essentials to create the ultimate outdoor kitchen appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Outdoor Living – Landscaping, Garden & Backyard Design IdeasLifestyle, Outdoor Living

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Need help designing an idyllic outdoor entertaining area? Consider how you want to interact with the space.

Then comes the fun part. From picking quality outdoor kitchen products to laying it all out, we have some tips to get you on your way.

1. Plan your outdoor kitchen layout

Think about how you’re going to use the space and plan accordingly.

While the amount of space you have will dictate a lot, the next things to consider are the cooking area (aka the barbecue) and the table or seating area.

One easy way to plan your cooking area is to head to a Weber Store, where an app can do the heavy lifting for you.

“You can design your kitchen on an app we’ve created that shows you all your options,” Dion Corbo, research and development at Weber says. 

“This includes the different colors and barbecues, all the way through to choices like whether or not you want drawers, a fridge, wok burners or a sink.

“The team will then get in touch to get someone out to your backyard to measure it up.”

Opting for an end-to-end like the Weber Outdoor Kitchen service will remove a lot of the heavy lifting and organization on your end, including project managing, product ordering, and installation.

2. What appliances do you need?

Outdoor kitchens can be as grand or minimal as you need. Whether you simply want a barbecue and a table or you want an entire kitchen in your yard, it’s all possible.

There are wok burners, fridges, and sinks – your options are endless. Even a simple barbecue can have a range of features you never imagined possible.

“With the base model Weber Family Q®  barbecue, you can completely accessorize it so it’s not just about grilling chops and sausages,” Weber grill expert Laura Romeo begins.

“You can pretty much convert it into an outdoor oven. So, you can do roasts, you can bake, there are added accessories like smoker boxes so you can infuse smoky flavors into your food, or there are rotisseries. There are all those options you can add on.”

She also notes that it’s “important that the space is functional and suits the lifestyle of whoever is using it.” If alfresco is your thing, you need never cook indoors again!

3. Cover the area

To that point: “A covered area is one of the most important things,” Laura adds.

“This means you’ll be able to use the space all year round. [It will] keep your cooking space cleaner, ensuring things last longer and protect the outdoor furniture.”

While quality products intended for outdoor use won’t rust and should also be covered by a generous warranty, having shade will offer that extra protection for you and your guests, as well as preserve the longevity of your outdoor kitchen.

4. Ensure the walls are open

While the overhead cover is important, you need plenty of open space for walls.

Dion reminds us that regulations require barbecue areas to be well ventilated and installation can hit a speed bump if this is not the case in your area.

“To be a compliant area for outdoor gas appliances, you need to have at least 50% permanently open wall area,” he states.

“Having blinds for example counts as being permanently closed.”

5. Provide good outdoor lighting

Outdoor entertaining areas aren’t just for daytime use. You should be able to use it whenever you need to cook, so adequate lighting is essential.

“If you do more nighttime entertaining, you want mood lighting to create the atmosphere but you also want to have good lighting around the barbecue so you can see what you’re cooking and make sure you’re not overcooking it,” Laura says.

6. Consider the social aspect

Ultimately, the goal of an outdoor kitchen should mean you don’t have to shuttle back and forth from the indoors to the outdoors, especially when you’re entertaining.

“It’s not only about being able to cook in one place, but an outdoor kitchen should also give you storage space and other functionality. So consider having a sink, a fridge for your drinks, and then being able to turn around from your barbecue and go straight to your dining space,” Dion says.

We know people love a good yarn around the barbecue, and why should you miss out because you’re cooking?

The post How to design the perfect outdoor entertaining space appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Outdoor Living – Landscaping, Garden & Backyard Design IdeasLifestyle, Outdoor Living

The post How to design the perfect outdoor entertaining space appeared first on Sky Stucco Systems Contractor.