An outdoor kitchen is a value-add home renovation project that can bring hours of joy and togetherness with relatively low ongoing maintenance, time and cost compared to a pool or new outdoor garden. A pool, for example, often has a high initial cost outlay and can add up to 18% to your yearly energy bill.

When expertly designed and installed, an alfresco entertaining space equipped for cooking and dining can increase the value of your home, offering a convenient new social hub and a connection to the outdoors.  

We love to unwind with our nearest and dearest under the sun or stars, sharing a meal or a cocktail. A dedicated space to do that at home is an appealing proposition for homeowners! Potential buyers will envision the possibility of easy entertaining and outdoor living and fall in love — remember; it’s often an emotional connection that turns a potential buyer into a homeowner.  

Love the sound of increasing your property’s value with an irresistible outdoor alfresco kitchen? In this month’s B&C Home Journal, get inspired by the following tips and tricks compiled by our Balnei & Colina outdoor kitchen renovation experts in Sydney. As always, you're welcome to reach out directly to our friendly, knowledgeable team by phoning 1300 450 320 or emailing info@balneiandcolina.com.au.

 

The team at Balnei & Colina

 

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How To Add Value To Your Home With An Outdoor Kitchen

1. Improve the flow between indoors and out

The Australian climate lends itself to outdoor entertaining, and many buyers are attracted to homes with that quintessentially Australian indoor-outdoor feel. There’s no denying that an alfresco kitchen extends your livable space, especially if the area flows seamlessly from the indoors. 

Positioning your outdoor alfresco kitchen adjacent to its indoor counterpart, and continuing the material surfaces and fittings across the zones, enhances this connected feeling. Consider replacing windows with glass doors that slide or fold back, opening up the interiors to the backyard and bringing more natural light into the home. 

At Balnei & Colina, we suggest incorporating the design and construction of an outdoor alfresco kitchen into your interior kitchen renovation timeline to streamline the renovation logistics and the cost of materials and labour. 

 

Image via Growing Rooms 

 

Image via Homes To Love

 

Image via Pure Salt Interiors 

2. Consider the neighbours and the outlook

A well-designed outdoor kitchen provides privacy from the neighbours and the street. Positioning fixed screens and plants to block out uninvited onlookers will create a private entertaining oasis where you can while away the hours undisturbed.

Arrange your seating to take in the best view, oriented toward your garden or the wider surroundings. Real estate agents agree that great landscaping and a tidy backyard will always attract potential buyers. 

Pools tend to dominate yards, but an outdoor entertaining area seamlessly incorporated into the greenery is visually appealing and functional for all. 

 

Image via Growing Room

 

Image via House Beautiful 

 

Balnei & Colina | Outdoor Kitchen Renovation

3. Design it for all-season use

With practical design additions, your outdoor alfresco kitchen can offer a handy alternative to cooking indoors, rain, hail or shine. Overhead shelter allows you to cook and entertain during a storm or when the sun is high and blazing, while screens and vertical structures can buffer from uncomfortable winds.  

Include heating for the cooler months with radiant strip heaters that gently warm up zoned areas such as patios and undercover decks. If space permits, a custom outdoor fireplace or a fire pit area positioned in a safe spot can become cosy focal points during winter. For those hot summer days, overhead fans circulate air and deter mosquitoes and flies.  

 

Balnei & Colina | Outdoor Alfresco Kitchen Design

 

Image via Big House Little House

 

Image via The Haven List

4. Using the appropriate appliances and material

Ensure the longevity of your alfresco outdoor kitchen by choosing quality appliances and materials appropriate for exterior use.

At Balnei & Colina, we design and construct outdoor kitchens with hardwearing weather-resistant surfaces, such as granite, composite stone, specialised laminates and marine-grade stainless steel. 

Preparing and serving meals, and keeping drinks topped up, is easy when everything you need is on hand. Incorporate a convenient outdoor fridge, a sink, bench space and storage cabinetry into the design, and any open-air cooking and dining moment will become a joyous, stress-free occasion for you and the future owners of your home. 

 

Image via Homes To Love

 

Image via Sitchu 

Want to learn more about increasing the value of your home with a stunning outdoor kitchen renovation?

Leave it to the renovation experts at Balnei & Colina.

Book an outdoor kitchen design consultation today at 1300 450 320; send us your project details via this contact form or book a call to discuss your outdoor kitchen project in more detail. You can also email us direct via info@balneiandcolina.com.au. 

To keep up with the latest outdoor kitchen trends, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or sign-up for our newsletter.

 

Image via Three Birds Renovations

 

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